Will and Grace is an American sitcom showing again on Channel 4. It was quite controversial when it first aired in 1998 because it was the first comedy show that featured gay characters as part of the plot. Will and Grace are flat mates and best friends. Will is a gay man – a lawyer and Grace is a Jewish woman who works as an interior designer. The plot focuses on their relationship, their friends and Grace’s love life and romance.

The show is quick fire and entertaining and became extremely popular in both the USA and the UK. It is notable for its many celebrity appearances who pop in as different characters. Debbie Reynolds plays Grace’s mother and Woody Harrelson and Harry Connick Jnr have featured as Grace’s love interest.
An important part of the plot is the close friendship between Will and Grace that makes dating a problem for both although the show was slightly criticised because Will’s love life is slightly glossed over. Long-term friends Karen Walker – Grace’s assistant who may be bisexual and is a drinker as well as Jack, Will’s other best friend and a gay actor, are both regulars on the show.

Although it is hard to imagine anyone taking offence over Will and Grace, this was one of the first sitcoms that attempted to show gay characters as anywhere near normal. However, Will and Grace is a fairly standard US comedy set in the world of the affluent and middle class in a similar way to Friends. There was criticism from the gay community that this sitcom actually reinforced stereotypes. Despite this, Will and Grace is well written and funny so is worth watching.
You can catch up with Will and Grace via youriplayer.co.uk. The show ran for eight seasons until it finally ended in 2006 so if you have not seen it, you have plenty to catch up on.
 

Watch all episodes of Will and Grace here. Will and Grace is a tv-programme of BBC One. You can see all episodes of Will and Grace here via Youriplayer.co.uk.