By: Mariah Thomas
Valerie (Lisa Kudrow) strongly desires to work in sitcoms again. Despite her public stance of standing with the writers in the midst of the strike, she accepts a meeting with NuNet with Brandon (Andrew Scott). Valerie and Billy (Dan Bucatinsky) are the only two at the meeting in person with the rest of the NuNet team on zoom in various places in the world. “Everything old is new again” Brandon jokes as his new pitch for ads are simply commercials. In a layered ‘Traitors’ joke, it is revealed Valerie took part in the popular show alongside drag icon Trixie Mattel. Valerie only made it to episode two, but had a funny moment that lives in meme history forever.
Though she is thrilled by the idea of this new show, she still remains hesitant because of ‘the AI of it all.’ Before the meeting ends, she brings the topic up and Brandon promptly ends the meeting. He appears in the conference room in person. Brandon is able to soothe Valerie’s concerns by confirming they have writers, Josh (John Early) and Mary (Abbi Jacobson), that are assisted by an AI program. He also confirms they are technically working within the Writer Guild’s guidelines to not go against the strike. This scene is brilliant commentary on moments we saw during the actual strike. He encourages Valerie to keep quiet on the AI script generator as it is bad branding. The network doesn’t want the public to know until the show is out. Being a few years out from the strike, the audience is aware that AI usage was a big reason for both the Writer’s and Actor’s strike.
Billy was able to negotiate that he and Valerie receive executive producer credits on the show. This new credit raises Valerie’s IMDb star meter. Mark (Damian Young) and Valerie try out a new restaurant with a ‘cool’ vibe. At the end of dinner Mark spots an old coworker who fired him for an inappropriate joke. He still deeply feels the embarrassment and wants to immediately leave. On the way out, Valerie is spotted by her old casting director, Sharon (Marla Garlin). Sharon is out to dinner with the legendary Jane Fonda. After a brief conversation Valerie asks Jane if she can get a video for her socials and jokes to her not to worry because she doesn’t get political. Jane in her cheeky ways just says ‘Vote’ when Valerie pans the camera to her.
While checking out at Trader Joe’s, Valerie runs into Jane (Laura Silverman) who is now working as a cashier. She reveals after the 2025 wildfires,she gave up Hollywood. Along with that challenging art with her documentaries. Valerie tells her the secret of the AI written sitcom and Jane is ready to jump right back into her filmmaking.
After a short break, we finally return to “The Comeback” with Jane’s cameras. Valerie’s first in person introduction with Josh and Mary doesn’t have the greatest start. They are at odds with her in vastly different ways. Valerie sets out to get the great James Burrows to direct the pilot. She meets with him without her camera crew. Though he is very encouraging and kind, he says there is nothing new about the show for him to expand onto. He is not interested in taking part in this new show.