Lisa Kudrow welcomes son Julian Stern as guest star in The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow has been joined by a special guest star in the latest episode of the HBO mockumentary series, "The Comeback". Julian Stern, the real-life son of the veteran actress, appears in the episode titled "Valerie Does It All" as Evan, an artificial intelligence trainer.

Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Mr Stern described the experience of working alongside his mother as a "genuine dream come true," despite initial nerves regarding their professional debut together.

"I was really nervous going in, cause I’ve never worked with my mom professionally like that before," he admitted.

In the current narrative, Valerie Cherish navigates the chaotic production of an AI-scripted sitcom. Mr Stern’s character, Evan, represents a former TV writer who pivoted to technology for a more stable career path.

Mr Stern noted that while his mother is a "great actress," it was surprisingly simple to separate her from her iconic character.

"When I’m talking with Valerie Cherish, different person, and it was really easy to slip into just, ‘Oh yeah, this is a different person, this is a complete stranger,’" he explained.

He believes his role showcases that human ingenuity remains essential, even as technology integrates into Hollywood in "weirder" ways.

The production involved physical comedy under the guidance of director Michael Patrick King, who encouraged Mr Stern to lean into his character’s timid personality.

This appearance follows Mr Stern’s previous work on animated shorts such as "The Voiceless Man".

Currently, he is developing a series titled "Goblin Girlfriend" and working on a book option for a potential feature-length film script.