Adorable Mary Tyler Moore Promotes New Show

In this recently unearthed promo from 1970, Mary Tyler Moore explains the premise of her eponymous new sitcom -- with just a hint of Valerie Cherish coming through at the end!

Enjoy ...

Oh, Mickey -- You Just Blew My Mind

Have found myself in a dysfunctional relationship with Sam Fox, the character played by Pamela Adlon on the FX show "Better Things." Sam is essentially Louis C.K. on "Louie" -- only butcher and (somehow) more unlikable. But because she has three daughters, the mom aspect always manages to pull me back in -- flawed moms are my favorite -- so it's pretty much my favorite "new" show. (It's actually on Season 2, which we figured out by watching the second premiere and being really confused.)

And as if the mock funeral she made her daughters throw for her last night wasn't enough -- did I mention her character was flawed? -- Robert Michael Morris, aka Mickey Deane, Valerie Cherish's hairdresser and confidant, appeared briefly as a bar friend of Sam's. (Morris died in May at 77.) If you're wondering if anyone was crying by the end, "I'm It!"

I'm guessing this was his swan song ...

UPDATE: 

Lisa Kudrow discusses the death of Robert Michael Morris.

Robert Michael Morris, Mickey the Hairdresser on 'The Comeback,' Is Dead at 77

Positively heartbroken to read that Robert Michael Morris, who played Lisa Kudrow's hopelessly devoted hairdresser, Mickey Dean, on "The Comeback" has died at 77. The cause of death wasn't immediately available. As great as HBO's show about a washed-up actress trying to claw her way back into the spotlight in the age of reality television was, the show wouldn't have been half as good without Mickey by Valerie's side -- always there to make her feel the world was still her oyster, like it was perennially 1992. Deadline has more on the playwright, director and teacher who only took up acting later in life -- onetime student Michael Patrick King wrote the Mickey part with Morris in mind -- and thank god he did! Read HERE.

Perhaps the duo's greatest moment of all ...

We got a taste of what it would be like if anything ever happened to Mickey on Season 2 of the show, but it hurts way more in real life. RIP, Mickey.

The Complete 'Comeback' Now on DVD

The extras seem a bit skimpy, but I'm still excited to see that the complete two seasons of "The Comeback" are out on DVD. If you still haven't watched, you're truly missing out on something unforgettable. Order HERE.

Valerie's Cherished Possessions

In this deleted scene from "The Comeback," Valerie Cherish finds a reality TV moment that's a little too real. Watch HERE.

Thank You, Darlin'

   Valerie Cherish is a big fan of the site How Old Do I Look?

And the Emmy Goes to ... Lisa Kudrow for 'The Comeback'

Season two of "The Comeback" -- and the finale, in particular -- exceeded my wildest expectations. A true testament to the creative genius of Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King that they were able to pick up nine years later and make a show that was as biting and relevant as the first time they stunned the TV-watching public with their ahead-of-its-time creation. No spoilers here, but the finale had me crying for 20 minutes and included a moment not seen since "The Wizard of Oz" -- truly sublime. I like the idea of their not doing a new season every year, but please don't make us wait nearly another decade ...

Read about my one-night stand with Valerie Cherish when this was all just a dream HERE.

Valerie Lately

Lest you think Valerie Cherish hasn't been working once "Room & Bored" got canceled, here's more of what she's been up to these last nine years before getting cast on HBO's "Seeing Red" ...

Never one to miss out on a viral sensation, Valerie embraces the flash mob trend. 

 Valerie takes a selfie while waiting in line for a new phone. (Can you say, trendy times two?) 

 Valerie loves a photo op, especially with her "Girls." 

 Valerie would never miss an event like the "Looking" premiere. 

 Valerie trying to get a *bite* out of the "True Blood" premiere. 

 Putting those signature dance moves to work, Valerie gets in on the twerking craze.

Valerie Loves Me

For those who don't know, Valerie Cherish is special to me for many reasons. Not only is she my favorite television character of the past 20 years, she also put my blog on the map with THIS POST back in 2005, which led to high-profile links on Towleroad and Queerty in my blog's infancy. Love you, Val! xo

Song of the Day: 'Just Can't Get Enough' by Depeche Mode

Perfect song for the ending of the return of "The Comeback." If you haven't watched yet, you won't understand yet. But suffice to say Mark cannot believe that even after everything she's been through Valerie just can't get enough ...

Speak & Spell (Deluxe Remastered) - Depeche Mode

Cherishing Valerie

It's the day after the return of "The Comeback" and everyone's weighing in. Here's an exchange that summed it up nicely for me.

