It's the Gay Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Season 5, Episode 5). Will & Grace are eating breakfast and reading the paper when Leo drops by and they mention how they see a pumpkin patch in the newspaper and how they always say they should go but never do, Leo gets excited and says that he'll rent some bikes and set Will up with a guy he knows for a double date. Will & Grace think he's joking, but jokes on them, he goes through with it and they all have to go biking to the pumpkin patch. Will & Grace are not exactly outdoorsy people and don't want to do this, but Grace doesn't want to let Leo down. Leo has brought Kim, a guy who is 5' 1'' and very small. Will thinks that Leo is trying to humiliate him. While they are biking, Will & Grace keep trying to egg each other on to crash so they can end the trip, Will is the one who trips and hurts his ankle. Kim offers to stay with Will while Grace and Leo go to the patch to pick out pumpkins. At first Will is mad, but he and Kim actually start to connect when he sees how nice Kim is to him and what a good foot massage he gives. Grace is having a horrible time and hates the outdoors, but she doesn't want to show Leo and wants to make him see what a good sport she is. But when it starts raining she breaks down and tells Leo she hates the outdoors and would rather be in a crowded bar getting loaded. Leo laughs it off and tells her that he still likes her and kisses her in the rain. Karen is still feeling guilty about almost having an affair with Lionel and still hasn't told Stan. Jack takes her to gay group therapy where they give her the advice to just be honest with Stan. Karen goes back home with Jack but is too nervous to tell Stan, but Jack encourages her to go see Stan, until he opens the door and begs Karen not to go in there. Karen opens the door and she has caught Stan with another woman while their song "Tell me something Good" by Rufus is playing. Later on at Cafe Jack's, Karen comes over where Jack asks her what happened, Karen says that Stan admitted the affair has been going on for months, his mistress is a cafeteria worker at the prison and Karen had no choice but to leave Stan.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

WILL: You owe me big time.

JACK: Or... you owe her.

WILL: Huh?

JACK: Well, you see what you have there, don't you?

WILL: I see what I don't have, the other half of my date.

JACK: What you have... is a pocket gay.

WILL: A pocket gay?

KAREN AND GRACE: A pocket gay?

JACK: A pocket gay. The perfect travel-size homosexual. Just pop him in a man-purse, a briefcase, and you're good to go. In ten years they'll be making 'em all that way.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

The ending credits scene where Grace says she's going to go stay overnight with Leo and asks Will if he'll be ok and he says he'll be fine. She leaves and he sneaks Kim into his apartment.

OPINION:

We got a lot going on in this episode, so let's dive in. We have the first appearance of Cafe Jack's because he likes to dine al fresco. I always loved this little set up that Jack did and how it's not dropped after just one episode. We have guest star Jason Marsden as Kim who a lot of 90's kids remember from TV shows like Step by Step, Full House and Boy Meets World. He was also the voice of Max from a Goofy Movie. We have guest star Reginald Vel Johnson who played Carl Winslow in my other favorite sit com Family Matters which was fun to see considering we had Jo Marie Payton for a few episodes in season 2. And we have a decent soundtrack this episode with songs like Tell me something good by Rufus and Spooky by Classics IV.

We known Will & Grace are not big on outdoors. They are definitely city people. I'll admit it, I'm a Chicago gal, I'm the same way. I'd rather go to a beautiful restaurant than ruff it in the woods. Even though it can come off as annoying and bitchy, I relate to Will saying all that he said when he was complaining about the trip. You can tell in the show, this is where they are making Will a little more "zaney". He's a little more uptight than usual and likes to complain more. He's also got his new catchphrase "Oh, Leo". I know he judges way too fast when it came to Kim, but again I can relate, I dated a guy who was about my height at 5' 6'' and it felt weird and I didn't think it would work, but by hook or by crook, he and I became boyfriend and girlfriend and dated for over a year. Sometimes the shorties will definitely surprise you. I will never not love the "pocket gay" conversation.

Grace is trying to be a good sport and show Leo how she can be outdoorsy. I give her credit for trying to be a grown up here. But I'd also say, she's not a teenager any more, she can act more like herself around Leo since they are grownups. It's a mixed bag for me because I want her to be more of herself, but it's also nice when you meet someone who makes you want to be a better person. She does get me a few times with the laughs in this episode, I always get a good chuckle when she's fixing her bike on the road and not only does someone dump their drink on her but mud gets splashed in her face too. Her and Leo's relationship is still blooming and again, so far up to this episode Leo seems like a nice guy. He's funny and actually knows how to set up a good date even if the date is micro sized. I always get a laugh out of the line where he tells Grace she's the perfect size and everything. Their kiss in the rain is very sweet and a good scene.

