"Will & Grace" is back at NBC. One of its stars Leslie Jordan leaked the news in December 2016, and less than a month after, the network formally confirmed it at the winter press tour of the Television Critics Association on Jan. 18, Wednesday.
"We're thrilled that one of the smartest, funniest and most defining comedies in NBC history is coming back," NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "This groundbreaking series for everything from gay rights to social and political commentary - all disguised as a high-speed train of witty pop culture - is coming back where it belongs."
NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke revealed in the same statement that they started talking about producing new episodes in September 2016 after Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally and Eric McCormack stepped back into their "Will & Grace" characters to act in an election-themed video that went viral. She added "Will & Grace" is among the best comedies which "cut through the clutter these days."
The video was the concept of creator Max Mutchnick and it was set at Emerson College, Boston, where they were housed for the past decade but needed to be moved. Director James Burrows helmed the video that has over 6.6 million views. Messing, who is close with Greenbalt since "Smash" and "The Mysteries of Laura," would not turn down a "Will & Grace" revival, the actress told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview after the viral video.
The revival will bring the original stars and creators of "Will & Grace" for a 10-episode series which made them ink new deals with Universal Television. Joining the stars are Mutchnick and David Kohan who will again serve as showrunners. Burrows is also returning to direct the episodes.
During its run for eight seasons, "Will & Grace" got 16 Emmy wins out of 83 nominations. The series is about a gay lawyer and a straight female interior designer who live together in a New York apartment.
McCormack and Messing play the titular best friends Will Truman and Grace Adler. Hayes and Mullally portray their friends Jack McFarland and Karen Walker.
Here is the election-themed viral video by the "Will & Grace" stars: