Skip To Content
JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
The Schmooze

Debra Messing Confirms ‘Will & Grace’ Reunion

Image by Getty/Twitter

Debra Messing has confirmed the “Will & Grace” reunion.

“Will & Grace” fans — Mark your calendars!

Actress Debra Messing has confirmed that the cast of the popular sitcom, which was on the air for eight seasons until the final show in 2006, will reunite next month for an NBC special.

“It’s true,” the red-haired Jewish beauty confirmed on Twitter.

Jim Burrows and Debra Messing Image by Getty Images

The special, airing February 21, is honoring Jewish director Jim Burrows for directing his 1000th episode of television — a yet-to-debut episode of a new sitcom called crowded.

He’s directed episodes of Cheers, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Mike & Molly and they’re also participating.

Burrows directed all eight seasons of “Will & Grace.” The hilarious interactions between Grace Adler (Messing), her gay best friend Will (Eric McCormack), the offensive and spirited Karen (Megan Mullally), and the unforgettable Jack (Sean Hayes) were the center of the show.

Vice President Joe Biden in 2012 credited the show with changing American attitudes toward gay Americans.

“I think Will & Grace did more to educate the American public more than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that which is different. Now they’re beginning to understand,” he said on “Meet the Press.”

Hayes said at the Television Critics Association press tour, “It’s the reunion of all reunion shows. It’s going to be unlike anything everyone’s ever seen.”

The cast of 'Will & Grace.' Image by Wikimedia Commons

The only show possibly garnering more excitement than Will & Grace, is the classic Friends.

Fans are very happy that they’re no longer on a break. Friends star and Jewish actor David Schwimmer, told [Us Weekly] (http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/friends-reunion-david-schwimmer-discusses-what-to-expect-w161860) that he has no idea what the special will entail, he just knows that he wants to give Burrows a hug.

“I just want to be in the room when he’s honored because this man has contributed so, so greatly to our country’s enjoyment of television over the last 40, 50 years,” he said.

“It’s lovely that there’s an event that honors him. There are so many people that love him and whose careers were defined by him.”

Burrows got his start in 1974 when he directed an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He co-created household favorite Cheers and directed over 50 pilot episodes.

Over his lengthy career, he’s won 10 Emmys.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

Republish This Story

Please read before republishing

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search.  See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.

To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at editorial@forward.com, subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.

We don't support Internet Explorer

Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site.

Exit mobile version