‘The Comeback’ Star Damian Young [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: Mark Meets Seth Rogen & Gives His Home To Paulie G, Valerie Cherish ‘Seeing Red’ In Season 2 of Lisa Kudrow’s HBO Series [PHOTOS]

Actor Damian Young finds himself in an interesting situation on HBO's The Comeback. As we watch Lisa Kudrow's Valerie Cherish continue to forge onward, hoping for the project of her dreams, she still has to head home at the end of the day and have a life outside of Hollywood –– yes, there are such things. Which is where her husband Mark Berman (played by Young) comes in. Above all, even the craziness that comes from Cherish's career and the ever-interrupting nature of Jane and her crew, it seems safe to say that Mark and Valerie have a rather rock solid marriage. But of course, that doesn't come without work...

In Season 2, we've seen much more of Mark and what Cherish's career does to their home life. In fact, in tonight's episode, we saw what it was like when Paulie G, Seth Rogen and the crew completely took over their home! And while it was initially a rather attractive idea – having Rogen in his house – Mark is quickly met with the truth that the behind-the-scenes side of Hollywood is not as pretty as in front of the camera.

Damian Young recently spoke with MStars News about The Comeback, his thoughts on Season 2 and what it's like to have that sense of community the HBO series brings to him.

MStars News: Tonight's episode brought us halfway into Season 2 of The Comeback. Having been on the show for both seasons, how do you feel about this season compared to the first?
Damian Young: This season felt like summer camp. It felt like we had a drama club reunion, but instead of drinking and talking about the old days we decided to do some more drama.

There's a lot less pressure on Season 2; this is kind of a little treat everyone gets to do that popped up out of nowhere. It felt totally free.

MS: Almost like no time ever passed?
DY: It definitely felt that way. I was really nervous at the first table read because I didn't know what it was going to be like, but once we got into it we just fell back into it. It was like 10 years hadn't gone by. It was really cool.

MS: What was going through your head when you heard it was officially coming back to HBO?
DY: I was really happy about it! I live in New York and have been doing plays so I was really excited to do TV again. I didn't believe it was actually going to happen though because fun, good things just don't happen often, you know? But I was so thrilled to get on the plane and go to LA and do this again.

MS: Season 1 captured something very unique, something Lance Barber told me the industry got but Middle America didn't. Was there a fear on your end that Season 2 wouldn't be able to have the same feel?
DY: Well, I knew the scripts would be excellent, and they were. And I still had Lisa Kudrow to work off of, which was great. She's just phenomenal. She's able to carry the show and ride an edge that is so dangerous.

With someone like Valerie Cherish, you could easily fall off the edge and land in the world of ridiculous and she doesn't, which is amazing. As soon as we started reading, it felt the exact same as Season 1. It's almost like when you're working with Lisa Kudrow you don't have to work. [laughs]

MS: As we know, Season 2 shows Valerie going back to work on a series with Paulie G. How do you think Mark initially felt about that?
 DY: Oh, it's a terrible idea! It's immediately terrible. In the first episode this year we see bits of her career life, which was hilarious, but to be crossed like that on two shows – I can imagine the months and years Mark had to hold her hand and tell her things will be okay. She's a doer, but there's no question that when he hears the name Paulie G, he immediately thinks its poison.

MS: That's true but at the same time you can't do anything about it.
DY: Exactly! We're independent and it's not Lucy and Desi. I'm not going to spank her. [laughs]

MS: This episode was a big storyline for Mark. Valerie gives up your home for the show, sort of saving it. In the beginning, Mark is understandably annoyed but it seems part of him thinks it's kind of cool as well, would you agree?
DY: I would. First and foremost, she dangles Seth Rogen in front of his face. She knows that'll work. So yeah, I want Seth Rogen in my house. I want to hang out with him and such. [laughs]

Mark is not immune to the allure of celebrity and Hollywood. He's married to an actress who struggles so he sees that but he also sees the world he doesn't know –– superstardom. So that does make a big difference to him. At the same time, he doesn't realize what having a crew in his house really means. So that drives him crazy.

MS: That's the second time she did that. She dangled the Golden Globes in his face as well. And you're right; many people find it hard to resist celebrity.
DY: Right, and here he thinks it'll be just a couple of guys in his house. With him, it's 30 smelly working people. [laughs]

MS: Is there more tension between Mark and Valerie in Season 2 as opposed to Season 1?
DY: Yeah, I'd say so. That's part of what the story was for Season 2. I think a big story this season is the relationship. It gets strained and then resolves. That's what I like to work on, problems in the relationships, whether they be big or minute I like to see how couples deal with it.

Mark and Valerie's is an absurd situation, yes, but it's still a husband and wife and how they resolve their differences. It was very exciting for me to do it.

MS: Mark is an interesting character. We see so much of Valerie's work life; it's great to get a glimpse into her home life. Amid all of her craziness, do you think they have a good marriage?
DY: I do! We see them work at it. They don't abandon it; their marriage is a very important thing to them. They're definitely very strong.

MS: In the newest episode, there are so many things that could annoy a husband. And in the end, Mark appears to have finally had it with Jane and her crew. What do you think was the final straw for him?
DY: I think the suicide was a big moment. [laughs] That's definitely a thing you don't want to deal with, especially when you're fleeing your house and you're tired. [laughs] That's when people say I need to be alone for a while, and every couple needs that, I think.

But yeah, [laughs] yeah that was absurdly funny and ridiculous and awful.

MS: Why do you think Mark puts up with everything he does? The cameras, the show, etc.
DY: I think he's respectful of his wife and her decision about how she wants to live her life. He wants to be supportive. I think that's another indication of why their marriage is so strong. He wants her to live her life.

MS: So what are you working on other than The Comeback?
DY: I just did a new movie We Only Know So Much, and I'm starting a play at Lincoln Center in January. This year was good; I got to do both TV and plays.

MS: I've talked to a lot of actors who, despite doing TV and film, they love live theater. Why is that? Is it the immediate reaction from the crowd?
DY: It's that, but as I get older it's the sense of community. Being on The Comeback, I'm there from beginning to end, and I love that. The theatrical process is you get together and you make something together. Too often, in my career, I'm a guest. I don't have that sense of community. The theater is where that's grounded.

MS: At the same time, however, those guest appearances can be prominent. For example, your role on Californication as Bill was so heavily embedded into the story.
DY: That's true, and that was a whole season. It's always cool when something like that comes alone.

Be sure to tune into HBO's The Comeback Sunday nights at 10 p.m.