good evening everybody! oh my goodness - my internet is back on - woo hoo! i'm like beside myself with pop joy - after it being basically off since early saturday morning - i almost don't know what to do right now! (except get a credit from the cable company - ugh!) when i was walking the doggies this morning - i saw a cute repairman from time warner cable - who i basically accosted about the lack of net connectivity - he was visiting another apartment with the exact same issue! well before you know it - the problem was 'escalated' and when i came home for lunch - there was not one but two TW trucks parked outside my building! it turned out to be a problem with the building's amplifier (which i knew all along...) oh lordy - i'm surfing the internet like a fiend - i swear that i'll never take the internet for granted again - when it's on use it!
as i was looking around the web tonight for something to post on - i came across recent pictures of my darling lisa kudrow taken this past tuesday at the '08 film independent spirit awards nominations - which of course reminded me of those not too distant carefree & happy days of valerie cherish and her show the comeback which HBO killed with poor judgment and pure cruelty! there's nothing going on right now with that channel - they should be begging for ms. cherish to 'comeback'! (i admit to watching this season of curb your enthusiasm but that came to an end - i do hope we'll be seeing more of larry david - that show does kick serious ass!)
if you haven't experienced the comeback yet - you must! the first (and sadly) only season is available on DVD - and let me go all oprah winfrey for a moment - the DVD would make the top of my 'favorites list' (a perfect holiday present) if i could give you all a copy - i'd do it in a heartbeat! in fact i just tossed it on now - it's beyond hilarious and ms. kudrow shines as a washed up sitcom star makin' her comeback - one of the best characters in TV history - she's right up there with edith & archie bunker (my top TV show of all-time hands down is all in the family followed closely by the comeback & twin peaks (which i have a great post about coming up soon on popbytes - stay tuned for that - oh it's a good one!)
plus i've got to mention that in my crusade to save the show (i do own valeriecherish.com - which contains the archive of the many posts i did on 'the comeback') i was able to connect & make friends with a bunch of cool people over the show - fans of valerie stick together! i know i must sound a bit like a crazy person - but for those of you who love valerie cherish you'll totally get me - as for the rest of you - please check out the show! popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo!
PS as an added bonus there's a clip of an extra from the DVD which features valerie cherish in the dressing room after a performance on dancing with the stars - which turned out to be my guilty viewing pleasure for the past few weeks - helio was great but i think 'spice girl' mel b was robbed!
hey kids! as i prep to blog the emmy awards tomorrow - i have two words on my mind...valerie cherish! i am so hoping & praying that lisa kudrow will pick up her much deserved emmy for best female comedic performance for her amazing work on the now defunct show the comeback! justice will be finally served if she wins - take that HBO! according to this article ms. kudrow is actually favored to win! oh please just let her have the emmy! she has already won in my book but please just keep your fingers crossed! ms. kudrow you go out there and break a leg - popbytes will be rooting for you all the way! i'm over & out for now - xxoo!
I usually have some nervous ritual where I have a shot of something...not an injection of something, but a shot, a drink - lisa kudrow on prepping for the emmys
yes i'm still fighting to good fight for valerie cherish! yesterday i met up with the fellow valerie fan who turned lisa kudrow onto popbytes - we had a great time talking all about the comeback as well as other shows - we both came to the conclusion i should make one more plea on popbytes for emmy voters to mark off ms. kudrow to win (on august 27th) for leading actress in a comedy for her amazing & layered performance as ms. cherish! those of you lucky enough to vote for the emmys - don't forget - your ballots are due tomorrow by 5pm! and if you happen to have an assistant, spouse, or maid filling it out for you - make sure they know about voting for ms. kudrow - plus don't forget to vote for michael patrick king's amazing direction of the series! popbytes over & out for now - xxoo!
