"Will & Grace"
Pilot (1998)

Director:

James Burrows

Writers:

David Kohan (writer)
Max Mutchnick (writer)

TV Series:

"Will & Grace" (1998)

Original Air Date:

21 September 1998 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In the pilot episode, Grace dumps her boyfriend, Danny, and moves in with Will for a while, until Danny proposes.

Plot Keywords:

Gay Character | Lawyer | Best Friend | Interior Design | New York City

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Sept. 16

11:00 PM

LIFE

Pilot

#1.1

Cast

Eric McCormack	...	Will Truman
Debra Messing	...	Grace Adler
Megan Mullally	...	Karen Walker
Sean Hayes	...	Jack McFarland
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leigh Allyn Baker	...	Ellen
Todd Eckert	...	Jurgen Franzblau
Tom Gallop	...	Rob
Jimm Giannini	...	Gino (scenes deleted)
Gary Grubbs	...	Harlin Polk
Will Radford	...	Patron #1---Henry
David Richardson	...	Husband
Ellen Idelson	...	Will's Secretary - Ellen (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
James Burrows

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Kohan		writer
Max Mutchnick		writer

Makeup Department
Romy Fleming	....	hair department head
Timothy A. Miguel	....	makeup department head (as Tim Miguel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simon Barron	....	second second assistant director

Sound Department
John Hart	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Howard Baum	....	camera operator
Paul Jacobsen	....	lighting console operator
David Tolsky	....	assistant camera
Sean Tuell	....	best boy grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrea Federman	....	key set costumer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jordana Arkin		writer (episode)
Adam Barr		writer (episode 4.26 "A.I.: Artificial Insemination, Part 1")
Jeff Greenstein		writer (episode 2.24 "Ben? Her?, Part 2") (episode 4.27 "A.I.: Artificial Insemination, Part 2")
Alex Herschlag		writer (episode 4.27 "A.I.: Artificial Insemination, Part 2")
David Kohan		creator
David Kohan		writer (episode 3.24 "Sons & Lovers, Part 1") (episode 3.25 "Sons & Lovers, Part 2")
Barry Langer		writer
Kari Lizer		story (episode 4.26 "A.I.: Artificial Insemination, Part 1")
Max Mutchnick		creator
Max Mutchnick		writer (episode 3.24 "Sons & Lovers, Part 1") (episode 3.25 "Sons & Lovers, Part 2")

Produced by
Gary Ganetti	....	co-executive producer (2005)
Gary Janetti	....	supervising producer (2002-?)
Suzy Mamann-Greenberg	....	producer

Art Direction by
Melody Harrop

Makeup Department
Arrick Anderson	....	hair stylist
Donna Marie Fischetto	....	key hair stylist: New York

Production Management
Lucille Smith	....	production manager: New York Sequence 2002

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John P. Aguirre	....	second second assistant director
Jay Guerra	....	second assistant director
Kathleen E. Kearney	....	second second assistant director
Brent Stanton	....	second second assistant director (day player)

Art Department
Thomas D. Krausz	....	set dresser
Christopher H. Lawrence	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Greg Orrante	....	sound recordist
Valerie Stulman	....	sound recordist (multiple episodes)
Ted Van Klaveren	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Kevin Pike	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Adam Howard	....	visual effects
Scott Milne	....	visual effects supervisor
Bryan Whitaker	....	Flame artist: MFX

Stunts
Jon Braver	....	stunts
David Hugghins	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Carmine	....	director of photography: second unit
Ron Ervin	....	grip (2000-2006)
Jon L. Kunkel	....	camera operator (as Jon Kunkel)
Justin M. Lubin	....	still photographer
Michael R. Marquette	....	assistant camera
Jeff Richardson	....	best boy grip
Matthew Santo	....	assistant camera: New York
David Yellin	....	lamp operator

Casting Department
Michele Berumen	....	casting assistant
Toni Magon	....	casting assistant
Bryan Riley	....	casting assistant