Hey Kenneth!
What's up?
Did you watch the first ep of THE COMEBACK? Halfway through it I thought it seemed kind of lame and forced, like its time as a concept was past. But then halfway though I think it hit its stride and suddenly got very interesting. By the end I was hooked again. It seems less funny and more concept-centered this go-round, which I like. I am indeed looking forward to more! (and Mickey looks so old! Shoot him! Haha no) At least this will hold me over until WORKAHOLICS starts up again.
xo,
Mark

'I'll have an Angie Dickinson'

Our night was a bit of a mess. My friend's cable box froze at 9:56 and a few of us went into full panic mode rebooting and MISSING the first 7 minutes of the show. (We waited 9 years and then that happened!) I didn't even want to watch it at that point -- just wait till 1 a.m. for the rebroadcast -- but we did. It was sort of out of context without those first few minutes, but I was surprised how quickly it picked up where it left off. Maybe I got to the good part faster than you this way, but when Val and Juna were talking about getting together and Val said: "Tomorrow?" we all about fell out of our chairs. It's so meta -- so many stories within stories within stories that your head might explode -- but I really thought it was seemless and was instantly hooked. (Mickey IS the show!)
I've only seen bits and pieces of WORKAHOLICS and thought it might be brilliant. Sounds like I should be watching!
kw

Hello Hello Hello, Hollywood

Would have killed to have been at the Hollywood premiere of "The Comeback" last night. Everyone looked great -- counting the minutes till Sunday's return!

He'll have the Angie Dickinson

What Valerie Cherish Has Been To ...

Oh, Lisa. You've clearly outdone yourself this time! Valerie Cherish has been very busy since "Room & Bored" was canceled:

In the late ‘00s, you may have seen Valerie Cherish and Mickey Deane in infomercials for Cherish Your Hair, Valerie’s eponymous red hair dye product.

Valerie made her horror film debut in this independent film, an Official Selection of the Brooks County Student Film Festival.

Valerie Cherish guest starred as Holly Johnson, cracking the case on the syndicated crime drama.

Valerie gave her “It Wall” a spruce up on FixIt Network’s Done in a Day.

'The Comeback' Comeback

It's like He heard my prayers.

Cherish Every Second

BuzzFeed has your first look at the poster for the return of "The Comeback." November is next month!

Come Back to the 'Room & Bored,' Valerie Cherish, Valerie Cherish

Somebody pinch me!

Bravo, Valerie!

Andy Cohen tweets:

I DO need to SEE that! It's official - you'll see me on return of the (amazing, before it's time) THE COMEBACK on HBO in November. Pinching myself..

Valerie's not a Real Housewife this time around, but if you want to know what Andy has to do with the new season, read EW's piece HERE.

Valerie's Still Got It!

Valerie Cherish does her best Al Pacino in the latest teaser for HBO reboot of "The Comeback." A reader sent me part of the Entertainment Weekly article about the new season and although it was piecemeal cellphone photos of pages -- and I said I wanted to be surprised! -- it sounds like the premise has to do with HBO doing a documentary about the fake reality show about Val's comeback. (Meta much?) Not sure how I feel about this -- I guess it was the only way to re-involve the originals as it's unlikely "Room and Bored" would be on nine seasons later -- but I'm going to leave it to the genius minds of Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow. They haven't done me wrong yet!

UPDATE: EW has a clearer explanation of the new season's plot and it makes more sense:

Set in 2014, season two finds desperate actress Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) cast in Seeing Red, a single-camera HBO dramedy written by her old nemesis Paulie G., the writer who all but terrorized her on the set of their 2005 sitcom Room & Bored. Fresh from his second stint in rehab, Paulie has written a dark HBO comedy loosely based on his behind the scenes struggles with drugs while working with Valerie on Bored. “Valerie agrees to play it even though she’s probably playing the worst version of herself, because she thinks it will take her to the next level,” says co-creator King. “The closer Valerie gets to this heat, the more her life starts to fall apart.”

Valerie Cherish Keeps It 'Real'

Dan Bucatsinky -- aka Lisa Kudrow's creative partner and the guy who played Valerie Cherish's aggressive PR rep -- tweeted this photo over the weekend, which happened to be when I rewatched the first season of "The Comeback." I can't imagine anyone loving this show more than I did -- remember THIS? -- but even I was taken aback after all these years rewatching it and seeing Valerie being confronted with the childhood trauma of her curved spine, with Jane tearing up as Val recalled not being included in the yearbook photo of her school's field hockey team despite her dressing out for every game and acting as the team's gopher. (Jane's tear in the reflection reflected my own.) I've heard from a reader that the plot of the series' upcoming reboot is revealed in the new Entertainment Weekly, but I have not seen what it says yet. This photo with Andy Cohen has me wondering if Val winds up becoming a Real Housewife -- Lisa was convinced that Val would be doing whatever was possible to get on a reality show when she speculated where Val would be today back in 2011 -- but truth be told I'm OK with being surprised. While it would be virtually impossible for the show to live up to the original season, my respect for Lisa Kurdrow -- whose versatility is surpassed by few actresses in Hollywood -- knows no bounds.

'The Comeback' Comes Back

You know you want it, too.