the buzz around the return of Will and Grace after an 11 year absence has convinced NBC that audiences are already for a second helping. During a panel at Thursday’s Television Critics Association press tour, NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt announced that the network has not only extended the return’s first new season from 12 to 16 episodes, it also picked up the series for another season. Said Greenblatt, “There’s been such an outpouring of love from the fans. We’re a very grateful network and we’re more than thrilled to have this show for a minimum of two seasons.”
Also at the TCA event, Eric McCormack spoke about Will’s love life, saying that his character has “got a little bit more self-confidence and that’s going to leave some very interesting dating things.” Eric also talked about the series’ 2006 finale which the showrunners are pretending never happened. He told reporters, “We’d done a finale that not only answered the questions, but made it impossible. People saw that election video and what people responded to wasn’t just how funny that video was, but how the show looks the same and feels the same. And we went, ‘oh that’s true! So why are we stuck with this ending that we gave it when we don’t have to be?'” He added that, “We’re not here to reinvent this wheel. We’re going to give it a coat of paint and that’s it.”
The shows creators, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, have confirmed that Harry Connick Jr. is returning to the series as Grace’s former flame, Leo, and noted that “We’re in the [confirmation] process with some of these other folks, and it will be great if it happens.”
Sadly, for all of you fans of Rosario, she won’t be returning for the revival. At Thursday’s Will and Grace panel at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, show co-creator Max Mutchnick, said that Shelley Morrison, the actress who played Karen’s feisty maid, has retired. When she turned down returning to the role, Max said, “It was with a heavy heart that she gave us that information and that we received it, but it is the way that it goes. It is a choice that she has made. We really wanted Shelley to be a part of this series, so we find ourselves having to figure that out moving forward. It was not an easy decision to make, but it’s one that she made.” And, of course, the show will address the loss of Debbie Reynolds, who played Grace’s mom. “She’s obviously not coming back, but we will be speaking to it and the characters will be speaking to it,” said Max.
I am so sad Rosario isn’t coming back, and I really hope the series can live up to the hype. I’m definitely going to be tuning in to see how they gloss over that awful finale though. The new season debut on September 28, as NBC tries to bring back the magic of “must see TV.” Will you be watching?
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
Pass. The existing episodes haven’t held up and the entire thing seems so thirsty from every corner (showrunners, stars, NBC). With as many good things already out there, I don’t need this retread.
This.
A few days ago execs were seriously talking about how they’d love to reboot The Office, The West Wing, ER, 30 Rock etc.
I guess W&G was the best they could actually do.
So sick of reboots.
The thing is, I live in LA. I know writers. There are a lot of great ideas floating around, but execs seem determined to keep going to the same five people (and their children) again and again.
@la elle
Your post has made think of the foolish Landis son… His wiki reveals being a joke doesn’t affect his c. v., he continues to have his work greenlit with beautiful big casting….
Life ‘s so unfair.
I remember a documentary on French television about writing in Hollywood. It was sad to see how even after being bought, a script can be stripped from all his originality. A professor was explaining how cool superhero movie could hide very fascist subtext.
30 Rock remains my favourite. That and Parks.
Lots of love from fans doesn’t necessarily translate into high ratings; I think they’re a tad overconfident here.
I agree. I think a lot of people will check out the first episode, but if it’s not good, viewership will drop off.
Really crushed we won’t be seeing Rosario!
No, I will not be watching it. Mostly because my TV habits have changed, I pretty much never watch anything in real time. But also because this feels a bit desperate and dated. I was over it before the first run even ended.
I have to say, everyone in the cast looks amazing. And please, execs, don’t think of rebooting ER. It took you guys long enough to end it the first time.
I could never stand that horrible voice Megan M. uses for her character, so nope.
She used in Parks and Rec, too, and I just saw an episode where Amy Poehler’s character imitated it perfectly, which was pretty funny. It really is awful, cringeworthy.
I think this is going to bomb. It will maybe last the first episode but noone is going to stick with it. Its baffling whey tv execs would want to bring this back and can’t see what we all can see?
They could borrow from Dallas and pretend it was all a dream.
I’m definitely going to watch it. I think it’s going to bring some necessary comedic relief to the sh*t show that is this country.
I hated the show when it first ran and I’m sure not going to watch it now. The characters were all so grating and obnoxious. Karen and Jack had one joke and one speed. I have a few friends who are excited to see it be revived but I don’t really know why. There are so many incredible shows that died before their time and they couldn’t have rebooted them?!