Paley Celebrates Pride: Will & Grace at PaleyFest LA: Full Conversation

Stars and creators of NBC's Will & Grace gather at PaleyFest LA 2018 to celebrate their show. Topics include: the twentieth anniversary of the pilot shoot; the decision to omit major plot developments from the reboot; the actors' ease at resuming their roles; McCormack's views on why Will has not yet "settled down"; Messing's surprise at receiving a bill from NBC upon taking a set item home after the 2006 finale; Hayes' theater-induced gift for physical comedy; whether Mullally shares Karen's right-wing political views; and the prolific Burrows' views on the show's "fortuitous" success. #paleycenter
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[@michaelleger1677]

They forgot to mention Leslie Jordan aka Beverley Leslie. The sparring between him and Karen was priceless. Will & Grace is comfort food for me. Thx for the fond memories!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@MisterMe1988]

YASSSS!!!!

[@seattlejayde]

And Rosario! Those were epic conflicts as well

[@Laudon1228]

I think they were going with one-shot guest stars rather than semi-recurring characters. I figured that when they didn’t mention John Cleese or Minnie Diver.

[@ZombiUnikorn3]

My comfort food too!

[@ZombiUnikorn3]

I will watch Will & Grace till I'm 80. Definitely one of my comfort shows. I always wish I could go back to the 90s when I watch. One of the best shows ever! ❤

[@ggfatale351]

I only got into the show about five years ago. I’m glad I finally did. So good. 💜💜💜🌈🌈🌈💜💜💜

[@mj6962]

The Rosario “Quinciera,” episode is particularly sad and moving since Shelley has also passed in real life too.

[@PaintedMoonBlue]

Yeah

[@TheMisterMarilyn]

How funny Megan got the (by far!!) loudest applause and demonstration of appreciation out of all of them…TWICE!!! (I bet Debra was SEETHING inside lol!!) She was / is THE breakout star, without a shadow of a doubt!!! 🌟

[@sophiaswiftie764]

This show is just so amazing and ahhh I'm missing it. I'm so glad I started watching it last year because there is no other show that will make me laugh so much just as Will and Grace. This cast is amazing 💕💕💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️

[@leonaloran6035]

This show made such a great and important contribution to our society today and we are still nowhere near a reality in which each of us can live as we want. Free from discrimination, free from hate. I am so glad that the show is going into another production. love love love u guys

[@wwinnar2831]

oh bullshit. in 2022 no one cares if you are gay. this was a very very popular show before it came back all woke and bs. first time around one of my fav shows. 2nd time, watched the first 5 mins, saw how pc and political it gotand turned it off. never watched again.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Gay is still a crime in many parts of the world, Roe v. Wade proves women don't have control of their own bodies in your country & how many Americans die because of guns annually?

[@Donnylutz99Hathaway-pq8lr]

​@@wwinnar2831"no one cares if you are gay" - lgbt kids are 8x more likely to be homeless and 5x more likely to attempt suicide. Glad you don't care - but it's STILL a concern - especially with trans youth.

[@tomkoln7318]

what bothered me unfortunately was the impression that the questions were longer than the answers.

[@clarktrent8952]

I would be this crazy, self hating TOF if it weren't in a huge part due to the steady beauty and normality of *friends of choice* and *family* of choice that you presented. I am not alone in my ascerbic, cynical and sarcastic attitude and world view, *you all* just made it work It was snappy. It got laughs, and had it draw your characters closer in love and a bond unforgettable. You made it *fun* and you made it priceless! You *saved* me during a time of very very deep low depression in my life! You all were my friends and family, and I relate deeply even now, these 20 yrs later, to the wit and wisom of writers Misters Mutchnik, Kohan. and Mr. Burrows' direction! Be proud of yourselves, ea. other, and the bond that many of you and your guest stars retain! Also: God Bless *Debbie Reynolds* in memoriam, and Shelley Morrison, Leslie Jordan... they were he icing on the cake, the perfect variety that spiced up the show and supported you. You were and are gleaming Angels in Disguise! Paley Center: Thank You, and pls. pass these words on to the creators here, the cast, writers, and the Director! Much love to you all!

[@melanierawlings2299]

I've got to say, how tickled I was to see my friend MM ( They are all my real friends ❤) detach her mic to embrace a fan who got choked up with heartfelt excitement...and really disappointed to hear DM saying in the background " we ll have to hug everyone now" 😮 noo.. That aside, what an ensemble 👏 thanks for years of laughs & memories

[@dawnieb.7394]

Seriously! Did he really think that was going to happen? 🙄

[@nekomochi486]

How entitled

[@mj6962]

Looking through the Will and Grace character list on IMDB, I’ve noticed that, sadly, many of the guest characters have passed away. Some very famous and some never heard of before.

