Two years after the end of somewhat groundbreaking NBC comedy Will and Grace, the two obnoxious sidekick characters, Karen Walker and Jack McFarland, may get their own spin off show, according to the National Enquirer. Actor Sean Hayes was said to be interested in a spinoff back in 2006, but nasal-voiced Megan Mullally was focusing on her own talk show at the time. When Megan’s talkshow got canceled early last year, the show became a possibility for her again. The two pitched “Karen and Jack” to NBC and a pilot is in the works. It is thought that it could come out in the fall of 2009.
A new show is in the planning stages that would reunite the quirky duo, the Enquirer has learned.
Sean, 38, who played flamingly gay Jack Mcfarland, and Megan, who was the wacky-but-witty alcoholic Karen Walker on the the hit NBC series until it went off the air two years ago, met Sept. 20 at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles to discuss their new project. The show would be called “Karen & Jack”…
They went to NBC to pitch the idea and a pilot is currently being written, says the insider…
If everything works out, the series could be in NBC’s fall lineup next year.
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, October 13, 2008]
Jack and Karen were the best characters in that show and it would be a great idea to set them up with their own show. The Enquirer points out that it’s a risk, though. Look at that Friends spin-off, Joey. That was pretty much DOA.
They’re outstanding actors who bring a lot of personality and heart to their work. Will and Grace was a successful sitcom and ran for eight seasons. Both won awards for their performances on the show, with Mullally earning two Emmys and two SAG Awards and Hayes winning one Emmy and seven consecutive nominations for best supporting actor. A quick glance at IMDB shows that Mullally has done mostly telvision work since the series wrapped, along with voicing a character in Bee Movie – the bee who gave tours of the honey factory. (It’s hard to miss her voice.) Hayes was featured as Jack Nicholson’s character’s assistant in The Bucket List and has also done television work in the last two years. It seems like they’re open to reprising their Will and Grace characters and they certainly have plenty of fans who would love to see them together again on the small screen.
I would actually watch it. I love Sean Hayes, and I like Mullally okay – when she’s not doing the “Karen” voice, I find her boring.
They would need a character to play the straight man though. Not sexually straight, comically straight.
Scripted comedy is for me. I always thought a Jack and Karen show would be better than Will and Grace. I hope Rosie is on board.
Love both of them but, the reason they were so good on W&G is because they had the ‘straight’ characters (ie. W&G) to work off. Just reprising their W&G characters in a new setting is not going to be enough so hope they’ve got something more substantial to pull out of the bag. But would love to see both doing well, especially him.
Oh, that would be so cool. I’d watch it.
I loved these two the most on W&G. I agree they def. need straight characters as kind of a foil for them to work at maximum hilarity:)
I have a friend who not only looks like Jack (but he has dark hair) he talks and acts a little like him. He never saw W&G and finally had to watch it to see who the hell Jack was and why people told him he reminded them of the guy.. too funny.
I already called W&G the Jack and Karen show. THey were why I watched it. I’d love to see a show work for them.
Geronimo–exactly. Jack and Karen need good “straight men” to play off of. That is why Will & Grace worked so well. Just Jack and Karen has the potential to be shrill. If Max and David produce this show as well, they are well aware of the balance needed and I think it will be a hit.
Well if they get the same writers the show would possibly work. I loved Jack and Karen, I do hope they bring back Rosario too!
OMG someone READ MY MIND! I have long thought they should have their own show. I never could really stand the other characters, Will and Grace. They were so whiny and self-absorbed. I loved Jack and Karen!!! My screen name is Anastasia Beaverhausen, after all!
Yay!
OMG! I am so excited. Jack and Karen are the only reason i watched Will and Grace. Especially after the fifth season. I hope this works out, gets picked up and we all can watch it every week. Hopefully they have the same writers, producers and director. I love Megan and Sean. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
okay so … w&g was the best show ever but I always thought it should be j&k (haha I just realized that’s text speak for just kidding, haha). Jack & Karen were always way funnier.
Just wanted to point out that they have both done work on broadway since the show ended. In 2007, Megan was in the original broadway cast of “Young Frankenstein” and she left that show in June, 2008, she was amazing.
