The ninth season of the American comedy series Will & Grace premiered on September 28, 2017.[1] It comprised 16 episodes, and is the first of three reunion seasons following the series' eighth season in 2006. The season concluded on April 5, 2018.

Will & Grace
Season 9
Promotional poster
No. of episodes16
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 28, 2017 (2017-09-28) –
April 5, 2018 (2018-04-05)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 8
Next →
Season 10
List of episodes

Overview edit

10 years after the original run, Will and Grace, now in their late 40s, are back to living with each other following their divorces. However, they've noticed that while they were married, the world and the dating scene has changed since they were gone. They try to keep their boisturous humor in a now more complicated world.

Production edit

In January 2017, NBC announced that Will & Grace would return for a 12-episode limited series during the 2017–18 season.[2] At the time of the announcement, all four principal cast members (Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally) had already confirmed their return to the revival.[3] An additional four episodes were ordered on August 3, 2017, for a total of 16, as well as a tenth season.[4]

Cast and characters edit

Episodes edit

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1951"11 Years Later"James BurrowsDavid Kohan & Max MutchnickSeptember 28, 2017 (2017-09-28)10.19[5]
1962"Who's Your Daddy"James BurrowsTracy Poust & Jon KinnallyOctober 5, 2017 (2017-10-05)7.14[6]
Will and Jack are faced with the harsh reality that they are much older than they used to be when they begin to date younger guys. Grace comes to the realization that she needs Karen more than she thought she did.
1973"Emergency Contact"James BurrowsNina PedradOctober 12, 2017 (2017-10-12)6.72[7]
After having a breast biopsy, Grace is reunited with her ex-husband, Leo, when he's brought in as her emergency contact. While Jack teaches theater to kids at the community center, Karen helps a girl become a young woman.
1984"Grandpa Jack"James BurrowsAlex HerschlagOctober 19, 2017 (2017-10-19)6.69[8]
When Jack gets reunited with his son, Elliot, he learns he has a grandson, Skip, who happens to be gay. While Will and Jack try to bail Skip out of reform camp, Karen helps Grace get her sexuality back.
1995"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying"James BurrowsSuzanne Martin & John QuaintanceOctober 26, 2017 (2017-10-26)6.79[9]
Grace tries for her biggest job yet: decorating a string of boutique hotels for an obnoxious mogul. Meanwhile, Will is surprised at his reaction to making Senior Partner, Beverley Leslie discloses a secret to Karen, and Jack fights for his half of a winning lottery ticket.
2006"Rosario's Quinceañera"James BurrowsTracy Poust & Jon KinnallyNovember 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)5.74[10]
After Rosario passes away from a heart attack, Karen decides to throw the party for her that she never had: a quinceañera. While Jack struggles to know how to be there for Karen, Lorraine Finster makes a surprise return to show her support. Will upsets Grace when he leases the office space next to Grace's office without her permission.
2017"A Gay Olde Christmas"James BurrowsJohn QuaintanceDecember 5, 2017 (2017-12-05)7.18[11]
On Christmas Eve, Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen stop at a historical museum so Grace can use the restroom; however, the museum requires them to take the tour before she's allowed to use it. All four find themselves on a more "interactive" tour than they anticipated.
2028"Friends and Lover"James BurrowsSuzanne MartinJanuary 4, 2018 (2018-01-04)4.90[12]
Will and Grace take a bread-making class and both end up falling for their celebrity teacher, Jackson Boudreaux. Jack and Karen struggle to get a catchy jingle out of their heads.
2039"There's Something About Larry"James BurrowsAlex HerschlagJanuary 11, 2018 (2018-01-11)4.17[13]
Will and Grace learn that Larry has a major crush on Will and Jack and Karen fight off the craziness of Val, who's after Karen's friendship.
20410"The Wedding"James BurrowsDavid Kohan & Max Mutchnick & Tracy Poust & Jon KinnallyJanuary 18, 2018 (2018-01-18)4.39[14]
Vince, Will's ex-boyfriend, invites him to his wedding, prompting Will to reevaluate their relationship and why it ended. A cop exploring his sexuality falls in love with Jack, but his wife is none the wiser. Karen goes on a scavenger hunt.
20511"Staten Island Fairy"James BurrowsStory by : David Kohan & Max Mutchnick
Teleplay by : John Quaintance
February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01)4.12[15]
While Will and Grace venture into their next business move selling bed linens on QVC, Jack's new love interest outs himself to his wife.
20612"Three Wise Men"James BurrowsTracy Poust & Jon KinnallyMarch 1, 2018 (2018-03-01)4.00[16]
Grace is shocked when she realizes she slept with three men (the grandfather, the father, and the son) from the same family. Will and Karen spy on her staff at the mansion and produce a telenovela of them.
20713"Sweatshop Annie & the Annoying Baby Shower"James BurrowsJohn QuaintanceMarch 8, 2018 (2018-03-08)3.92[17]
Will and Grace go to Ellen's niece's baby shower. While Jack is shooting scenes with Jennifer Lopez for Shades of Blue, Karen is put in charge of the kids in his acting class and unexpectedly bonds with one of the girls.
20814"The Beefcake & the Cake Beef"James BurrowsSuzanne MartinMarch 15, 2018 (2018-03-15)4.71[18]
Grace and Karen cause commotion at a bakery that refuses to make a cake for the President. Jack cautions Will about moving too fast in his new relationship with his ex, Michael.
20915"One Job"James BurrowsSuzanne Martin & Alex HerschlagMarch 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)3.73[19]
Will and Grace go to Schenectady to celebrate Bobbi Adler's birthday. When Jack gets dumped by Drew, he goes to Karen for support, only to find that she's cheating on Stan with Malcolm.
21016"It's a Family Affair"James BurrowsDavid Kohan & Max MutchnickApril 5, 2018 (2018-04-05)3.63[20]
Will and Grace end up in an awkward position after Grace invites Will's mom, Marilyn, over as revenge for Will inviting Martin, Grace's dad, to move in with them. While Malcolm makes Karen choose between him and Stan, Jack gets over Drew by romancing a flight attendant, Estéfan. A double proposal ensues.

