“The Comeback” Is Back And The Boys Are Hot!
Lisa Kudrow’s The Comeback is back for a third and final season, with the new run premiering on HBO and HBO Max on 22 March 2026. The cult comedy picks up more than a decade after season two, with Valerie Cherish now stepping into a new Hollywood mess shaped by social media, stunt casting, and artificial intelligence.
One of the season premiere’s best surprises is its stacked group of dancers and musical theatre performers in Valerie’s Chicago chaos. The Queerty piece that sparked the chatter singled out seven out gay performers in the episode: Timothy Hughes, Nick Adams, Robbie Fairchild, Ahmad Simmons, Brandon Leffler, Ricardo A. Zayas and Vincent Noiseux. For DNA, that kind of casting detail is hard to ignore.
The episode’s hottest scene-stealers
If one face is likely to stop viewers mid-scroll, it is Timothy Hughes. In the premiere, he plays Stephen, the actor opposite Valerie in the Chicago set-up. Off screen, Hughes already has strong Broadway credentials, with credits including Hadestown, Sweeney Todd and Frozen. Queerty also notes his film and television work, including The Greatest Showman and And Just Like That…
Nick Adams is another name many viewers will know straight away. Queerty identifies him as Scott in the episode, while broader industry bios place him in Fire Island and major stage productions including La Cage aux Folles, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Chicago. That mix of camp, polish and stage experience makes his cameo feel very on-brand for The Comeback’s world.
Then there is Robbie Fairchild, the former New York City Ballet principal dancer who crossed into screen and stage acting after An American in Paris. Ahmad Simmons also stands out, with Broadway credits that include West Side Story, Hadestown, Carousel and Cats. Even in a short appearance, both bring real dance pedigree to the episode.
Why this works for the show
Part of the joke in The Comeback has always been that Valerie thinks she can control the room, even when the room has moved on. Filling the premiere with polished, openly queer stage talent adds another layer to that tension. You get the comedy, but you also get a cast of performers who know exactly how to sell a scene with one look, one pose or one line.
For viewers who came for Valerie Cherish, the season three opener delivers. For viewers clocking the dancers in the background, it delivers twice.