Sean did a short stint in a Damn Yankees revival for charity.
Just Saying. Can’t wait to see what pans out!!! -a.
This would have been great news just after Will & Grace closed shop. Better late than never, I guess 🙂
I’ve been hoping for this for
a longggg time! Can’t wait to
see it. They were THE BEST on
‘W&G’ they had such chemistry
together. Karen and Jack rule!
:thumbsup:
I would watch the first couple episodes to see if it’s any good but I just don’t understand what the plan is. I mean, the last episode SPOILER ALERT showed that Jack inherited all of Beverly Lesley’s money, Karen had lost all of her money, and in the end, they lived together. So we already know the conclusion and every “will they end their friendship” and “will one of them fall in love and move out” plot would pretty much be anticlimactic since we know that they did not end their friendship and did not move away from each other.
Anyway. I really liked the characters but I’m not sure what they could do on a spinoff that wouldn’t completely ruin the series finale of W&G.
My favorite Karen line was “thats like saying Vodka is only a morning beverage…”
Jack and Karen were the best part of the show. I wish them great success with the new show and look forward to seeing it.
Add Rosario and this will be a hit.
“The help don’t even jump anymore when I shoot at their feet”
i hope sooooo. i still laugh at every one of the will and grace reruns.
i wish them lots of luck and i look forward to seeing them back together on tv!
they are hysterical!
OMG! you have no idea how much this will make my centurey. I have been waiting for two years for this outrageous comedy to appear on my tv. I have had to survive on all my W&G dvd’s for the past two years.
Megan is funny but sean hayes takes the cake!!! i love him to death. This spinoff is going to be great. And even if it’s not, my dedication will over power me and i will have to watch it!
I would love it, They are so fuuny together
Will and Grace was nothing without Karen and Jack. They made the show.
I still love watching repeats on fox
im not really understandin what u all mean when u say they need str8 characters will was gay even tho in real life he isnt and grace was str8 but jack isnt gay in real life so im confused as to what ” the reason they were so good on W&G is because they had the ’straight’ characters (ie. W&G) to work off” means! someone please explain this also “Jack and Karen need good “straight men” to play off of” cuz i love w&g an i love J&K just as much!! i also hope that if they do get their own show that they left will and grace have appearances on the show!!! that would def bring back the good times!!!
I think they should most def bring back Jack and KAren!!!!!! i dont think that any of you r right saying that they need str8 ppl on the show will and grace was the best show and only freakin grace and karen were str8!! jack and karen made certain episodes what they are witout will or grace being there!!! they were just so nsync with each other!!!! they better bring back shoo shoo fontana!! LOL i laff everytime i hear that name it is hilarious to me!!!!!
@Dallas – the term ‘straight’ in this context is to do with comedy – it has NOTHING to do with anyone’s sexuality, on or off the screen! Common in comedy double acts, the ‘straight man’ feeds/sets up the jokes for the ‘funnier’ partner.
In W&G, the ‘straight’ characters, in comedy terms, were Will and Grace. They acted as comic foils for Jack and Karen, feeding them the lines, setting up the jokes, ultimately handing over the best lines and the biggest laughs to Karen and Jack. But All FOUR were responsible for making Karen and Jack so funny.
Bearing that in mind, Megan and Sean reprising Karen and Jack again in a new setting, despite how funny they were in W&G, is no guarantee of success unless they have (a) really good writing and plotlines and (b) other ‘straight’ characters to bounce off.
Also add Beverley Leslie, he was always funny just like Rosario, Jack, and Karen
My friends tell me I AM Karen.
They made the show if you ask me.
LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Jack is FABULOUS!
So many of Karen’s lines are write me down’s!
Scott Woolly always played well against Karen too. And pair Jack up with ANY female singer — hilarious!
Please let this dream become reality. Rosie (& Beverly Leslie somehow) should definately be included also. They were the reason why I watched W&G anyway.
i love will and grace hopefully this is true will would love to watch this show OMG CAN’T WAIT
Karen to Jack: “Do you find them (W&G) exhausting?” To which Jack replies, “I always have.”
I would cry from happiness if they got together for a spin off. I feel lost with out them.