PaleyImpact: The Impact of Will and Grace: 25 Years Later

"Producers and cast members gather on June 5, 2023 for PaleyImpact: The Impact of Will and Grace: 25 Years Later, moderated by Isaac Mizrahi. Panel topics include: the culture of gay life in 1998 when the show debuted; producers' concerns about the series being accepted by the public; McCormack and Messing's audition experiences; if NBC put restrictions on scripts' subject matter; McCormack's feelings on playing a gay character that became an icon; the significance of Grace's romances getting equal screen time; ways in which the show educated viewers about the LGBTQ community; how the reboot came about; the show's impact around the globe; the evolution of the ""Will & Grace"" fan base; and the controversial episode that lost sponsors and only aired once.

Participants: executive producers/co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan; cast members Eric McCormack (Will Truman) and Debra Messing (Grace Adler).

Moderator: Fashion Designer Isaac Mizrahi.

Host: Maureen Reidy, President and CEO, The Paley Center for Media. "

[Zhvianna]

It’s crazy how a good show will literally last forever, I found will and grace very late into the game, I mean I’m 23 so I was 4 or 5 when the tv show ended.
I honestly don’t even know how, one day I decided to check it out and I was hooked from ep 1, I binged all the season and was done within a week. The writing was so good, the comedy was so fresh. They really created a comedy masterpiece.
And not to mentioned how much this show helped being a voice for the lgbtq+ community. I just love them. I could watch them forever!!

[ADNAL]

I remember the premier of this show like it was yesterday. HUGE HUGE HUGE moment for network TV. And the entire cast delivered.♥
And I don't care what ANYONE says, I KNOW Shelly Morrison didn't feel like Rosario was a punchline! She was FAMILY! The glue!♥

[tangled]

43:12 Bravo to this Turkish man for asking such a beautiful question...and I want to say...specifically targeted towards the idolization of Will Truman (Eric McCormack). I love Will and Grace for all the outrageous comedy that it offered (I personally think it's one of the funniest shows of all time), but to the character of Will...and Eric specifically...I feel he's often overlooked. Yes, the character wasn't perfect AT ALL, and had many, many flaws, but if there is anyone I saw myself in...was him. For sure.

The archetype and/or character of Will Truman, in his quiet moments, is often overlooked but shouldn't be. He's one of the greatest representations of a gay man on TV that I've ever seen in terms of...the whole. Absolutely. And I stand by that. And, while his character probably resonated around the world, I hope he knows that it resonated with African American (BLACK) gay men too...born in the United States...in hopeless circumstances...like myself...as well...even if he is Canadian.

Kudos to you Eric McCormack. I'd love to tell you that in person...one day. And I wish he would've actually answered this question.

[cynthiaschultheis]

The 90's had some great films an tv shows pre-streaming!!😛😛😛

[mj]

21:48 Max: What? why not? It would absolutely be FINE NOW!! It is still fine, and it is still funny. The comedic line throughout the series is the joke that Grace can turn guys gay. That part would be just fine right now. As all of the first run episodes would be too.

[TransVangal]

#Debramessing looks so like Lucille Ball love it.

[mj]

This is the first interview I have seen with Eric and Debra, and the producers, since the end of the reboot. So glad to have SOMETHING at least. Such a shame NBC cancelled it!

[unowen-nhov]

Ftr, Ellen wasn't fired, after scoring huge ratings for coming out, her sitcom #s declined over 2 seasons & series so both were cancelled. It was only when she repackaged herself as talk show host (a la Rosie) that she recovered her popularity.

[somakkamos]

The fact that they didnt even mentjon megan mullaly even one time is actually very very unfair

[deliciousexperience]

I watched Will & Grace in the UK when it aired over here, i think the year after America on TV? I loved it from the beginning. It was as good as Friends, but because of the gay characters in it, for me, that made it funnier and more special. 246 episodes fly by, and it doesn't feel like you have watched that many due to the great writing, directing and the acting. The "reboot" aka Series 9, 10 and 11 (which it should of always been called imho not "the revival" urgh) -was funnier than the original show, because they could almost say more, and be more risque with the jokes and humour. I think the Rosario character and Karen character had great love for each other, and it is assumed that they say controversial things to each other, but it's all bravado, and that is the joke that is implied. What made this show great was it did and said what it wanted without being rude or vulgar, it wasn't pushing agendas onto it's characters or the audience, or being political, and that is why it is timeless. Shows these days don't know how to do that, and make great comedy, and that is why they don't last, with maybe a few exceptions. My favourite period of time for TV, & comedy is from the 90s through to the 2010's, and that period of time i'd say is when everything changed and people, networks, lawyers-whoever, got too much say on what can be portrayed on TV and film, tried to not offend anyone, and second guess everything (especially in America) and not only made everything sanitised and unfunny then, but everything then was seen as problematic, and got it's voice taken away. There are no risks now, and that isn't a good thing. This comedy was groundbreaking and brave, and it said and did what it bloody well pleased. We need more programs like this, because at the end of the day you can't please everyone, so you just gotta do it. I loved that it just normalised gay people just living their lives and doing their own thing like they would in real life, and that is what made W & G great, because it avoided virtue signalling, and just kept it natural and TOLD STORIES. P.s-did the interviewer not watch this show, or interviews etc? He is asking questions like he is oblivious to everything. And i'd agree with another commenter on here, Will was the inner dialogue, the internal character, the voice of the audience in the midst of the other characters madness! haha :-) Jack & Karen were my favourites, but without Will and Grace, it wouldn't of been balanced out. I also loved the "Reboot's" ending so much better, because in the world of Will & Grace, they would of stayed friends and lived together OF COURSE! It didn't make much sense in real life and prob wouldn't of worked out that way due to real life logistics, but in the Got married separately, fell out, had kids and then made friends 20 years later because of their kids meeting each other? Sweet idea, but no, that was NOT how it should of ended, so THANK-GOD for the second ending. That was more in keeping with what their characters would of done IRL. But some of series 8 didn't matter, because it was just a dreamin Karen's head! haha! LOVED IT. Sorry for long comment, waited 4 years to say all this, as i just watched this Paley Convention video! lol <3 <3 <3 XXXX

[conartist]

The reboot only lasted 3 seasons because of Debra and Megan's personal issues. I mean, they could have set aside their issues and be professionals.

[elliesanders]

I love Deborah but I absolutely hate grace. She is one of the most selfish characters ever written next to Jackie from that 70's show except I don't mind Jackie because she admits she is.

[evancarlson]

Shame y’all did Megan so dirty. Might have broken 10k views with her.

[mj]

I’m still waiting for the rest of the story that Max and David were telling about how the reboot came about- before they were so rudely interrupted by that big-mouth Mizrahaturd!

[Alan.Endicott]

IMHO, the biggest missed opportunity was not using the reboot of W&G to reboot Partners. Just imagine, Grace gets a contract to design the interior of hotels designed by Joe and Louis from Partners. As an honorable mention, I would have enjoyed a cross-over episode where Jack meets actor Vito from Some of My Friends and introduces his friend Warren to Will. Pay homage to other shows in the gay genre.

[centralWisconsin]

Those 2 co-producers had to “plan” wearing the same stripped socks.

[mustanggirl]

Why people can’t pronounce Eric’s last name correctly is embarrassing. MccorMACK..

[fridaymorning]

The interviewer talks wayyyy too much jeez just ask the questions

[wakelon]

This was all about Issac...mememe. as for the reboot, it was nice to see, however too much politics.