The beloved sitcom is returning for 10 episodes in the 2017-18 TV season.
It’s official: Will & Grace is coming back!
NBC is reuniting original stars Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes for a 10-episode revival series to air in the 2017-18 television season.
Jennifer Salke, NBC Entertainment President, announced the news on Wednesday at the network’s Television Critics Association press day, crediting the viral video the stars filmed back in September for the election as the catalyst for a potential revival series.
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Creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan will return as co-showrunners and executive producers, with legendary TV director James Burrows also on board to direct and executive produce.
A video announcing the news featured new footage with Jack (Hayes) making a quip about the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorce.
THEY’RE BACK! Your favorite foursome is returning to NBC! #WillAndGrace pic.twitter.com/Xoz4lSHSgM
— NBC (@nbc) January 18, 2017
“We’re thrilled that one of the smartest, funniest, and most defining comedies in NBC history is coming back,” said NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt in a statement. “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.”
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“We started talking with Mutchnick and Kohan about producing new episodes right after they shot the secret reunion show back in September, and the fact that all four of the original stars were excited about getting back into production is a testament to the joyful experience they had doing nearly 200 episodes for eight seasons," Salke said. "Few things cut through the clutter these days, especially in comedy, and Will & Grace is one of the best.”
Messing, Hayes and McCormack all celebrated the announcement on Twitter immediately following the news.
Will & Grace debuted in 1998 on NBC, and became the highest-rated sitcom from 2001-05, airing 194 episodes over eight seasons. The series finale in 2006 drew more than 18 million viewers.
Rumors of a Will & Grace reunion series had surfaced over the past several months, with Mullally and actor Leslie Jordan suggesting that an official pickup was “absolutely” happening.
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"All I can say is that there is a very good chance that that might happen," Mullally told PrideSource back in December. "It’s not happening right this second. I mean, we’re not rehearsing or anything like that. But there is a very good chance that something is going to materialize."
For more on Will & Grace, watch the video below.