August 15th
Deadline for returning at-home judging ballots for Primetime Emmy Awards Telecast categories to Ernst & Young
i just couldn't let the week slip by without doing one more post on valerie cherish who landed this week on DVD - below is a great clip of one of the DVD extra bits called 'after the laughter' and please read up on what some other people are saying about the comeback - popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
hip hip hooray!!! valerie cherish finally lands on DVD today!!! you must read this great article about the comeback that a dear fellow ms. cherish fan (aka JAM) sent me that was written up in the boston globe...then check-out an interview star lisa kudrow did with tv guide!
finally do yourself a favor and just go buy the DVD! (you can rent it too) if you haven't caught this show yet - it's mandatory popbytes viewing! (i posted another hilarious clip below) everything about this show was done with such great care, impeccable detail, and amazing wit...i've watched all the episodes a few times over and each time i discover something new - i simply cannot go on enough about this show! hopefully we will see this much beloved character pop up again someday...and gosh ms. kudrow will be robbed if she doesn't win that emmy! popbytes over & out for now - valerie cherish forever!!!
please don't forget (i will remind you again - no worries!) that our dear valerie cherish lands on DVD this coming tuesday! although HBO cancelled the show - they've been really nice to popbytes because of my undying love & support of ms. cherish! i got an advanced copy of the DVD (containing some great extras) which will for sure please other diehard 'comeback' fans like myself and for those of you who missed lisa kudrow's brilliant turn as a sitcom star attempting to make a successful return to TV...this is your chance! below is a hilarious clip of ms. cherish singing 'i will survive'! hopefully ms. kudrow will pick up her much deserved emmy on aug 27th! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
oh sweet baby jesus there is justice after all! i set my alarm for a very early 530am to see if lisa kudrow would be nominated for an emmy for her work on our beloved the comeback as valerie cherish...and she got it!!! gosh i am so thrilled - i had been keeping my pop fingers crossed all week! congrats to ms. kudrow who SO deserves the nomination...now we just have to see her win! popbytes heading back to bed...xxoo!
PS in my tired state this morning - i didn't even realize that the oh so awesome michael patrick king was nominated for his directing the 'valerie does another classic leno' episode! and although the series didn't get a best comedy series nomination...my other favorite and now defunct show arrested development did! woo hoo!
FROM USA TODAY...LISA REACTS TO NOMINATION ( thanks to keith for the heads up!)
3:56 p.m. ET: Lisa Kudrow
The Comeback star has been battling "a flu thing" and had forgotten it was Emmy nomination day. "A little defense mechanism," she admits.
In bed dozing, she heard the phone ringing, which was dutifully answered by her husband. "He didn't want to wake me up." After the third call, Kudrow asked what was going on. Then he delivered the news: she'd earned a lead actress Emmy nomination for her work as Valerie Cherish in 13 episodes of the HBO comedy.
Her reaction?
"I smiled. And fell asleep."
Kudrow says The Comeback's status is still up in the air. "Depending on what week it is, I hear another thing. I'm not going to say anything about it. It would be too disapopinting. There's always the possibility of something," she notes wistfully, before adding,"I don't feel done with this character."
Right now, she's just focusing on the nomination.
"It was kind of a relief. Okay. Good. We thought we did a good job. Now we're happy for the validation. We're over the moon!"
oh happy day! i love life's little unexpected pleasures! so i was at my desk today wrapping up the day job when i got an email from someone at HBO letting me know that lisa kudrow was doing an online chat over at the gold derby (a cool section of latimes.com) well i flew over there and quickly registered as popbytes (of course) and when i entered the room lisa immediately recognized me!! (in case you didn't know i was quite zealous in my love for this now cancelled show - check out valeriecherish.com - she really was my favorite person of 2005)
below is a transcript of the chat edited to my portions - people were asking her a lot about friends but of course i wanted to chat about my beloved the comeback which makes its DVD debut in august! plus i was able to get confirmation from ms. kudrow herself that she did indeed write me that note a few months back! (thanks again to J for hooking me up)
even better than all that - there is talk that lisa could get nominated for an emmy for her amazing work on the comeback! that would be so be the icing on the cupcake for me - she so deserves it! make sure to check out this great article over at the gold derby about the whole possible emmy situation and which three episodes HBO is considering to submit to showcase her amazing comedic talents!
i agree with author tom o'neil that the episode Valerie Does Another Classic Leno should be the one picked - hop on over and see what other episodes are being considered! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
POPBYTES has entered the room.
