Lisa Kudrow discusses Emmy nomination for HBO’s “The Comeback,” her “comeback” delusion, Conan and revisiting “Friends” after Matthew Perry’s death

Lisa Kudrow is preparing for Emmy season after receiving a nomination for her work on HBO’s The Comeback, her role described by NPR as her final season playing Valerie Cherish. In an interview published Aug. 24, Kudrow spoke with NPR about the character’s “comecome” concept and what it means to return to the material while also moving on from the show’s concluding run.

The nomination, according to NPR’s report, centers on Kudrow’s performance in the last stretch of The Comeback, a series that she has previously been associated with through her portrayal of Valerie Cherish. Kudrow also addressed how the role’s central premise intersects with real-world expectations for career reinvention, including her description of the “comeback” delusion discussed in the NPR interview.

Kudrow’s comments also extended to late-night television. NPR reported that she discussed Conan in the context of revisiting the work and the conversations that follow when a show or character returns to public conversation. The interview frames those revisits as part of Kudrow’s broader experience with audience attention, including how humor and nostalgia can bring older performances back into view.

Another thread of the interview involved her relationship to Friends and the act of rewatching. NPR said Kudrow reflected on watching Friends following the death of Matthew Perry. In the interview, Kudrow discussed how the cast’s shared history reshapes viewers’ experiences when a performer from a long-running series is no longer alive, and how revisiting familiar episodes can feel different after such a loss.

The NPR report places Kudrow’s remarks in a moment when the culture industry routinely cycles legacy content back into mainstream attention, both through awards recognition and through continued media conversations around long-running shows. With her Emmy nomination tied to a final season role, Kudrow’s interview also underscores how concluding projects can still generate renewed attention as the industry evaluates performances.

In the same interview, Kudrow’s discussion of Conan and revisiting Friends links personal reflection to broader public moments, including how late-night interviews and rewatch culture can serve as a forum for grief, remembrance and career storytelling. While the NPR piece centers on Kudrow’s own experiences, it also illustrates how performers’ public narratives continue to evolve as awards discussions begin and as audiences return to earlier work.

Kudrow’s Emmy nomination for The Comeback means her participation in awards coverage and related publicity will likely remain a focal point as the campaign unfolds. For viewers, the interview’s combination of career discussion and personal reflection offers a look at how actors navigate legacy roles when a series ends and when a co-star’s death reshapes how audiences watch earlier television.

NPR’s interview does not provide additional confirmed details in the summary about the specific Emmy category, the nomination timetable beyond the publication date, or the exact programming segments referenced regarding Conan and Friends. Further reporting would be needed to confirm those specifics through official Emmy announcements and the relevant broadcast schedules.