[@Donnylutz99Hathaway-pq8lr]

Was a just realizing I was gay at 15 in 1997......... this show helped me so much! Harassed at school, but could come home and watch W&G. Forever grateful ❤

[@tjmcjunkinful]

Karen you will always be my favorite! Luv you hun 💕💕💕

[@mj6962]

I think that was ALWAYS a big PROBLEM, and it is illustrated perfectly here… I’m nearly half way in, and finally they are just now speaking to her! She carried the show with her character and she always get ignored for her amazing work.

[@kennethgraham8105]

No one carried the show. It would have been a one season trifle if that was true. It was great because there were four gifted actors being directed by a genius with weekly scripts by the best in the business. "carried the show"....what silliness.

[@dawnieb.7394]

I wonder if they cut some stuff with the cast. This certainly felt like the host talked more with the other guys than with the four stars. Never expected to hear so little out of the cast's mouths.

[@oscarfun100]

Who are you talking about? DM or MM? They both won Emmys for their work, both made millions of dollars with this show, adored by millions of fans, where's the ignorance? And as someone else said, not one single carried this show. Don't be stupid. It was the writers, creators and the chemistry among the four talented actors. It wasn's a one person show.

[@JoannaGalacticTutor]

The writing on this show was unmatched to any other comedy - bravo very connective and a hard equation to get right with the characters 🎉

[@sosick5163]

Megan nearly got a chance to talk

[@Wandafully_Wanda]

I felt like they should've brought the kids back, dating. They can call each other nicknames which is why the parents don't realize who they really are. Then the fabulous foursome could reunite when Wills son has a surprise engagement party and proposes to Grace's daughter. It would've left room for amazing adventures of them planning a wedding together that they could never have.

[@Ri-Lizzie]

Right. They could be single parents who are empty nesters who now live together.

[@rc5chi539]

I only made it through the the 15 minute mark b/c the Interviewer doesn't know how to ask a simple question without rephrasing it 3 times before allowing anyone to answer!! This is a comedy show with comedic actors, writers and an Iconic director! How hard would it have been to be at minimal, half assed prepared?... OK, "maybe" I'm a little cranky this morning?LOL.

[@MaiToi100]

I just love them…❤ I watch both runs over and over again…

[@helenfong3339]

Kevin Bacon was a great guest star! Jack stalked him! I LOVE the scene where KB & Will dance to the music from Footloose!!! I was not too crazy about the reboot. I think the original W & G was about 20ish episodes per season. Where the reboot seasons are shorter. I'm surprised the reboot lasted as long as it did.

[@kimberlyhaugan9983]

I loved watching Will & Grace

[@mj6962]

Hearing the good news of the more shows being ordered and another season renewal was very sad now watching this years later.

[@psychguy]

Shocked to find out Cress Williams was the fifth cast member that got cut in rehearsals.

[@hnkmari1]

For me this show is Jack and Karen!!

[@djb1317]

Nah they need Will and Grace to make it work, theyre much better as they are at stealing the scenes, it wouldn't be as strong a show if it was just Jack and Karen, they would get grating and they would shine

[@Italy.com33]

Agree

[@ge.9102]

@@djb1317 Yup. Perfect is small doses.

[@haydencooper_]

There are countless great amd funny moments with Will & Grace that make the show what it is. The emotional storylines with them were some of the best too. All 4 characters were equally important imo.

[@xtopheralanfoster3964]

this show has been off the air for 19 years and the relationship between het & moe that had flourished during the original run which was due in no small way with this show HAS descended into a deeper abyss than it had been prior to Stonewall ~ the reboot was a great reminder of those better dealings ~

[@tomasvelez9275]

Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Morrison, Gregory Hines

[@cancangirl2888]

And don’t forget the irreplaceable Eileen Brennan.

[@bushcake7105]

Sad they never did a live recording. I was hoping for a few

[@sassymouth2056]

They did 2 episodes live.

[@ge.9102]

@@sassymouth2056 During the reboot.

[@drowndefacto]

I love them all! 🥰

[@reginaldandrews4002]

This show was beyond funny!!