Music Department
Scott Clausen	....	composer: additional music
Rich Ragsdale	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Liz Alexanian	....	assistant to producer
John Arbuckle	....	marine technician
Kate Burrow	....	assistant to executive producer
Jamie Fiench	....	publicist (2005)
Julie Fleischer	....	script supervisor (2000-2003)
Jamie French	....	publicist (2003)
Peter Hansen	....	caterer: pastry chef
Terrence Hartwell	....	production assistant
Tricia Kangrga	....	script supervisor (as Tricia Kangra)
Laura Kightlinger	....	writing consultant (1999-)
Marion Koh	....	assistant to executive producer
Roger Lundblade	....	audience warm-up
Brad Miller	....	assistant to writer
Dean Ollins	....	assistant to writer
Vanessa Rojas	....	production assistant (2005)
Doug Smith	....	production coordinator
Jim Wheelan	....	craft service assistant (seasons 5-8)

Distributors

• NHK Sôgô (2002) (Japan) (TV)

Trivia:

Staff writer Ellen Idelson supplies the voice of Will's secretary, Ellen.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of Grace's wedding veil.

Quotes:

Will Truman: What's in the hat box? Your tiara?
Jack McFarland: Look, Guapo, he made a funny! Shut up, Will!

Movie Connections:

References "Pop Up Video" (1996)

Soundtrack:

A Room Without Windows

The Concept that Started it All.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

With ELLEN creating the media stir that it did back when actress and sitcom star Ellen Degeneres "came out of the closet" and shocked only those who had either been under a hole for the past 50 years or couldn't take a hint if the truth were staring at their faces, it was now a thing as to where to go with her show. After the episodes following the "national event" involving her character's coming out became less and less funny it was only time before the network would step in and cancel the show. It seemed that everything about the show that had made it work was gone; too much emphasis on Ellen's character's sexuality almost in every other episode, and it seemed like it had run out of gas.

When cancellation occurred, there was a void. People nowadays may not see it as such back then but there was nevertheless. For gay audiences, there was nothing to hold onto. No sitcoms had any major or recurring character that was comfortable with his or her sexuality. If they were around, it had been up until then as a sight gag -- something to be laughed at and dismissed.

And then came the partnership of David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. They had had a situation comedy in which the supporting characters were a gay man and his straight best friend. Somehow the network execs decided that the secondary characters were the ones that caught their attention and wanted to go with them instead. And so, the comedy that became "Will and Grace" was born.

The pilot, I recall, tested not well, but through the roof. There was this overwhelming response to the set-up, in which Will Truman, a successful lawyer living in 155 Riverside Drive in Manhattan had a friendship with a female interior designer, Grace Adler, and who was best friends with Jack McFarland. It was as if the show everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived, and people were more than willing to accept it for what it was: a great show with not one, but two gay leading men.

The runaway bride plot that opened a show had been done successfully in "Friends" and was a success here as well, providing a near identical solution that integrated the leads within one apartment. While their living situation would become less believable as the show evolved -- particularly dealing with the events following Grace's divorce from Leo Markus -- it provided a way to blend both highly flammable personalities under one roof and see what would happen when a creative and neurotic designer and the male counterpart to Bree Van De Kamp collided under one roof.

Watching the very first episode there's a novelty in the air. It's as if everyone were experimenting with their roles and their purpose in being there. No one could guess the explosion the presentation would create. But there it was, with lines that crackled, wit that was bursting out of the TV screen, and attitude to pack.

(One of the interesting notes was that Megan Mullaly was sort of there to bring cattiness, as if the creators weren't sure where to take her character, but that proved to be quite the opposite when Karen Walker was given a whole new dimension within oncoming episodes in the First season and beyond.)

A great beginning to an excellent show that garnered not only a multitude of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations during its eight-year run but critical acclaim at a National level, and opened the doors for gay-themed shows like "Queer as Folk", "The L Word," and "Boy Meets Boy".