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Season 1 – Will & Grace

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Will & Grace 1998 Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In the original eight-season run of this groundbreaking sitcom, best friends Will, a meticulous corporate lawyer, and Grace, a neurotic interior decorator, share a New York apartment after Grace leaves her fiancé at the altar. Will and Grace, along with their pals Karen, an outspoken socialite, and Jack, a free-spirited actor, face the highs and lows of life in Manhattan together. From sex, dating and divorce to cutting cultural commentary, nothing's off limits -- and all is fair game -- in this Emmy-winning comedy.
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Will & Grace — Season 1

Will & Grace — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Eric McCormarck and Debra Messing's fizzy chemistry helps make Will & Grace a platonic ideal, with Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally's broader performances bringing some crackling comedy to this sweet sitcom.

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Critics Reviews

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Caryn James New York Times These actors are enormously congenial, but are stranded by scripts that assume it's clever to have Will and Grace play ''The $25,000 Pyramid'' really well together. And they are surrounded by annoying sidekicks. Mar 19, 2021 Full Review Brian Courtis The Age (Australia) Apart from snappy dialogue and pacey performances, this show's greatest asset is probably the skill and experience of its director, James Burrows. Mar 19, 2021 Full Review Robin Oliver Sydney Morning Herald They're all wonderful, though the crafty Mullally, a Seinfeld walk-on, almost steals the show. Mar 19, 2021 Full Review John Levesque Seattle Post-Intelligencer With a little will and a touch of grace, this show could be a big winner. Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Robert David Sullivan Boston Phoenix The most likely success of the season, as well as the most Frasier-like in its ability to transcend a contrived premise. Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Victoria Brownworth Bay Area Reporter Though Will & Grace is not without flaws, it is, in a word, hilarious, with a superb cast and snap-diva dialogue. Apr 12, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike P The most successful and mainstream queer themed show to date. It's not perfect; and occasionally it falls victim to it's own stereotyping or is hackneyed by its own formulas; but it also has consistently engaging storylines; two likeable leads and their hilarious sidekicks; witty writing; and offering up a very competent, bubly entertainment for television viewers. And all of this plays like a very light, sweet, unassuming chapter from Eloise at the Plaza; or maybe Auntie Mame; (peppered with some naughty jokes); with it's colorful, childlike, gentle, metropolitan and meterosexual characters; in their own little Our Gang clique; New York's own little Four Musketeers. And it's through that sweetness, that humanity, that the show so successfully telegraphs it's messaging of tolerance and acceptance. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Almost 25 years after its premiere, Will & Grace is still laugh out loud funny and surprisingly current and relevant. In its initial seasons it was a uniquely refreshing addition to the comedy scene, as it sought neither to teach moral lessons nor to be "woke," but rather simply to entertain. Will & Grace mocked and ridiculed to a degree and with a comedic result never previously seen on network TV. Only in the final seasons did drama begin to cast a negative pall over the show, making some episodes not just unfunny, but in truth, distressing. This is where the producers and writers went completely off the rails, a lesson that every comedy show since should have learned, but sadly have not. No one watches a comedy to be irritated, annoyed, lectured to, or saddened. Viewers watch comedies for escapist reasons, not to see a mirroring of their own lives' dramas and disappointments. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Will & Grace — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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David Kohan

