Lisa Kudrow has taken her final bow as Valerie Cherish. How’s that?! The Comeback series finale aired on HBO on Sunday, May 10, concluding Valerie’s AI battle. The series, created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King in the early 2000s, was canceled and came back for Season 2 about 10 years later. Another decade after that, the comedy came back for one last run.
Dan Bucatinsky has played Billy, Valerie’s talent manager, in every season. He tells TV Insider what it was like to film his final scene with Kudrow. Warning: The Comeback series finale spoilers ahead!
k9amw@H 5:5 k6>m%96 r@>6324<k^6>m 7:?2=6 6?5nk^9am
k5:G :5lQ2EE249>6?E0`aebbadQ DEJ=6lQH:5E9i gedAIQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@? 2=:8??@?6Qmk:>8 2C:2\56D4C:3653JlQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`aebbadQ 4=2DDlQD:K6\=2C86 HA\:>286\`aebbadQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\gddIdf_];A8Q 2=ElQ{2FC2 $:=G6C>2? 2D y2?6 2?5 {:D2 zF5C@H 2D '2=6C:6 r96C:D9 :? UR_bhj%96 r@>6324<UR_bhj D6C:6D 7:?2=6Q H:5E9lQgddQ 96:89ElQdf_Q DC4D6ElQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\gddIdf_];A8 gddH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\cbcIagh];A8 cbcH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\fegId`a];A8 fegH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\abcI`dd];A8 abcH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\df_Ibg_];A8 df_H[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H\`_`cIefe];A8 `_`cH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^E96\4@>6324<\D6C:6D\7:?2=6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?\=:D2\<F5C@H];A8 a_agHQ D:K6DlQ2FE@[ W>2I\H:5E9i gddAIX `__GH[ gddAIQ ^mkA :5lQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`aebbadQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@?\E6IEQmtC:? $:><:? ^ wq~k^Amk^5:Gm
kAm'2=6C:6 925 E@ AFE @FE 2== @7 E96 px\86?6C2E65 7:C6D[ D@ E@ DA62<[ :? E96 7:?2=6] p7E6C k6>mw@H’D %92EnPk^6>m 8@E C6?6H65 7@C $62D@? a[ D96 H2D 6286C E@ 36 2 E62> A=2J6C H:E9 E96 }F}6E 3:8H:8[ qC2?5@? (2==:4< Wk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^2?5C6H\D4@EE^Qmp?5C6H $4@EEk^2mX] w6 2D<65 96C E@ A2CE2<6 :? 2 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46 E@ 2??@F?46 E96 C6?6H2=[ H9:49 A@H6C7F= D9@HCF??6CD :? E96 :?5FDECJ D2H 2D E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 6?5 @7 HC:E:?8 ;@3D :? w@==JH@@5] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^3C25=6J\H9:E7@C5^QmqC25=6J (9:E7@C5k^2m C6EFC?65 2D D9@HCF??6C y24< $E6G6?D[ H9@[ 2=@?8D:56 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^252>\D4@EE^Qmp52> $4@EEk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^;FDE:?