Once upon a time the goal of Will and Grace was to have viewers laugh until they cried. Over time the goal has seemed to switch to try to make them cry until they left.
We were all on the W&G train from the first episode. The show seemed fresh and bright. We could ignore the caricature-laden characterizations. The first two seasons were must-see t.v. and as Friends began languish Will and Grace began to soar.
Then came the awards and with them, that wretched enemy of any comedy series: the search for relevancy. The actors, a gifted ensemble each needed their "star turn" episode which could be submitted to the Academy. Karen with a cancer scare and Jack with a teenage son. Will's parents divorce while Grace grows to understand her own mother. The cheery Charley Brownish piano music is re-scored to let viewers know that they are watching emotional moments.
As ratings began to take a beating the guest stars were dragged out to varying success. Madonna and Cher in quick appearances or Taye Diggs and Harry Connick, Jr. in longer appearances made their mark. Small additions were made to the cast such as Vince, the (Everybody Loves Raymond-esque) boyfriend of Will who should have been named Oliver - Cousin Oliver.
With the final episode coming here's a laundry list of what we can expect so that every guest star can appear and every actor can get their academy-tape soliloquy:
- Grace has her baby in a cab driven by Elton John. (Guest Star!)
- But the baby has Asian features and Grace recalls a repressed memory of being gang-raped in Chinatown. (Poignant!)
- Vince is gunned down by Esai Morales. (Guest Star!)
- Will gives a touching eulogy in which he reveals that he has testicular cancer. (Drama!)
- Jack meets the love of his life, Robbie Williams. (Guest Star!)
- But Robbie is a crystal-meth addict and draws Jack into his drug-addiction. (Moving!)
- Karen reunites with her husband Stan, as played by Wilford Brimley. (Guest Star!)
- As Brimley lies dying, Karen pledges her undying love and promises to quit drinking and popping pills and to devote her life to charitable causes. (Heart-string pulling!)
- Karen and Jack end up in a rehab center located in the same hospital where Will is being treated for his cancer and, amazingly, where Grace has brought in her baby for a check-up. Hilarity ensues as the whole gang races down hospital corridors in a wheel-chair race with NASCAR star, Dale Earnhardt! (Fade to black with cheerful piano music at full crescendo!!!!)
