Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2004 > September > 01 > Entry
Will ‘Will & Grace’ recover?
Heading into its seventh season, wacky “Will & Grace” is NBC’s senior sitcom, and the network is counting on its resurgence to protect the sagging Must-See Thursday night lineup.
The network that used to be known for fine comedy has whittled its live-action chucklefests to a tiny trio. Besides “Will & Grace,” that includes “Scrubs” and the new “Friends” spinoff, “Joey.” “Father of the Pride” is technically a comedy, but (a) it’s not funny and (b) it’s not live-action.
Even staunch fans of “Will & Grace” will concede that last season was weak. Part of the problem was that half of “Will & Grace” was missing in action. Debra Messing’s pregnancy forced writers to back off storylines featuring Grace’s trademark slapstick comedy, and the show suffered.
The producers have promised to get back on track when the show returns Sept. 16. Messing is ready for her pratfalls, and there are hints that Grace’s boring marriage to a seldom-seen husband (played by Harry Connick Jr.) will be over.
The prospect of Grace and the happily widowed Karen back on the dating scene is rich.
The original basis for the show was the friendship between gay Will and his best pal from college, Grace. Although Will and Jack were gay and made rampant wisecracks about it, the writers were skittish about giving either of them real relationships. That’s going to change this season when Will finds true love with Vince, played by last season’s guest star, Bobby Cannavale.
What’s to become of Jack, played by the ever-brilliant Sean Hayes? He’ll probably never settle down romantically, but he does finally land a job. Producers are making him a high-powered TV executive with a gay cable network.
Pumping up the GOP
Tuesday night’s Republican National Convention had a lot more star power than Monday night, when the best the GOP could do was Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Last night’s lone network hour started off with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rousing speech.
“He’s been governor of California for only 10 months, and boom, he’s a national figure in the Republican party,” marveled Jim Lehrer on PBS’ “NewsHour.”
Down on the floor of Madison Square Garden, CNN’s Candy Crowley donned a pair of “Terminator” glasses and proclaimed, “The Grand Old Party is atwitter.” Settle down, Candy …
Then 22-year-old twins Jenna and Barbara Bush giggled their way through a lame comedy routine that seemed more appropriate for a sorority skit. They quipped about their “young and irresponsible” days and goaded their grandmother for thinking their favorite sitcom “Sex and the City” is “something married people do but never talk about.”
In an awkward transition, the twins tossed the spotlight to Dad, who was standing in a baseball field in Pennsylvania. Boy, did he look goofy introducing his wife, Laura, whose speech at least brought a dignified conclusion to the evening.
The back-to-back speeches by Schwarzenegger, Jenna-Barbara and Mrs. Bush filled up the broadcast networks’ hour, effectively shutting down commentary and analysis. Maybe that was a good thing.
Tonight’s lineup includes Michael Reagan introducing a tribute to his dad, Ronald Reagan; keynote speaker Sen. Zell Miller, turncoat Democrat from Georgia; Lynne Cheney introducing her husband; and Vice President Dick Cheney accepting his re-nomination.
Country crooners Brooks & Dunn warble closing music.
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