by tim parks –
When Will & Grace premiered on NBC back in 1998, it offered television audiences something they hadn’t previously seen on a big three network (gasp), a relationship between a gay man and his straight female friend.
Eric McCormack portrayed Will Truman, the very uptight lawyer and as yin to his…Um, yang was Debra Messing as Grace Adler, a neurotic interior designer. Thrown into the mix for excellent measure were Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland, the hyperbolic take on the “typical gay male,” who hilariously found comedic balance in Megan Mullally’s pill-popping, alcoholic socialite, Karen Walker.
The chemistry—not unlike the one coursing through Karen’s bloodstream—between the quartet was the thing of sitcom lore, making the show, featuring gay principal characters, one of the most successful in television history. It was no fluke that it resonated with audiences, both gay and straight, staying on the air for eight years and nabbing 16 Emmy wins, including gilded statuettes for all four principal actors.
The show bid adieu in 2006, and now 11 years later with reboot fever in the air in Hollywood, NBC has resurrected one of the brighter feathers in their cap, when Will & Grace returns to The Peacock Network, Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Let’s take a look at what the show’s stars have done since then professionally, what to expect from 2.0 and what the show should avoid.
After Will & Grace
McCormack made the one-off rounds as a guest star on shows like Monk and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and found some long-term footing with stints on The New Adventures of Old Christine with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and for three seasons on Perception. On the TNT crime drama, he starred as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a neuropsychiatrist with schizophrenia that helped the FBI solve their most difficult cases. Looks like he avoided typecasting!
However, that wasn’t necessarily the case for Sean Hayes. The actor came out as gay in 2010 and has since stated that he wished he had done it during the run of Will & Grace. In 2014, Hayes’ attempt to capture gay lightning in a gay bottle with his sitcom Sean Saves the World didn’t do much to save his career, only lasting 11 episodes. Though he went on to add several successful theatre credits to his resume.
Mullally’s career has been, well, “interesting” is a word that comes to mind. She appeared off and on with her real-life husband Nick Offerman on Parks & Rec., was almost unrecognizable on the off-kilter Adult Swim effort, Children’s Hospital, lending her voice to Bob’s Burgers and co-starred in the James Franco comedy Why Him?, with guest spots and recurring roles on other comedy series, including Happy Endings, 30 Rock, Up All Night, Boston Legal, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.
Messing definitely had her ups and downs with a trio of shows that only lasted briefly. Starting with The Starter Wife (see, what I did there?) followed by Smash, The Mysteries of Laura and the television remake of the 1987 film, Dirty Dancing.
The More You Know
It looked like we would probably be subscribed to just watch reruns of the sitcom, that the gang would be getting back together. Beginning when they appeared in a short episode about the Clinton/and that other guy’s (if you can’t say anything nice applies here) debate and to get out there and vote for, well, not anything that resembles a Cheeto. It proved so popular that a full-fledged revival was in the works.
NBC initially ordered 12 episodes and then increased it to 16 and if that weren’t enough, they’ve already renewed the show for a second season with a 12-episode run. The show includes Will & Grace series creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, back as showrunners and executive producers, as well as celebrated sitcom director James Burrows, director for the original eight-year run of the series.
Sadly, one of the original castmembers who won’t be back on board is Shelley Morrison, who played Karen’s maid and sparring partner, Rosario Salazar. Regarding Morrison’s retiring from acting, the reboot is “dealing with her as a character and we’re writing to it very specifically,” according to an interview with Mutchnick, reported in The Hollywood Reporter. The show will also address the passing of the beloved Debbie Reynolds, who played Grace’s mother Bobbi Adler.
So far, the only confirmed supporting players set to return are Harry Connick, Jr., who played Grace’s husband Leo, Minnie Driver, Karen’s ex-daughter-in-law Lorraine and Bobby Cannavale as Will’s ex-boyfriend, Vince. I know that Beverly Leslie (Leslie Jordan) got blown off a balcony by a huge gust of wind in the series finale— but maybe it was all just a dream—because Karen surely needs somebody to do verbal battle with aside from Will.
Speaking of the finale, which had Will & Grace not speaking for a number of years and running into each other when dropping their respective children off at college…well, the powers-that-be are just gonna pretend that didn’t happen. I think that’s a capital idea, as the finale was pretty meh, for lack of a better word.
During its original run, the show wasn’t afraid to poke at some big cats with a stick…Wait, that sounds dirtier than intended. Let’s try again…Rather, they weren’t afraid to get political. Yes, that’s better. The first episode, entitled “11 Years Later,” had them travelling to the White House with plenty of P.O.T.U.S. and F.L.O.T.U.S. jabs. It also explored the more-than-codependent-relationship between the two titular people and the changes in gay culture since the show went off the air.
Timing Is Everything
The timing seems perfect for the Will & Grace revival, especially in a country as divided as it is, with the rights of many being threatened and debates surrounding the “T” in LGBT. The show, because of its smart writing always nailed the notion that we are just people. On a personal note, the show actually helped me come out to my aunt and grandmother, who both loved it back in the day. Helping facilitate a long overdue conversation I needed to have with them…And yes, they had both met me!
If laughter is the best medicine, then we should be prepared to open up and say, “aaahhh,” as early reviews have suggested that this is the Will & Grace of its heyday and not a sad attempt to ride on nostalgia’s coattails. I’m lookin’ right at you, Fuller House!
Time and ratings will tell if the hype surrounding Will & Grace 2.0 is worth a big ole “Welcome back!” I just hope that the comparisons I always got to Jack, don’t start up again. Stay tuned!
What’s In a Name?
Okay, this brings us to the what-to-avoid portion of our show, so to speak. Don’t overdo it with the guest stars! The first time around, it was starting to be a little bit like the revolving guest stars door from The Love Boat. The series featured—this is the very short list version—
Madonna, Janet Jackson, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Bacon, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Ellen DeGeneres, Joan Collins and Geena Davis, with too many more to list.
Interestingly enough, Tony-winner Ben Platt, Jane Lynch and Andrew Rannells were recently announced as guest stars. So there’s that. Though if they want to throw fans a bone and include that one very special guest, my money would be on Cher. After all, “Just Jack” needs something to kvetch about.
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