\E96C@FI^QmyFDE:? %96C@FIk^2m‘D D9@HCF??6C 492C24E6CD[ 2D<65 '2=6C:6 E@ E2<6 2 DE2?5 282:?DE px 3J C67FD:?8 E@ 5@ E96 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FEQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\4@?E6?EQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`ae_ba_^E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\6A:D@56\e\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\2:\;2?6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?^Qmk:>8 96:89ElQ`deQ H:5E9lQac_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_c^E96\4@>6324<\b_e\;2?6\`ca_Ifhg];A8Q 2=ElQU=DBF@j%96 r@>6324<UCDBF@j $E2C %62D6D U=DBF@jq:8UCDBF@j r92?86D :? u:?2= tA:D@56DQ ^mk^2mk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\=236=Qm#6=2E65k^5:Gmk9bmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`ae_ba_^E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\6A:D@56\e\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\2:\;2?6\=2FC2\D:=G6C>2?^Qm‘%96 r@>6324<’ $E2C %62D6D ‘q:8’ r92?86D :? u:?2= tA:D@56Dk^2mk^9bmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kAm'2=6C:6 5:5 E96 AC6DD6C[ 3FE D96 DEC2J65 7C@> qC2?5@?’D px\A@D:E:G6 >6DD28:?8 H96? 96 :?DF=E65 E96 2CE @7 D:E4@>D] w6 D2:5 :E H2D E96 4962A AC@8C2>>:?8 E92E <6AE }F}6E CF??:?8 D@ E92E >@C6 :>A@CE2?E 5C2>2D 4@F=5 4@>6 :?] %96 D@\42==65 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E D9@HD H@F=5?’E FD6 px] '2=6C:6 5:5?’E =:<6 E92E]k^Am
kAm'2=6C:6 D2:5 E92E E96 px HC:E:?8 AC@8C2> H2D 2 FD67F= E@@=[ 3FE E92E :E 4@F=5 ?6G6C 5@ E96 C62= 2CE:DE:4 H@C< @7 9F>2?D] $96 E@=5 E96 DE@CJ @7 9@H E96:C px E649 8FJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`adffcf^E96\4@>6324<\=:D2\<F5C@H\D@?\7C:6?5D\;F=:2?\DE6C?^QmtG2? WyF=:2? $E6C?[ zF5C@H’D D@?Xk^2m[ DE6AA65 :? 2?5 HC@E6 7@C k6>mw@H’D %92EnPk^6>m H96? E96 px AC@8C2> 9:E 2 A2JH2==[ 3=@4<:?8 E96> 7C@> FD:?8 :E]k^Am
kAm'2=6C:6’D AF3=:4 DFAA@CE @7 HC:E6CD A=62D65 y24<[ H9@ @776C65 96C 2 C@=6 :? 2 ?6H 5C2>2 D6C:6D 96 H2D HC:E:?8] %96 6?5 4C65:ED C6G62=65 E92E E96 5C2>2 D6C:6D 2?5 '2=6C:6 2== 62C?65 t>>J ?@>:?2E:@?D]k^Am
k9amw@H 5:5 k6>m%96 r@>6324<k^6>m 6?5 7@C s2? qF42E:?D<J’D q:==Jnk^9am
k5:G :5lQ2EE249>6?E0`aea_ahQ DEJ=6lQH:5E9i bh_AIQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@? 2=:8??@?6Qmk:>8 2C:2\56D4C:3653JlQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`aea_ahQ 4=2DDlQHA\:>286\`aea_ah D:K6\=2C86Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\bg_Idf_];A8Q 2=ElQs2? qF42E:?D<J 2D q:==J :? UR_bhj%96 r@>6324<UR_bhj $62D@? b tA:D@56 fQ H:5E9lQbg_Q 96:89ElQdf_Q DC4D6ElQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\bg_Idf_];A8 bg_H[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\`hbIagh];A8 `hbH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\fegI``da];A8 fegH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\`bedIa_cg];A8 `bedH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\efeI`_`c];A8 efeH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\b__Icd_];A8 b__H[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\D42=65];A8 `f_fHQ D:K6DlQ2FE@[ W>2I\H:5E9i bg_AIX `__GH[ bg_AIQ ^mkA :5lQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`aea_ahQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@?\E6IEQmtC:? $:><:? ^ wq~k^Amk^5:Gm