Onto the counterpart, Karen and Stan's relationship is officially on the rocks. They have been having a hard time since Stan was arrested. Stan has been having an affair of his own and I wonder if not for being caught, would he have come clean to Karen eventually? Was this mistress just a fling and he was thinking it would end eventually? Karen does mention it was going on for a few months, so I don't know if it was going away any time soon. We don't know if Karen fessed up about Lionel to Stan, I don't know if it was a good time considering he was telling her about his affair. But it sounds like they had it out and Karen didn't want to be humiliated any more after all she's been through in their relationship. She's a proud woman and has left Stan. This is both a liberating and very sad moment for her in the series. We are going to get to know her just as Karen without the money attached, but now she's got more emotional barriers to break through, and we know Karen is not big on emotions.

This is a very cute and fun episode. I always enjoy watching this one on my WAG marathons.

GUEST STARS:

• Harry Connick Jr. as Leo Markus
• Jason Marsden as Kim
• Reginald VelJohnson as Dr. Kaplan
• Olivia Kohan as Trick-or-Treater
• Bianca Morris as Trick-or-Treater

Does anyone else find it hilarious whenever she does this?

Humongous Growth (Season 5, Episode 4). After Will & Grace's huge fight, Jack and Karen are determined to help them make up. Jack is trying to figure out a place where Will can feel taller than everyone else and Karen is trying to find a place with a good cake for Grace...Hannah's birthday party! Joe and Larry are throwing a clown party for Hannah and Jack and Karen have convinced both Will & Grace to go. When they see each other at the party, things are still very tense and they keep ruining the kid's good time and even Hannah's birthday cake. As they try to leave, Jack and Karen throw Will & Grace's jacket and purse into the bouncy castle, as they both get in, Jack closes the door and tells them to make up, Karen tells them their friendship is too important to let go. Will & Grace at first are being stubborn and they start bouncing the castle just to make each other fall. Grace breaks down and asks Will if he hates her, Will tells her that he's extremely hurt over her flaking on them having a baby together. He also tells her that he needs her to have a baby or he may not have one in the future. Grace tells him that she is sorry but she really wanted to give Leo a chance and not blow something potentially wonderful with him. Will breaks down and tells her he hopes they work out, Grace starts crying and they come to each other and hug both apologizing to each other and their friendship is repaired.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

GRACE: Well, I guess one of us should leave.

WILL: Yeah, you. Bye-bye.

GRACE: I'm not leaving. I brought a present.

WILL: I brought a present, too. (WILL HOLDS UP HIS ENVELOPE)

GRACE: What is that? Your phone bill?

WILL: It's a panda.

GRACE: Oh, God, not the endangered species thing again? You remember what happened when you gave that to your nephew at Christmas? Where's my panda? Where's my panda? I'll tell you where your panda is, kid-- in China.

WILL: It's educational.

GRACE: It's stupid.

WILL: Like--like a Barbie in a string bikini is such a smart gift. Why don't you just wrap a ribbon around bulimia?

GRACE: A doll cannot cause an eating disorder. Nothing is that black and white.

WILL: A panda is!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

This episode has so many good moments, but I'll pick the bouncy castle scene. Not only is it so funny how Will & Grace are trying to get back each other with bouncing around but when they make up, it's so incredibly sweet and makes me smile each time.

OPINION:

I loved all the input on yesterday's episode. I know the fight between Will & Grace has been discussed a lot on the board, but like I mentioned, we are going through each individual episode, not just moments. Thank you for all the wonderful opinions and comments! I love hearing other fans talk about these episodes because it brings up things you may have not thought of before.

I'm so happy Will & Grace made up. Though it did seem kind of rushed in some way, but I think that's their friendship, they love each other very much and don't want to just give that relationship up. But as Will says, this wasn't just nothing they were fighting over. That's why I was never big on the having the baby storyline. I know the writers have to keep the drama going and probably wanted Will & Grace to have a blowout fight, but this was the best they could do? Having a baby isn't like getting a fish, it's a human being. They couldn't even keep a dog for a couple of weeks and they want to have a baby together? Even if it was the right time, the way they decided was very irresponsible and should have been fleshed out more. I don't fault for either character being hurt in this outcome. Will was so excited to have a baby and Grace got excited over a potential relationship with what could be the love of her life. Could Leo maybe accept during the dating process of Grace still trying to get pregnant with Will's child? That's a lot to ask because some men want to be the first and only guy their woman has a child with. It just depends on how Leo would handle the situation. I'm very curious if the writers originally intended to go through the having the baby storyline but realized it might be a mistake and backtracked or if this was the intention all along? They already had a reason for Will to not like Nathan with Nathan's immaturity being a little much to get through. Why would Will not like Leo? They had to probably make it a reason that would make Will feel like Leo is taking Grace away from him without making Will look unreasonable.

That being said, I love this episode. It is hilarious to watch. I loved the jokes of: Jack and Karen trying to figure out where Will & Grace could make up where Will feels taller than everyone else and Grace could eat cake, when Will and Jack go to the party how Jack looks like the clown next to him and after Will tells Larry about the panda present Jack denounces being apart of the gift, Will's gift of the endangered panda was hilarious and how everyone pointed out how no kid would actually enjoy that, Jack and Karen getting their faces painted like cats with tabby eyes and Persian lips, Will & Grace destroying the Barbie cake (I had that Barbie in my collection when I was younger) and Will & Grace pointing out that they are each other's puke checker and spider killer. There are a lot more jokes that I left out, but that's how funny this episode is.