LISA KUDROW: Popbytes!!!!???!!!!
POPBYTES: hey hey from popbytes.com - owner of valeriecherish.com
POPBYTES: it's me!!! yes!!!!
LISA KUDROW: Oh Popbytes!!!! HI!
POPBYTES: im so excited for the DVD ms. kudrow!!!!
POPBYTES: someone sent me a message a while back and claimed it was from you! i hope it was - i did everything i could to help promote and save the show!
LISA KUDROW: It's gonna be GOOD, the DVD. MPK and I are very very excited
POPBYTES: i think im gonna watch it weekly!
LISA KUDROW: I know you did! That was from me...it was a little stiff, right? sorry, I was trying to sound dignified
POPBYTES: ha!!!! oh my goodness - this makes my day!
POPBYTES: i hope they have some sorta party for dvd release - you guys so deserve it!!!!
POPBYTES: as much as i was sad to see it go - it really ended well - i really felt good about saying bye to val
LISA KUDROW: I don't think there will be a party. We're just so happy they spent the money for the extras we have in there. They're being great about the DVD, really
POPBYTES: oh thats great news! - i was thinking to have a countdown on popbytes until release - something like only XX days until val cherish lands on DVD
POPBYTES: Lisa - i am running out the door - i am gonna post this bit to popbytes tonight - please look for it in the AM! So nice to chat with you! long live valerie cherish! you are AMAZING!!!!
this is the best news i have had in weeks! i am THRILLED - there are finally some concrete details concerning the release of our dear valerie cherish on DVD (august 1st) - thanks to my friend JAM for sending this over - oh i had to post it immediately to popbytes - oh my word! i could run around the block - this is great news and finally those of you who missed out on ms. cherish the first time round on HBO - this is your chance! woo hoo! valerie cherish now & forever! thanks to tvshowsondvd.com for all the fun details below! rock on - i am so stoked! popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo!
Ten years ago she was TV's "It" girl. Now It's a different story. For Valerie Cherish, no price is too high to pay for clinging to the television spotlight.
Lisa Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish, a former B-list sitcom star so desperate to revive her career that she agrees to star in a reality television show called The Comeback.
HBO has announced that they'll release Lisa Kudrow's (Friends) new show on August 1. The 2 disc set will include all 13 episodes from season 1, along with commentaries on 6 episodes, Valerie's DVD interview, and footage of Valerie backstage at Dancing with the Stars. Episodes on the set include:
1. Disc 1 The Comeback (Pilot) - Audio Commentary
2. Valerie Triumphs at the Upfronts - Audio Commentary
3. Valerie Bonds with the Cast - Audio Commentary
4. Valerie Stands Up for Aunt Sassy
5. Valerie Demands Dignity
6. Valerie Saves the Show
7. Valerie Gets a Very Special Episode
Disc 2
8. Valerie Relaxes in Palm Springs
9. Valerie Hangs with the Cool Kids - Audio Commentary
10. Valerie Gets a Magazine Cover
11. Valerie Stands Out on the Red Carpet - Audio Commentary
12. Valerie Shines Under Stress
13. Valerie Does Another Classic Leno - Audio Commentary
popbytes does! last weekend i finally caught her last movie happy endings on DVD last weekend and i really loved it! i so now have a huge crush on jason ritter (who plays such a cute sweet gay character) plus i think director don roos did an excellent job at weaving together a great bunch of random stories amongst a large ensemble of very skilled actors - maggie gyllenhaal was superb and played a role i hadn't quite seen her play before - she is so going to have a long career ahead of her - i would totally recommend checking out this flick if you haven't already...and yes even tom arnold was good!