kAmt2C=:6C @?[ q:==J >6E '2=6C:6 @? D6E E@ E6== 96C E92E 96 4@F=5?’E 36 :? {]p] 7@C 2? :>A@CE2?E H66< @? E96 D9@H] w:D 3@=5 72D9:@? >@>6?E @? E96 k6>mw@H’D %92EnPk^6>m DE6A 2?5 C6A62E W2]<]2] 72<6 AC6>:6C6X 42F89E 2 56D:8?6C’D 6J6[ 2?5 q:==J H2D :?G:E65 E@ 2EE6?5 2 72D9:@? D9@H :? }6H *@C<] w6 49@D6 E@ 492D6 E92E @AA@CEF?:EJ 3642FD6 @7 E96 @E96CD :E 4@F=5 3C:?8[ 3642FD6 96 H2?ED E@ 36 2 DE2C :? 9:D @H? C:89E]k^Am
kAm'2=6C:6 2?5 q:==J D92C65 2 E6?56C >@>6?E H96? D96 2D<65[ “s@ x 92G6 2 >2?286C 2?J>@C6n” 2?5 q:==J D2:5 ?@] %96J 8@E E62CJ\6J65 2D E96J D2:5 :E H2D E96:C =2DE 52J H@C<:?8 E@86E96C] *@F 4@F=5 E6== E92E ?@ 24E:?8 H2D :?G@=G65 96C6 7@C zF5C@H 2?5 qF42E:?D<J] qF42E:?D<J D2JD 7:=>:?8 E9:D D46?6 H2D “6>@E:@?2=]”k^Am
kAm“x’> 2 4C:6C 2?JH2J[ D@ 6G6CJE9:?8 >2<6D >6 6>@E:@?2=[” 96 D2JD] v6EE:?8 E@ 3C:?8 @FE q:==J’D GF=?6C23:=:EJ H2D >62?:?87F= 7@C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^D9@H^D42?52=^Qmk6>m$42?52=k^6>mk^2mk6>m k^6>m2=F>[ 56DA:E6 q:==J’D “5C:G6 E9:D D62D@? E92E :D C62==J F?C6=6?E:?8]”k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FEQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\4@?E6?EQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`ae`ha_^E96\4@>6324<\52?\3F42E:?D<J\3:==J\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\=:D2\<F5C@H\7:?2=\D62D@?^Qmk:>8 96:89ElQ`deQ H:5E9lQac_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_d^52?\3F42E:?D<J\E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\b\`ca_Ifhg];A8Q 2=ElQUR_bhj%96 r@>6324<UR_bhji (:== q:==J v@ $@=@n s2? qF42E:?D<J #67=64ED @? u:?2= $62D@?Q ^mk^2mk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\=236=Qm#6=2E65k^5:Gmk9bmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`ae`ha_^E96\4@>6324<\52?\3F42E:?D<J\3:==J\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\=:D2\<F5C@H\7:?2=\D62D@?^QmV%96 r@>6324<Vi (:== q:==J v@ $@=@n s2? qF42E:?D<J #67=64ED @? u:?2= $62D@?k^2mk^9bmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kAm“(92E x C62==J =@G65 H2D 86EE:?8 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 92G6 4@?7=:4E H:E9 '2=6C:6[” 96 8@6D @?] “{:D2 2?5 x 92G6 366? 7C:6?5D 7@C 2 G6CJ[ G6CJ =@?8 E:>6] qFE E@ 92G6 E96D6 D46?6D[ 6G6CJ @E96C D62D@?[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ q:==J :D ;FDE 96C 4966C=6256C[ A2CE @7 96C :??6C 4:C4=6[ 96C DFAA@CE] p?5 E9:D D62D@?[ 96’D 2 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E @G6C 2?5 @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:?[ 2?5 96 766=D :E] w6 766=D =:<6 96’D 5:D2AA@:?E:?8 9:D @H? 72>:=J] p?5 E@ A=2J E92E H2D 492==6?8:?8 2?5 2E E:>6D C62==J 6>@E:@?2=]”k^Am
