Bad news for fans of smart comedies… NBC announced Will & Grace will come to an end after its upcoming 11th season. The network confirmed the series starring Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes will finish up with season 11 which is set to premiere in 2020.
“When NBC had the opportunity to reconnect this amazing cast and creative team, we jumped at the chance. The impact and legacy of Will & Grace simply can’t be overstated, both as a true game-changer in the portrayal of the LGBTQ community and as one of the finest comedies in television history. A huge thank you to Max, David, Jimmy and a cast that is second to none for their brilliance over an incredible run,” said George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy, Co-Chairmen, NBC Entertainment.
The award-winning half-hour comedy will have aired 246 episodes by the time the season 11 finale airs. The series has earned 91 Emmy Award nominations, winning 18. It’s also earned seven Screen Actors Guild Awards along with seven GLAAD Awards and a Directors Guild of America award.
Executive producers Max Mutchnick, David Kohan and James Burrows issued a lengthy statement about the decision to end the show after season 11:
“We think of the Will & Grace reboot episodes the way Karen Walker thinks of martinis – 51 is not enough, 53 is too many. That is why, after consulting with the cast, we all have decided this will be the final season of Will & Grace.
In 2016, Bob Greenblatt came to us with the idea of doing a 10-episode reboot of Will & Grace. They say you can’t go home again, but we did. And now, three seasons and 52 episodes later, we’re even more proud of something we never thought we’d get a chance to do again. We have had a once-in-a-lifetime experience twice. And for that, we owe a double debt of gratitude to NBC, this show’s supportive and caring home since day one.
It’s been the highlight of our careers to write for and direct four incredible artists who we consider to be the finest and funniest ensemble sitcom cast of all time – Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes.
Of course, actors as brilliant as these four are only as good as the words they’re given. The Will & Grace writing room has been a dream team that has consistently lifted the show to heights we never could have achieved on our own with their collective humor, warmth, and humanity.
The hardest part about making this decision is saying goodbye to our outstanding production team and crew who, over two decades, brought passion and artistry to every department. If we had just one more season, we would have learned their names. So, thank you Handlebar Mustache, Cheese Lady, and Cargo Shorts #1 – #12. We will always think of you as family.
And finally, our deepest gratitude goes to each and every Will & Grace fan across the world. It was a privilege to make you laugh.”