yet as i watched lisa kudrow i just couldn't help but reminiscing & thinking of our long lost pal valerie cherish - she was so awesome as ms. cherish and in 'happy endings' she totally rocked too! she is such a wonderful comedic actress - i wish she would do more films and/or TV! so then tonight i came across this picture of ms. lisa looking lovely along with director don roos at a recent UK screening of happy endings - i just had to post it here - oh i really do hope that HBO will soon be releasing the DVD - and it better be jam packed full o' valerie extras & outtakes! give her a DVD break! give her a DVD break! give her a DVD break! i swear when it releases we are going to have a huge valerie party! amazon already has a listing for it - i so can't wait! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
gosh it's been a year of ups & oh so many downs but all that motion aside i swear hands down my favorite person of 2005 is valerie cherish - yes i know she is a fictional character that only lived on HBO for 13 short episodes - yet she left an impact that i know many of you still feel today - god bless lisa kudrow with her god given comedic talent combined with this original series - i could watch each and every episode again & again (it will be released on DVD - thank heavens - hopefully with extras galore...)
'the comeback' was all so damn smart & witty and in the end just too good for anyone at HBO to notice - i have never been stirred like i was when valerie got cancelled - i even bought the domain name valeriecherish.com which now hosts all the posts i did for this show - petitions to save the show were plentiful but alas it all has come to and end - it's all so damn sad but last but not least we must thank show mastermind michael patrick king who put himself out there with this show after his huge success with our beloved sex & the city - i wanna see what this boy is going to do next!
here is something extra i have had for a while...but wasn't sure if it was the real deal yet in the spirit of all things hopeful - i like to believe it is indeed true - a huge fan of the show & popbytes claims to have connections with ms. kudrow herself - and for the most part i completely believe him based on all of our emails...i am usually a skeptic but after much review i think it is all the real deal...he sent me this thank you note below - direct from lisa...so thanks to my virtual friend j for making this possible! and if yr reading this lisa - happy new year to you - i so wanna see what you are gonna do next!
Hello MK -
I want to thank you for a few things.
Thanks for broadcasting your appreciation of 'The Comeback' and inviting discussion about it. Your petition to get it reconsidered for more episodes was overwhelming. Thank you. You and all of the Popbytes participants showed us so much appreciation for all the layers that were carefully placed - mostly by Michael Patrick King and his genius. On behalf of all of us involved, I want to let you know that your appreciation made this whole endeavor very fulfilling. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Lisa Kudrow
and finally find a re-post below of all the valerie cherish sound clips i was able to obtain (mainly from my friend brian from las vegas - he really rocked the clips! thanks bringa!) so please do enjoy and gosh maybe someday - somewhere - sometime there will be a place where we can all see our dear valerie cherish back in action (gosh she should do an off-broadway show - like a valerie does stand-up show - seriously - how hot would that fucking be?!?) - we so miss you girl! popbytes over & out! xxoo
PS and yes i have a small crush on dan bucatinsky who played valerie's agent billy - what a cutie!
see i can't go for long without mentioning our dear valerie cherish - people are still clamoring and begging HBO to give the comeback another season! (give her another take - give her another take) so a dear fan of popbytes and ms. cherish sent over a few .mp3 clips of some great valerie moments (posted below) - i so had to share them with you all! thanks to mr. bryan for sending them my way - he mentioned he keeps calling HBO and tells them 'i need to know i am being heard' just like valerie! us valerie fans are a rare breed - i don't know if any ouf our valiant efforts to save this show will payoff - but it sure is fun trying and there better be a DVD of the first season or we will really go nuts! i don't think HBO saw this protest coming - so again sign the petition (over 3200 signatures so far!) and keep calling HBO at 212.512.1208 - popbytes out for now...xxoo
thanks to mr. j for sending this my way - of course i had to post it! ok it is official - i am so obsessed! and now there is an online petition to SAVE VALERIE CHERISH making the rounds - so please head over and add your name to list (plus keep calling HBO @ (212) 512.1208 and demand they bring her back!) - ok popbytes out for now - more later!
ps and don't forget i have all of this archived over on valeriecherish.com!