kAmqF42E:?D<J D2JD E92E :E H2D 2 A@H6C7F= E9:?8 E@ <?@H E92E E9:D H2D E96:C 7:?2= D46?6 2D q:==J 2?5 '2=6C:6] WzF5C@H AC6G:@FD=J DE2E65 E92E k6>m%96 r@>6324<k^6>m :D 2 EC:=@8J[ 2?5 E96J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`adb_ae^E96\4@>6324<\D62D@?\c\=:D2\<F5C@H\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\93@^Qm5@?’E :?E6?5 E@ >2<6 2 $62D@? ck^2m]Xk^Am
kAm“pE E96 6?5[ H96? '2=6C:6 EFC?D E@ q:==J 2?5 D2JD[ ‘s@ x 92G6 2 >2?286C 2?J>@C6n’ xE H2D C:89E ?62C E96 6?5[” qF42E:?D<J D2JD] “x E9:?< H6 H6C6 D9@@E:?8 :? E96 =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 52JD @7 @FC H9@=6 D6C:6D[ D@ 2== @7 :E H2D 7C2F89E H:E9 D@ >F49 6>@E:@?] {:D2 2?5 x H:== 36 7C:6?5D 7@C6G6C[ 2?5 9@A67F==J H6’== H@C< @? DEF77[ 2?5 H6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ H@C< @? DEF77 7@C6G6C] qFE E9:D H2D E96 =2DE E:>6 E92E H6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 @? 42>6C2 E@86E96C 2D q:==J 2?5 '2=6C:6[ 2?5 x 567:?:E6=J 76=E :E] x <?@H D96 76=E :E[ 2?5 :E H2D >@G:?8]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 2 5:77:4F=E >@>6?E 7@C q:==J 2?5 '2=6C:6[ qF42E:?D<J D2JD :E H2D 2 ?646DD2CJ @?6]k^Am
kAm“x’> 8=25 x H2D H:E9 96C 3642FD6 D96’D 2 A2= 2?5 H6 DFAA@CE 6249 @E96C[” 96 6IA=2:?D[ “3FE x 567:?:E6=J E9:?< E92E H9:=6 q:==J 2=D@ 76=E 2 =:EE=6 3:E =:<6[ @9[ x’> =6EE:?8 8@ @7 D@>63@5J 2D 4=@D6 E@ 72>:=J 2D q:==J AC@323=J <?@HD[ x’> 2=D@ 36:?8 D6E 7C66] p?5 E92E H2D 2? 6>@E:@?2= >@>6?E]”k^Am
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8m%96k^DEC@?8mk^6>m kDEC@?8mk6>mr@>6324<k^6>m[ $EC62>:?8 @? wq~ |2Ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 w625=:?6Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aebabd^E96\4@>6324<\7:?2=6\6IA=2:?65\G2=6C:6\496C:D9\=:D2\<F5C@H^Qm‘%96 r@>6324<’i s2? qF42E:?D<J %2=<D ‘t>@E:@?2=’ u:?2= $46?6 (:E9 {:D2 zF5C@Hk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aebah`^C@@DE6C\D62D@?\7:?2=6\6IA=2:?65\D62D@?\a\8C68\<2E:6\6=:K236E9\H2=E\3:==\=2HC6?46\>2EE\E2CD6D^Qm‘#@@DE6C’ u:?2=6i q@DD6D qC62< s@H? %H:DE t?5:?8 U2>Aj %62D6 (92E’D }6IE 7@C $62D@? ak^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aeb_`c^7C@>\D62D@?\c\6A:D@56\c\@7\>JE9D\2?5\>@?DE6CD\G:4E@C\>2?\:?\J6==@H\DF:E^Qm‘u#~|’i (92E xD ':4E@C w:5:?8 p3@FE E96 |2? :? *6==@H $F:En %96 %CFE9 #6G62=65k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aebb`h^>2CD92=D\6A:D@56\``\82CC6EE\5625\C:=6J\8C66?\J6==@HDE@?6\EC2:?\DE2E:@?^Qm‘|2CD92=D’i ,$A@:=6C. s:6D U2>Aj ‘*6==@HDE@?6’ %C2:? $E2E:@? #6EFC?Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`aeag`d^42==\E96\>:5H:76\D:DE6C\G6C@?:42\6?5:?8\6IA=2:?65\C636442\86E9:?8D^Qm‘r2== E96 |:5H:76’ $E2C #636442 v6E9:?8D tIA=2:?D $:DE6C '6C@?:42’D t>@E:@?2= t?5:?8k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