[@bennoharms2969]

Mr. David Kohan and Mr. Eric McCormack are really incredibly handsome men. I am speechless at the sight of both of them. I had never an idea of the existance and function of Mr. Kohan. So far Mr. McCormack has been my favorite, but now I cannot take my eyes off Mr. Kohan. He is so picture-perfect, so mature and so excruciatingly sexy! What a waste and a shame that he is not gay! It has always been my dream to visit the original soundstage and the shooting of an episode in Los Angeles. 😪 Greetings from a loyal fan of Will & Grace from Germany.

[@seattlejayde]

Agree!

[@nilsanarvaez7947]

The best ensemble ever! ❤

[@V1ckyL]

this was great! I'm pretty sure they did one of these paley fest talks before in like 2000? I really would love to watch that one too!

[@zyxw2024]

All 8 have their legs crossed. I'm at the start of viewing this & I just noticed that. That's all.

[@igo2independence]

Theyre so great. And deb and megan look gorg

[@LaciousC]

16:20 Wow, the body language there.

[@taintedlove202]

Needs more Megan!! ❤

[@tjmcjunkinful]

I hope Bradley “Leslie “ is mentioned RIP

[@Exemi]

The girl at 39:07 "thank you for being my home" and David Kohan answers "speak for yourself" Why?

[@beatnickblanket]

I can't really make out him saying that. I hear him say the word "speak" and I can't make out the other two words but to me they distinctly do NOT sound like "for yourself."

[@willowrodi3034]

Jack and Karen made the show

[@reginald1817]

I wish I had been there 😔😔😢😢

[@gilguzman8359]

I'm not of fan of Debra Messing in real life as I could do without her politics, but I loved her character. She made me laugh the most with some of her lines and scenes. The "Oh Mommy!" scene (Fanilow) brought me to tears of laughter! Eric was the best actor followed by Sean. Megan was the glue that brought them all together. She transformed that character after Season 1, episode 1, all for the better. Not sure who gets credit for that, but was brilliant! Sean is so talented in so many ways. Charismatic, charming, funny, entertaining, you name it. Leslie Jordan was epic! Shelly Morrison is a fan fave. "Smitty", wow...didn't know he was so funny and loved by the actors. Guest stars I liked were Kevin Bacon, Cher, Sandra Bernhard, Harry Connick Jr., Blythe Danner, Debbie Reynolds, Minnie Driver, Eileen Brennan, Lesley Ann Warren, and Gregory Hines. I didn't care for Gene Wilder, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Dempsey, Taye Diggs, Jennifer Lopez, Sydney Pollack, David Schwimmer, Woody Harrelson, Alec Baldwin, and Gary Grubbs. Great series, great actors, great writers, great producers/director.

[@steffie6510]

Wow, karen is a republican? It's amazing and now I know why I heard deborah never got along with her, behind the scenes!!! Love it!!! Megan is the GREATEST

[@djtexas4993]

Karen is- on the show. I don’t think Megan is in real life.. not sure what they all meant with that. Megan had done a bit with trump a couple years ago, but all 4 of them seem to be extremely clear with their political leanings these days..

[@Biscuitplease]

Cress Williams was also a series regular on Living Single a show much like Friends starring Kim Fields and Queen Latifah. Living Single is still a popular rerun seeies which was also on the same lot as Friends and Friends was the original name for Living Single during its pilot stage but was later used to promote an all white cast version of the same show. But what really bothers me is that all of Jimmy's shows were very white based casting that had limited roles for people of color if any at all. As a black gay fan of the show I love the characters as they are but it does seem like an afterthought and not a conscious decision.

[@xtopheralanfoster3964]

Smitty : yesterday my mother and brother died in a plane crash ~ and my wife left me for my father ~ Karen : hahahahaHAHA !

[@Alice-rl7gd]

Where is Lesley

[@sassymouth2056]

Same place as all the others who are not main characters 👀

[@bigjso]

At home, leaving his best life as we can see.

[@mj6962]

What IS a “white walker?” lol

[@minihanefun661]

Writers are fabulous and all the actors are great (Jack) but Karen stole this show and the fact that there was never a spin off with her own show was one of the biggest disappointments to come out of this show. How could Hollywood miss this opportunity??? Beyond me.

[@ge.9102]

Perhaps because the spin off wouldn't work, sadly. She's an awesome side character.