To: HBO
'Ello hello hello! Listen, babygirl....
We consider the cancellation of the show "The Comeback" a travesty on the part of Home Box Office. Please bring it back!!! The show was underappreciated, and perhaps underwatched, but hit a stride mid-season that would surely be continued into a much deserved second season.
Please bring Valerie, Mickey (our favorite gay), Juna, Mark, Paulie G, Tom, Jane, Francesca and all the rest back for another season!!!!!
gosh i am still so bummed out that the comeback will not return to HBO - people have been emailing me left & right - people love this show and worship valerie cherish played by super funny lady lisa kudrow - i am so sure some people are sick of me going on and on (and on!) about it (this morning i did brunch with a dear friend over at newsroom cafe over on roberston - and she was like why do you love valerie cherish so much??? - i guess i now have a reputation for being some sorta valerie junkie) - anyways last night i got an email from a guy who is starting a SAVE VALERIE CHERISH campaign over at his website - so got me thinking - i wonder if anyone owns the domain name valeriecherish.com - i quickly raced over to godaddy.com and lo & behold it was available - but not anymore since i purchased it - what a 'comeback' score - heck for the 8.95 it was worth getting - and i now have the name re-directed to my valerie archive here on popbytes - i will keep adding to it - so if you have anything to add let me know! maybe we can save this show - i doubt it (i'm kinda the 'glass is half empty' kinda guy...) but let's at least try - keep calling HBO at 212-512-1208 - and demand they 'give valerie another take' - i'm gonna keep on calling - this show and valerie must be saved - gosh i feel so proactive in the moment it's kinda fun and inspiring! popbytes out for now...xxoo
oh kids! say it ain't so! read on below - HBO decided NOT to renew our beloved the comeback for another season - i am devastated - as are many other 'valerie cherish' fans - one awesome fan sent me this note - thanks so much j!
HBO CANCELLED THE COMEBACK ON MONDAY!!!I AM DEVASTATED.
DON'T ASK ME HOW, BUT LISA (KUDROW) LEARNED OF YOUR LOVE FOR THE SHOW...SHE ASKED THAT YOU POST THIS NUMBER AT HBO WHERE YOU GET AN ACTUAL PERSON TO WHOM YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR DISDAIN FOR THE DECISION. THAT NUMBER IS 212-512-1208.
so get those pop fingers dialing - the number does indeed lead to HBO - tell 'em what you think - and how much we will miss our dear 'valerie cherish' - i tried to help save the show by posting like a mad person about it - HBO made a big mistake - the scoop is below - this is such a shame - i am livid - i can't even believe it - oh long live 'valerie cherish' - and god bless lisa kudrow for her genius comedic talents - i am so watching to see what you do next - you are the best! rock on - we will so miss the comeback - popbytes out for now...xxoo...
-------------------- LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - HBO on Monday axed "The Comeback," a
mockumentary comedy starring Lisa Kudrow as a has-been actress seeking to
revive her career.
The former "Friends" star also created the show with production partner
Michael Patrick King. Its 13-episode run ended September 4. Said an HBO
spokeswoman, "We've looked at our schedule, and given our future
commitments, we felt we would not be able to give the show the support it
needed."
