NBC's Will & Grace debuted in 1998 and immediately became one of television's most remarkable relationships. The plot revolves around a gay man (Eric McCormack) and his straight female friend (Debra Messing) sharing an apartment. In its early episodes, the program uses this coupling to put a twist on the typical sitcom formula. That is to say, McCormack's straight-laced Will seems like the headlining hero audiences expect to sweep a woman of her feet, but the leading lady in his life is actually his staunchest supporter in finding love . . . with another man.
While the show sometimes plays this relationship for laughs, the foundation of their bond trumps most obstacles and provides a safe haven from the social and political rejection often given to the LGBTQ+ community. Grace's love for Will shows not just tolerance but acceptance. They find shelter in each other.
This small shift in narrative focus proves unique when we consider the political climate in which the show emerged. Ellen DeGeneres's character had come out a year earlier on her ABC sitcom to a myriad of critical acclaim, but the backlash became overwhelming. Gay activists faced turmoil. The country continued to debate over the constitutional merits of the 1996 Defence of Marriage Act, a federal law that defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman. But still, Will & Grace endured for eight seasons and aided in easing those tensions. When the show went off the air in 2006, the series had earned 83 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning 18 of them.
The show rebooted with new episodes in September 2017 and has been renewed for a third season.
Watch the Will & Grace revival free on the NBC website.