At MISTR’s National PrEP Day celebration at The Abbey in West Hollywood, actor and comedian Zane Phillips hit the blue carpet to chat with Gayety about his upcoming project, and it’s one that already has queer TV fans buzzing.
Zane, who joins the cast of the long-awaited Season 3 of The Comeback, could barely contain his excitement as he talked about working alongside Emmy winner Lisa Kudrow, who reprises her iconic role as Valerie Cherish. The beloved HBO comedy, created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, has built a devoted cult following over the years, especially among LGBTQ+ audiences who see Valerie’s delusional optimism and endless resilience as both hilarious and deeply relatable.
“When I tell you Lisa Kudrow does something every day on set that I’m like, ‘I’m going to see gay people quoting this in six months,’ I mean it,” Zane told Gayety on the carpet. “It’s iconic. Things are happening. Everyone’s going to be really pleased.”
While Zane stayed tight-lipped on plot specifics, he praised Kudrow and King’s approach to the series, which has always balanced absurd Hollywood satire with raw, emotional honesty. “They do such a good job writing this character and having her always respond to what’s happening in the world,” he said. “There are some really great developments this season. I’m so excited for people to see it.”
When asked what he could reveal about his own character, Zane laughed. “I don’t know honestly what I can say, but yeah — I get to be around, I get to hang out,” he teased.
For Zane, joining The Comeback was both surreal and inspiring, especially when it came to working closely with Kudrow. “It’s always such a trip,” he said. “You try to be cool because we’re all just coworkers at the end of the day. But I love watching people work — especially really talented comedians. Just getting to see them in their element, I sit there like, ‘I’m in awe.’”
Season 3 of The Comeback is currently in production, marking the show’s return after nearly a decade. With Zane joining the ensemble and Kudrow back at the helm, the next chapter promises to deliver more biting satire, meta-Hollywood moments, and plenty of quotable lines destined to go viral.
The Comeback Season 3 will debut on HBO and Max in 2026.