--------------------
this just in our pop friend chris is starting a 'SAVE VALERIE!' campaign over at his website - and the graphic is below - call HBO and tell 'em to bring back valerie - demand it - just like ms. cherish would!!!
well hello hello hello! ok i'm gonna calm down and stop freaking everyone out (ie those storm pics i posted!) - it's thursday and today i want to start a valerie cherish revolution! i just got an email (thanks jeff!) from another fan of our dear 'valerie cherish' - the main character of HBO's the comeback - we are so convinced that we must berate HBO with a deluge of emails pleading to bring back the series for at LEAST one more season - they will be re-airing the entire first season starting on sept 16th for those who missed it the first time around...
and for those who just watched the season finale - oh my gosh - it was too funny (and i love that song 'cherish') - i have said it over and over again - but heck let's say it one more time - lisa kudrow who plays 'valerie cherish' is so amazing - she has so morphed into this crazy yet lovable character that it's really a site to see - she is the queen of nuances - oh i love it!
so be sure to go here and at the bottom is a link where you can email HBO direct - we must save this show! so get going and tell them you love 'the comeback' and in honor of my love of the show - i have made 'valerie cherish' her very own category here on popbytes which contains all of my previous posts to support this show! - check out my valerie archive - and rock on! popbytes out for now - long live valerie cherish!!!
hey kids! ah a nice long weekend is always good - and tonight is the season finale of my much beloved the comeback - all held together oh so perfect by valerie cherish played by in my opinion the best comedic actress around lisa kudrow and i feel like the show has picked up steam - a lot more people seem to be liking it - so again let's really hope we get to see more of valerie cherish - any word on the show's return you will all be the first to know! popbytes out for now...sunday nights won't be the same without valerie cherish :(
PS dont forget the season finale of entourage is on as well...
After hosting a memorable coming-out party for the premiere of her reality show, "The Comeback," Valerie makes an even more memorable guest appearance on "The Tonight Show."
Don't missed the final episode of The Comeback "Valerie Does Another Classic Leno" Sunday, September 4th at 10:30PM ET.
yeah you all were expecting it and it is indeed here! i can't say it enough - i love the comeback and valerie cherish - and right now it's a crucial time - we still don't know if this show will return for a second season...and with buzz slowly starting to build & with comedic genius talent like lisa kudrow - HBO would be fucking stupid to not renew this series - it would be comedic suicide - the very last thing HBO needs at the moment - please oh please just give it at least one more season - the pop gods are willing it...popbytes over & out!
Jane pulls rank on Tom and Paulie G to get Valerie more lines on Room and Bored. A stalker threat forces extra security on the set, exposing Valerie's old back problems as she's prepping for a big pratfall scene.
oh gosh - i am so gearing up to cry myself a river tomorrow night - when our dear six feet under finally lays itself to rest after 5 amazing seasons (63 episodes!) - last week i cried almost thru the whole episode - yes heightened by the 'this show is ending - and im so sad' effect - anyways - so today i thought to amuse myself with our dear valerie cherish and her comeback - what else is there to say? i have posted on each episode - and people are starting to think me a little weird for liking this show so much - but it just tickles me pink - i quote her all the time - i find myself going into 'valerie-speak' often - lisa kudrow simple must win some award (maybe a popbytes one!) - she is really that great - ok i will just shut it up for now - but do expect some sorta RIP post on six feet under - oh i am so sad it will all be over very soon...popbytes out & feeling all sentimental...xxoo
Valerie gets a new dress and a new look for a familiar TV-award show.
well hello hello hello! it just wouldn't be sunday for me without our dear valerie cherish and the comeback - i simply love this show - and i will defend it to the end - i still can't get over what an amazing character lisa kudrow has created along with michael patrick king (of 'sex & the city' fame) - and tonight valerie is due to get her very own magazine cover - and i am so sure some antics will get in the way - so tune in tonight - popbytes out for now...xxoo
With Juna getting all the hype and most of the magazine covers, Valerie enlists a new publicist, Billy Stanton, to land a cover of her own. Billy obliges by scoring a shoot for Be Yoga, forcing Valerie to remodel her fitness room and take a yoga crash course.
