‘The Comeback’ Star Laura Silverman [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: Jane Returns In Episode 2 Of Lisa Kudrow’s Valerie Cherish-Driven HBO Series [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Season 2 of HBO's The Comeback returned to the network just last week (Sunday, Nov. 9). Earlier tonight, episode 2 aired and displayed the return of Jane!

Played by actress Laura Silverman, Jane stood as the eyes and ears of The Comeback (in the show) throughout Season 1 –– somewhat acting as the audience to a degree. During tonight's episode, we find her character rather reluctant to get back into the swing of things, mainly due to the harsh reality of Hollywood. Regardless, either by her immense charm or unbelievable persistence, Valerie manages to bring Jane back to the team to shoot some BTS (that's behind the scenes!) footage of her new series Seeing Red.

Laura Silverman recently spoke with MStars News about the return of The Comeback, the genius behind Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King's writing and her own future plans!

MStars News: The Comeback aired its Season 2 premiere this past Sunday. Episode 2 has just shown the return of Jane! When did you first hear that the show was coming back?
Laura Silverman: It was a few months before it was announced. I think there were rumors about it, though. But when I heard it was coming back I didn't know if I was in it. So I tried not to think about it too much. [laughs]

I thought it would be great but I just didn't know how they would use me. But when I found out that I was going to be in it, it was so close to when we started film. It all happened so fast.

MS: How did you feel about the show's return? Season 1 had a perfect arc for a one-season series.
LS: I always felt that too! Of course it was disappointing when it didn't get picked up, but I always felt like it had a beautiful arc to it and it was great as a single season. I had no idea what they were going to do, but I also had complete faith that it was going to be great. I have total faith in Michael [Patrick King] and Lisa [Kudrow]. They knew exactly what they were going to do. I knew it was going to be something very smart and great. And it was!

Over the years, they've checked in for fun to see what Valerie Cherish would be doing because the character is a creation of Lisa's. It's not like they got a deal doing a show and they created the character. She created that first.

MS: Since the show ended, that faux-documentary style has taken off. Many would argue that maybe the format started with The Comeback. Would you agree?
LS: I don't know; I know people have said it was ahead of its time and that people didn't get it at the time but then it was everywhere. [The show] is done so precisely to look like is all this just happening? But it's not... the show is really tightly controlled – every single bit of it. Every time you see a piece of Jane's hair, that's not an accident.

It's really fine-tuned. Michael Patrick King has such a precise vision. He sees everything! He knows what he wants and sees how one little element can throw it off balance. It is a very delicate balance. We're creating this world of intense discomfort and it can so easily fall into just pure ridiculousness and topple over in any direction. I feel like he keeps it precariously balanced at all times. It's really kind of amazing.

MS: You play Jane, the producer of The Comeback. In Season 1, you were sort of the audience, seeing The Comeback unfold. Where do we find Jane in Season 2?
LS: Jane has removed herself. She's not in the grind. She's become a documentary filmmaker and won an Oscar for a short film. But nobody cares about her next project. We see her when she's bought a house and is living this protective life away from it all.

MS: Funny enough, Jane is using the Oscar as a doorstop. And even with the Academy Award, she has hesitation getting back into it with Valerie.
LS: Yeah, she does not want to do it at all. She's fully aware how hateful and awful the whole thing was the first time around. People had an interesting perspective on Jane. I never felt she was devious. She was working for someone and doing her job. That's how it works. You don't have control of final cut. She was doing her job and trying to make it like everyone else. So she went on to do her own things that were more meaningful to her.

MS: There's a quote in Episode 2 where you tell Valerie the Oscar doesn't matter. But to Valerie, that's everything. And when Jane first sees Valerie again she says, "You never give up." Do you think that's a good or a bad thing for Valerie?
LS: I think the way Jane says it... she says it lovingly. I think she has a total appreciation for Valerie and what she's about –– that she keeps going. Jane couldn't hack it. God bless Valerie for that.

I'm amazed by people who can keep going in this horrible business. [laughs] I'm kind of on the outside of it and that makes it more difficult for me because I'm not working it. But God bless those people who have it in them to do it.

MS: From watching the episode, it seems maybe Jane isn't too happy with Valerie's decision to work with Paulie G again. Am I correct in that assumption?
LS: I don't think she's judging it one way or the other. I just think she doesn't like the idea of going back to doing a reality show again, but she also doesn't like to see Valerie in that position again with this guy who is such a jerk. That makes it extra unappealing.

I think she sees Valerie is putting herself right back in a situation where she's bullied and treated badly, and Jane is going to be there filming it. It's just an extra huge reason to say no. She didn't want to do it in the first place, but now she has to see him.

MS: Makes sense. It's like you already don't like the job, now you have to work with someone you don't like.
LS: Yeah exactly! And she's seeing the person she cares about being mistreated by the same person.

MS: Outside of The Comeback, you've worked on so many things: Bob's Burgers, Dr. Katz, The Sarah Silverman Program. I personally loved when you were on Curb Your Enthusiasm. You were also on House. So many different genres. Is there any show on today that you'd like to do?
LS: I feel weird saying it but I would love to be on Getting On, which is also on HBO. I know we're paired with it but I think that show is brilliant. The cast is brilliant. It's exactly the type of show I think I could do well at.

MS: Is there anything else you're working on that you can mention?
LS: I've been focusing a lot on writing with a writing partner. We've written several pilots and have shown them around and have gotten some really great responses. Hopefully I'll be moving forward with those!

Tune into The Comeback Season 2 on HBO, Sundays at 10 p.m.