Creator

Max Mutchnick

Creator

Eric McCormack

Will Truman

Debra Messing

Grace Adler

Megan Mullally

Karen Walker

Sean Hayes

Jack McFarland

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 21, 1998 Pilot When Grace (Debra Messing) gets a marriage proposal, Will (Eric McCormack) risks their friendship by telling her what he thinks. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 28, 1998 A New Lease on Life Will (Eric McCormack) has to decide whether to invite Grace (Debra Messing) to live with him or put up with his roommate (Sean Hayes). Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 5, 1998 Head Case Will (Eric McCormack) faces the big issues when Grace (Debra Messing) moves in and wants to knock down the bathroom walls. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 12, 1998 Between a Rock and Harlin's Place Grace's (Debra Messing) decorating job on Harlin's (Gary Grubbs) place embarrasses Will (Eric McCormack), who then makes an even bigger mess. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 26, 1998 Boo! Humbug Jack and Karen (Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally) head out to party, while Will and Grace (Eric McCormack, Debra Messing) go trick-or-treating with Harlan's (Gary Grubbs) kids. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 9, 1998 William, Tell Grace worries that Will is keeping secrets from her after Jack discloses Will's past affair with a client. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 16, 1998 Where There's a Will, There's No Way Grace (Debra Messing) blames Will (Eric McCormack) for her lack of a social life and decides that they can no longer have fun. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 23, 1998 The Buying Game Grace (Debra Messing) seeks Will's (Eric McCormack) advice on buying a studio, then sets out to prove she can make the deal. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 15, 1998 The Truth About Will and Dogs Will (Eric McCormack) develops a dog obsession after Grace (Debra Messing) brings home a puppy, forcing her to take action. Details Episode 10 Aired Jan 5, 1999 The Big Vent Will and Grace (Eric McCormack, Debra Messing) eavesdrop on the couple downstairs (guest stars Tom Sullivan, Corinne Bohrer), who are involved in a marital conflict. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 12, 1999 Will on Ice Jack and Grace (Sean Hayes, Debra Messing) surprise Will (Eric McCormack) on his birthday with tickets to an ice-skating show with Rudy Galindo (as himself). With Megan Mullally. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 2, 1999 My Fair Maid-y Will (Eric McCormack) hires a cleaning lady (guest star Wendie Jo Sperber) to help Grace (Debra Messing) with her preparations for an upcoming decorators' contest. With Sean Hayes and guest star Raphael Sbarge. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 9, 1999 The Unsinkable Mommy Adler Grace (Debra Messing) gets a visit from her mother (guest star Debbie Reynolds), who wreaks havoc by suggesting that she marry Will (Eric McCormack). Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 16, 1999 Big Brother Is Coming Will's (Eric McCormack) estranged, older brother (guest star John Slattery) turns up at Jack's (Sean Hayes) birthday party; Karen (Megan Mullally) shops with Jack. With Debra Messing. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 23, 1999 Big Brother Is Coming Grace (Debra Messing) tells Will (Eric McCormack) about her romance with his brother (guest star John Slattery); Karen (Megan Mullally) helps Jack (Sean Hayes) deal with turning 30. Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 2, 1999 Yours, Mine or Ours Will and Grace (Eric McCormack, Debra Messing) compete for the affections of their new neighbor (guest star David Newsom). With Megan Mullally. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 23, 1999 Secrets & Lays Grace (Debra Messing) romances an old flame (guest star David Sutcliffe) while in Vermont and tries to hide the fling from Will (Eric McCormack). Tom Bosley also guest stars. Details Episode 18 Aired Apr 8, 1999 Grace, Replaced Will uses his new neighbor, Val, for his plans while Grace works; Jack is sentenced to pick up trash. Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 22, 1999 Will Works Out Will learns a lesson about prejudice from Jack; Karen tells Grace about her rocky marriage. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 29, 1999 Saving Grace A successful publicist (guest star Miguel Ferrer) hires Grace (Debra Messing) to decorate his office with the condition that Will (Eric McCormack) dates him. Details Episode 21 Aired May 6, 1999 Alley Cats Grace tones down her competitiveness during game playing, while Will's focus changes to winning; Karen saves a workman. Details Episode 22 Aired May 13, 1999 Object of My Rejection Grace and Will (Debra Messing, Eric McCormack) rethink their living arrangement; Jack (Sean Hayes) agrees to marry Karen's (Megan Mullally) maid (guest star Shelley Morrison). Details

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Will & Grace — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
James Burrows
Creator
David Kohan, Max Mutchnick
Executive Producer
Max Mutchnick, David Kohan, James Burrows, David Flebotte
Screenwriter
Max Mutchnick, Michael Patrick King, David Kohan, Jhoni Marchinko, Alex Herschlag, Adam Barr, Jon Kinnally, Dava Savel, William Lucas Walker, Tracy Poust, Ellen Idelson, Katie Palmer
Network
NBC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 21, 1998