[@standupphilosopher7059]

I love how Sean Hayes and Megan showed their heart and gave hugs🫂Awww🥰

[@Skillet_Bboy]

Let Karen and Jack TALK

[@IHEARTGODANDJESUSCHRIST]

HI😇 I ❣️ THIS SHOW SOOOOOOO VERY MUCH😇🤗🤓 WILL & GRACE IS ONE OF MY FAV SHOWS EVERRRRRRR🤗💯🙏 LOVE❤️... LOVE💙... LOVE💚... LOVE💛... LOVE💜... LOVE🖤... LOVE🧡... TONS OF HUGS❣️🤗🙏 💟'S UP!!!!!!! I ❣️ Y'ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH😇🤗❣️ GOD BLESS😇🌈🙏✝️🙌☮️🙌🏳️‍🌈❣️

[@Willzito]

Megan and Debra r still friends? I live in Brazil so i dont know about them nowadays

[@bigjso]

Não são, dá uma olhada no Instagram da Megan, ela não segue ninguém do cast, a Debra não segue a Megan, o Sean e Erick segue todo mundo. Foi amplamente divulgado na época que elas tiveram alguns problemas e acho que isso resultou com o final da série, já que eles tinham proposta pra mais algumas temporadas.

[@Willzito]

@@bigjso Uma pena! Tinham uma quimica boa na serie

[@tonynesbit9673]

The girls are gorgeous and really funny.

[@isletime77]

Actor/producer Dan Bucatinsky moderates this event.

[@TyrekeCorrea]

Who the hell wears plaid gray? Sean?

[@jschultz3233]

I love it.

[@arisjatmika]

Goodbye Will and Grace 😢😢😢

[@michaelleger1677]

The reruns will last forever and DVDs

[@rarnayro]

Bucatinsky: She dyed ‘em…. Both of then….

[@dennyii5292]

Who is the guy doing the hosting/interview........very cute.

[@DavidSmith-ez4pk]

dan bucatinsky

[@rarnayro]

@@DavidSmith-ez4pk ....Neil

[@DavidSmith-ez4pk]

@@rarnayro "Neil" was the character he played in episodes of W&G. His real name is Dan Bucatinsky.

[@fanstastic83]

He was also on Scandal

[@remi_gio]

🥰

[@benjamitobazinet2367]

💔

[@dianesanchez5308]

Somehow this felt awkward. The energy was schizophrenic.

[@paraskumar2181]

39:45

[@beatnickblanket]

It is SO WEIRD watching and knowing how much Megan and Debra LOATHED each other at thi spoint.

[@ggfatale351]

I didn’t realize that. That’s funny. I wonder what happened??? 🌈🌈🌈💜💜💜

[@beatnickblanket]

@@ggfatale351 I can't really say for certain but Megan made comments online to the effect that she was relieved to finally remove "toxic people" from her life, and unfollowed Deb on all social media at the same time. Meg left the show briefly in the last season, and didn't appear in some of the episodes. She also unfollowed Sean Hayes which I found shocking because they were SO CLOSE back in the day. But I guess people change. www.vulture.com/2020/04/will-and-grace-creators-on-debra-messing-megan-mullally-feud.html

[@ggfatale351]

@@beatnickblanket WOW!!! That’s nutty!!! Thanks 😊

[@simonrex3714]

@@beatnickblanket i believe it has to do with debra wanting everyone to go along with her abt boycotting trump supporters and megan didnt want to jump on the bandwagon which is absolutely her right. Debra didnt see it that way. I cant be 100% sure but its likely based on observation.

[@beatnickblanket]

@@simonrex3714 I mean. That's patent nonsense. Megan is a virulent anti-Trump vocalist. You're pulling that out of thin air.

[@drewjacobs1990]

Why kiss the last person machnick kiss the gay interviewer?

[@DavidSmith-ez4pk]

Likely friends and both are gay.

[@drewjacobs1990]

@@DavidSmith-ez4pk I think they husbands, i saw an article about the interviewer

[@DavidSmith-ez4pk]

@@drewjacobs1990 The interviewers husband is Don Roos, Max's (the man who kissed him) is Erik Hyman.

[@cassandrae_]

Re the host.... Ready to get Nealed LoL

[@scotunmuz6815]

No wonder Debra Messing hasn't done much outside of W&G - her ego probably gets in the way

[@blueraven5242]

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED THE KAREN & JACK SHOW.....

[@MrBibi86]

would be a great spinoff series

[@aslscott78]

Debra’s laugh is forced, uncute and annoying AF

[@ge.9102]

The irony is strong with this one.

[@taintedlove202]

And loud AF

[@mgrella63]

debra m/Eric M obnoxious stance on politics offended half the country which was the real reason ratings fell off and cancelation.