Reception edit

Critical response edit

On Rotten Tomatoes the season has a rating of 88% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 6.98/10. The website's consensus reads, "Will & Grace reunites its ever-hilarious cast for a revival season that picks up right where the show left off 11 years ago -- adding a fresh relevance and a series of stories that make sharply funny use of the passage of time."[21] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22]

Ratings edit

Viewership and ratings per episode of Will & Grace season 9
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)
Viewers
(millions)
DVR
(18–49)
DVR viewers
(millions)
Total
(18–49)
Total viewers
(millions)
1 "11 Years Later" September 28, 2017 3.0/10 10.19[5] 2.0 5.65 5.0 15.85[23]
2 "Who's Your Daddy" October 5, 2017 2.0/7 7.14[6] 1.7 4.36 3.7 11.50[24]
3 "Emergency Contact" October 12, 2017 1.8/7 6.72[7] 1.5 3.90 3.3 10.62[25]
4 "Grandpa Jack" October 19, 2017 1.7/6 6.69[8] 1.6 3.90 3.3 10.59[26]
5 "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" October 26, 2017 1.8/7 6.79[9] 1.5 3.76 3.3 10.55[27]
6 "Rosario's Quinceañera" November 2, 2017 1.6/6 5.74[10] 1.3 3.48 2.9 9.22[28]
7 "A Gay Olde Christmas" December 5, 2017 1.8/7 7.18[11] 1.2 3.24 3.0 10.43[29]
8 "Friends and Lover" January 4, 2018 1.4/5 4.90[12] 0.9
N/A
2.3
N/A
9 "There's Something About Larry" January 11, 2018 1.1/4 4.17[13] 1.3 3.25 2.4 7.42[30]
10 "The Wedding" January 18, 2018 1.3/5 4.40[14] 1.1 3.06 2.4 7.46[31]
11 "Staten Island Fairy" February 1, 2018 1.2/5 4.12[15] 1.0 2.89 2.2 7.01[32]
12 "Three Weiss Men" March 1, 2018 1.1/4 4.00[16] 1.1 2.97 2.2 6.97[33]
13 "Sweatshop Annie & the Annoying Baby Shower" March 8, 2018 1.0/4 3.92[17] 1.1 2.96 2.1 6.91[34]
14 "The Beefcake & the Cake Beef" March 15, 2018 1.2/5 4.71[18] 1.0 2.79 2.2 7.50[35]
15 "One Job" March 29, 2018 0.9/4 3.73[19] 1.0 2.73 1.9 6.46[36]
16 "It's a Family Affair" April 5, 2018 0.9/4 3.63[20] 1.0 2.85 1.9 6.47[37]

