Best Episodes And Quotes From Will & Grace
The Syndicated Show Still Provides Laughs And Memorable Moments
The dynamic between the two couples that comprised Will & Grace have made it a television classic and the ever-evolving storyline makes this sitcom one of television's finest.
The two title characters of Will Truman and Grace Adler were played with a dry sense of wit by Eric McCormack and Debra Messing. The other half of the outrageous four, the characters of Jack McFarland and Karen Walker, played by Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes respectively, rounded out this gay-themed, sometimes controversial, television hit.
Show Had Perfectly Cast Characters For Comedy And Controversy
In 1998, viewers were introduced to Will and Grace, former college roommates and undeniable codependents. Will, a straight-laced gay lawyer was the perfect counterpart to Grace, a self-described neurotic Jewish woman.
Will and Grace’s best friends, and sometimes enemies, were Jack and Karen, two flamboyantly different characters.
Karen Walker was a millionaire with all the accompanying excesses. Whether it was the numerous bottles of booze, the pills that seemed to appear from nowhere she was an over-the-top example of everything a millionaire could afford to be.
Her best friend and cohort was Jack, a virtually penniless actor/dancer/singer/playwright/TV host/nursing student who seemed to flit through life without a care in the world. Supported financially by friends and a rotating door of male companions, the character of Jack was one of the few overly in your face homosexual characters in prime time television.
With two gay characters with dichotomous personalities, a booze-addled bimbo and a Jewish woman, Will & Grace played to stereotypes in an outrageous fashion that appalled many. Unapologetic about pushing the lines of good taste or political correctness, it followed in the footsteps of other shows such as All In The Family.
With ever-evolving plot lines and some of the most hilarious quotes in sitcom writing, here are some examples of the best shows and quotes from the first four seasons, which are now shown in syndication on Lifetime Television.
Great Episodes And Quotes From Seasons One Through Four
In the Season One episode, "Alley Cats", Will and Grace are attempting to play friendly games with their two friends, Rob and Ellen. But Grace’s competitive nature becomes a problem when, due to their losing streak, Rob and Ellen decide they don’t want to play with Will and Grace any longer. Calling a truce, Grace agrees to “throw” a bowling game in order to let her friends win. Will goes along with the plan until he realizes he is just as competitive as his roommate and must win at all costs also. Will and Grace end up defeating Rob and Ellen in a slow-motion, ultra-competitive ending.
Quote- Will to Grace: “You don’t need to lose to have fun. You’re not France.”
This episode entitled, "Tea & A Total Lack of Sympathy" from Season Two spoofs the much-beloved appraisal show Antiques Roadshow.
When Grace and Jack’s favorite show comes to town “Antiques on the Road” they can’t wait to make fun of the people who bring in beloved objects to be appraised, only to find out they are worthless. In a twist, the porcelain teapot Grace buys for twenty dollars at a second-hand store in order to get on the show ends up being appraised at $30,000.
Quote-Grace to security guard : “Excuse me! Have you seen a gay man run through here with a tea pot real excited?... What am I saying? It's like asking if you've seen a loser at a renaissance faire.”
In Season Three, Will and Grace fight domestically in this episode entitled "Coffee And Commitment" when attending their friends gay union ceremony, The true hilarity ensues as Karen, the resident lush, tries to help Jack overcome his caffeine addiction which he acquired while scoping out a hot guy at Starbucks.
Quote- Jack(jumpy and edgy): “Why isn't there any coffee? “
Karen: “The same reason you don't have a wife and three kids honey... It's the way God wants it."
During Season Four, Grace announces her split from serious boyfriend Nathan in the episode "Bed, Bath & Beyond" she takes to bed wallowing in self-misery. Will, Jack and Karen try various ways to help her shake the blues and go on with her life but this only ends in Grace turning on them for all their past mistakes. At the end of the episode they all admit they have their faults and problems and climb into bed together for comfort.
Quote: Grace watching film strips of herself as a child while lying in bed and narrating them to herself: “And there’s me, doing a split jump on my trampoline….you stupid idiot, no one’s going to love you!!”
Show Will Continue To Entertain
With so many pop culture references, it would at first seem that Will & Grace is another television hit that will loose its' relevance over time. With numerous guest stars such as Britney Spears, Cher, Edward Burns and others, the show managed to keep up with what was popular and hot at the same time as society while also poking fun at America's ever-changing taste for what is "in".
Working as such an excellent time capsule of the decade in which it was written, Will & Grace will endure the test of time. The memorable lines and antics of this cast of characters is numerous and an eight-year run was warranted for this great comedy. While topical it is not a television show that will dull over time because the excellent writing and cast carries every wild storyline or pop cultural subtext.
Sources used : “Will & Grace DVD Collection” KoMut Entertainment, NBC
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