In a recent panel discussion at The Paley Center for Media in New York, Eric McCormack, known for his role as gay lawyer Will Truman in the iconic US sitcom Will & Grace, shared details about an episode that was deemed too controversial to be rerun. The sitcom, which played a pivotal role in mainstream US television by featuring openly gay characters, faced numerous challenges throughout its 11 seasons and 246 episodes, including death threats and rumored backstage feuds.
The episode in question, titled “Will Works Out,” originally aired in April 1999 during the show’s first season. McCormack revealed that it was pulled due to a contentious scene set at the gym between Will and his flamboyant gay friend Jack McFarland, portrayed by Sean Hayes. Reflecting on the scene, McCormack recalled, “He [Jack] was being particularly gay, and I called him the f-word. And they didn’t repeat that episode. That’s the one episode that’s never ever been ever aired again. But there was such truth to it.”
During the episode, Will witnesses Jack’s exuberant personality and attempts to flirt with one of his clients at the gym, leading to Will using a derogatory term to describe Jack. While the full scene was never aired again on NBC, Jack confronts Will for his offensive language, prompting a deeper exploration of Will’s internalized homophobia and his reasons for distancing himself from Jack’s camp personality. Eventually, Will apologizes for his words.
McCormack further explained that this episode faced significant backlash, resulting in the loss of sponsors. However, he emphasized that the show took on the issue, particularly within the gay community, and dared to showcase the various levels and feelings surrounding it. Another producer from the show also revealed that a risky scene from the pilot, where Will’s best friend Grace (played by Debra Messing) shares a kiss with Will after jilting her fiance at the altar, would not be deemed acceptable by today’s standards.
Fans of Will & Grace will soon have the opportunity to delve deeper into the show’s behind-the-scenes secrets. McCormack and Hayes, who recently reconnected, are launching a Will & Grace rewatch podcast titled Just Jack and Will. The podcast aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the show, examining the choices made by the actors and rediscovering their characters. As McCormack expressed, “You shoot 24 episodes, sometimes in a season, you’re not stopping to think. You’re not stopping to breathe… You’re kind of marveling at your young self, like Back to the Future. We’re watching ourselves going, ‘Huh, would I still make that choice? Did I become funnier? Did I become better?'”
The revelation of this controversial episode and the upcoming podcast serve as a testament to the lasting impact of Will & Grace, a show that fearlessly pushed boundaries and paved the way for greater LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream television.