References edit

  1. ^ "NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates for New 2017–18 Season". The Futon Critic. June 19, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 3, 2017). "'Will & Grace' Revival Renewed For Season 2 By NBC; Series' 10th Overall – TCA". Deadline. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Webber, Stephanie (March 7, 2017). "'Will & Grace' Cast Gears Up for Reboot at Photo Shoot: Pics – Us Weekly". Usmagazine.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt (August 3, 2017). "'Will & Grace' Revival Already Renewed for Season 10". TVLine. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Porter, Rick (September 29, 2017). "'Will & Grace,' 'Superstore,' 'Good Place,' 'Gotham' adjust up; 'How to Get Away' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 6, 2017). "'Grey's Anatomy' and NFL adjust up: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 13, 2017). "'Will & Grace,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Gotham' and NFL adjust up: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 20, 2017). "'Gotham' and 'Supernatural' adjust up, final NFL numbers: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Porter, Rick (October 27, 2017). "NFL adjusts up, scripted shows all unchanged: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Porter, Rick (November 3, 2017). "'Will & Grace' adjusts up, 'Sheldon' and other CBS shows adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Porter, Rick (December 6, 2017). "'Chicago Med' adjusts up: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 8, 2018). "'The Four,' 'Will & Grace,' everything else unchanged: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 12, 2018). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'Young Sheldon' and 'The Four' adjust up: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 22, 2018). "'Grey's Anatomy' adjusts up, 'The Four,' 'Scandal' and 'Great News' down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Porter, Rick (February 2, 2018). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'The Four' adjust up, 'Mom' and 'AP Bio' adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 2, 2018). "'Superstore,' 'SWAT,' 'Scandal' and 'AP Bio' adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 9, 2018). "'Young Sheldon,' 'SWAT,' all NBC shows adjust down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 16, 2018). "'AP Bio' adjusts up, NCAA Tournament adjusts down but ahead of 2017: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Porter, Rick (March 30, 2018). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Chicago Fire' adjust up, 'SWAT' adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Porter, Rick (April 5, 2018). "'Big Bang Theory,' 'Grey's Anatomy' adjust up, 'Mom,' 'Supernatural,' 'Arrow' down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "Will & Grace: Season 9 (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Will & Grace reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  23. ^ Porter, Rick (October 13, 2017). "'This Is Us' and 'The Good Doctor' score big in premiere week broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
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  30. ^ Porter, Rick (January 26, 2018). "'The Brave' goes from low to … less low: Week 16 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
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  32. ^ Porter, Rick (February 15, 2018). "Closing the book on the Super Bowl 'This Is Us': Week 19 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  33. ^ Porter, Rick (March 15, 2018). "'Agents of SHIELD,' 16 other shows double in week 23 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  34. ^ Porter, Rick (March 22, 2018). "'This Is Us' leads the week 24 broadcast Live +7 ratings – by quite a bit". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
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  36. ^ Porter, Rick (April 11, 2018). "'Roseanne' premiere sets a record in week 27 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
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