[@Steven-fw1ll]

Messing is messy (drunk)

[@Clintsessentials]

Debra is awesome, and she's a Leo like myself. Same date too!!!

[@Irishgui83]

And ironically, Leo was the worst thing to happen to Grace, and the show in general 🤯

[@ge.9102]

@@Irishgui83 Nah. Plenty of hilarious scenes with him.

[@loveldlu426]

Good morning good afternoon good evening to everyone around and we're all events keeping healthy peace be with you and all the blessings GIF you want. Today on off the beat topic is a subject. they know who they are so someone told me a little bird say that you are distinct my island Jamaica so let me just give you some information about who I am. make it very clear to you, this is just for you, you are again the servant of the Lord our Master the Messiah. the one and only if you coming after the Lord's House and you going to declare war on the Lord our master I you better be sure. because you cannot take it back those who follow through the needle. Connect with the Lord and I say this to y you are challenging the Lord. You're disrespecting his house those who serve him. and if you want to bring a war towards turn into a a Battlefield with Messiah the one and only. I would think this very carefully Peace be with you

[@smashbrosboy9023]

I couldn’t stand to watch the reboot. All the political crap. When you do that, you make half of the people hate the characters. So I just quit watching. Sorry, not sorry.

[@seattlejayde]

Oh maybe I’ll watch it. I Love when they do political stuff …. Especially if it is anti Drump!

[@ge.9102]

Tell me you're a right wing nutjob without telling me you're a right wing nutjob.

[@djtexas4993]

And ironically, the story is that Megan was reluctant to get that political, and wasn’t as forward as Debra was, and Megan ended up playing the trump character on the show, lol.

[@ashleybellofsydney]

I've always thought that gay men with hetero women as best friends have abandonment issues with their mothers. It's a psycho-sexual defect. These types of gay men didn't go through puberty properly.

[@MrBibi86]

don't think so

[@raymondpaddy7004]

Nope. Start thinking something else, please. Ideally something that's not completely wrong.

[@dawnieb.7394]

Wow, what an incredibly sweeping generalization based on... what?

[@ashleybellofsydney]

@@dawnieb.7394 Sigmund Freud's Oedipus Complex

[@wwinnar2831]

NEVER WATCHED A MIN of the new crap. too political. and the first run was one of my fav shows. and the ratings how. Last man standing was such a better show.

[@ge.9102]

Sure, buddy.

[@SK945ORD]

Eric McCormack ! Terrible actor, and the worst Character on the show !!

[@robert7567]

Out of curiosity, what makes the character, Will, the worst?

[@beatnickblanket]

@@robert7567 I don't know that I personally would use the word "the worst" but I always found him to be the least compelling. Back when the show first started airing the LGBTQIA+ community was still desperate to be seen as equal to straight people, and a big part of striving for that included depicting gay people as "normal" or "just like everybody else". So Will was designed as the inoffensive, straight-acting counterpart to Grace. As time went on they allowed him to open up a bit more, but to me personally his storyline was always the most heterocentric. Find a partner. Get married. Settle down. Have a kid. And McCormack's acting was always just a bit so-so to me, I must concur. I just never, ever found him funny. He was the part of the show I endured to enjoy the other three characters.

[@robert7567]

@@beatnickblanket great points and I agree with some. We have to remember that when W&G first aired, this was the same year they had canceled Ellen. Remember the big backlash about having a gay lead/promoting homosexuality? I do like that Will was the balance to Jack. They are opposites - ambitious vs aloof, flamboyant vs “straight acting”, monogamous vs carefree. They do share similarities but the show needed that balance in its early years to attract viewers while delicately telling heteros that gays aren’t bad people. It did take forever for Will to have an onscreen kiss - the kiss with Jack doesn’t count even though it’s hilarious - but again, I watch the series through the lens of the time. That said, it did more good than harm imo. Appreciate the civil conversation. 😉

[@DJ-yo9oi]

@@beatnickblanket Why is finding a partner, getting married, and having a kid heterocentric? Gay people shouldn't want these things? And just like people shouldn't be shamed for being "flamboyant," they shouldn't be shamed for being "straight-acting."

[@beatnickblanket]

@@DJ-yo9oi The very nature of your statement is bigoted. How is "straight-acting" the oppositve of "flamboyant"?

[@wholovesyoubabywholovesyou1147]

I feel terrible i can't watch all of this . I miss him so much 😢 leslie 😢 😔

[@Italy.com33]

Best show ever…..

[@Italy.com33]

Karen and jack were my favorite 😍 this show will be nothing without them