Will & Grace follows the lives of the title characters, a gay man and a straight woman who are best friends and roommates, and support each other through the various ups and downs of romance and life. Will and Grace also spend time with Grace’s wealthy, self-centered “assistant” Karen and Will’s flamboyant friend Jack.
Aired:
September 21, 1998-May 18, 2006 (eight seasons, 194 episodes) on NBC
See It:
All eight seasons are available on DVD.
History:
Will & Grace premiered in 1998 to strong ratings but mixed reviews, with the burden of being one of the first shows to feature an openly gay lead character (after the recently ended Ellen on ABC). The show became even more of a hit when it was moved to NBC’s popular Thursday-night Must See TV lineup, along with Friends and Just Shoot Me. It won 16 Emmys over the course of its eight seasons, and finished strong in the ratings after slipping a little toward the end of its run.
Cast:
Eric McCormack as Will Truman
Debra Messing as Grace Adler
Megan Mullally as Karen Walker
Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland
Debra Messing as Grace Adler
Megan Mullally as Karen Walker
Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland
Creators:
Will & Grace was created and executive produced by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, based on the real-life relationship between the gay Mutchnick and his straight female best friend. Mutchnick and Kohan worked together as writers on The Wonder Years, and after Will & Grace went on to create the short-lived sitcoms Good Morning, Miami, Twins and Four Kings.