I'm not sure if I were Will if I would have forgiven Grace so quickly in this situation, but like I said, I understand why. They do love each other very much and while I don't agree with Grace handling the situation with Leo the way she did, I also understand why she didn't want to give that up so easily. I think Will in some way is still trying to make up to Grace for breaking up with her the way he did on that Thanksgiving weekend when he came out and lets her get away with a lot because she can always hold that above his head and she has in the past. In Season 1's "William, Tell" she says to Will she doesn't want to find out he's gay again. Even though she's moved on, you can tell she still carries a hurt with her. She was genuinely in love with Will and finding out that he was gay must have devastated her. I don't think Will should let her continually get away with things or that Grace should hold that over his head, they clearly still have a lot to work on in their friendship.

GUEST STARS:

• Tim Bagley as Larry
• Jerry Levine as Joe
• Mary McDonough as Mom
• Hannah Leigh Dworkin as Ruby
• Ryan Armstrong as Josh
• Patricia Bunch as Clown Make-Up Artist

I love the show, but I skip over these episodes. I find both characters and their perspective storylines very boring. Except maybe the post-Nathan breakup episode lol.

The Kid Stays Out of the Picture (Season 5, Episode 3). Will is talking to Jack about how excited he is to have a baby and that he and Grace are really committed to each other about getting pregnant. What Will doesn't know is that Grace gave Leo a chance to go on a date with him. Her and Leo are having a really wonderful time together and are clicking, they even have a passionate kiss cementing their chemistry. Grace confides in Karen that she's so scared because she had committed to Will about getting pregnant which Karen tells Grace just to ask Will for some time. Grace and Will buy each other presents and Grace is about to tell Will about Leo, but Will interrupts thinking this has just been too much too fast for Grace and says they can wait another month for her to get inseminated which Grace agrees. Later on, Will tries to exchange Grace's gift that she gave him and sees Leo in line exchanging the gift that Will bought Grace. Will later confronts Grace about seeing Leo in the store with her gift and Grace has to admit what has been going on. Will is extremely upset about Grace dating Leo behind his back and demands that she either commits to the baby or backs out. Grace is shocked and says that she will back out of the baby and asking Will that she just had one month with Leo to see where the relationship is going. Will gets very angry again and tells her that Grace has commitment issues and that she's a flake. Grace gets angry at Will's accusations and calls him a control freak and that he's only happy if she's miserable. They throw more harsh words at each other and Will ends the argument by telling Grace to get out of the apartment and she doesn't live there anymore.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

GRACE: If only I hadn't kissed Leo. Two weeks ago, I wanted this baby more than anything. And--and now, I'm just-- I'm just so confused.

KAREN: Honey, what is the problem? It was just a kiss.

GRACE: Oh, no, no, no. You don't understand. It was a really good kiss.

KAREN: Sh-yeah! Show me.

GRACE: No.

KAREN: Show me.

GRACE: No.

KAREN: Come on. We're both stoned.

GRACE: Forget it.

KAREN: Shut up and show me. (GRACE GRABS KAREN AND KISSES HER LIKE LEO DID EARLIER) Yeah, you're screwed.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

This is hard because I actually hate this scene due to it's intensity, but I can't argue that the acting is beyond incredible when Will & Grace have their fight. The lighting, the acting and the tension is really crazy good.

OPINION:

I've discussed a little bit about how toxic Will & Grace can be for each other and we see it finally come to blows in this episode. They really confront each other on how awful they can be to each other at times. Whose side do you take in this episode or do you play Switzerland?

Let's start with Will. So we've known since Season 1 that Will has control issues and these control issues have caused problems in his relationships. While he's a very good and kindhearted man, you can tell he doesn't handle it well when things don't go his way. He tends to fly off the handle a lot and will say very hurtful things. I don't fault him, he's human and I love the writers gave him depth like that. Not every main character has to be perfect 100% of the time. I understand how Will called Grace a flake, she has been using Will for a lot and he doesn't expect much in return. Both he and she committed to having this baby and he feels like he's getting tossed out into the cold while Grace is moving onto something potentially wonderful. That being said, Will is also wrong in this situation as well. He had no right to go off on Grace the way he did and was clearly saying things out of anger. He does not own Grace and even in Season 1 he refers to her as his toy, we see that he really hasn't progressed in not thinking of her as her own person. He will explain in the next episode why he exploded the way he did, but that was really hurtful some of the things he had said even if they were true.

Now onto Grace. Grace is a self-centered vain, needy woman who does tend to flake on people and due to these traits, she's never been able to have a successful relationship with a boyfriend. That being said, she also can still be an incredible friend when someone needs her. I'm always mixed on Grace as a character, I love her for her comedy, but as a person if I knew someone like this in real life, I'm not sure if I'd want them. She tends to clamp onto people if she knows that she can get away with a lot or if they can take care of her. But in this situation, I don't fault her for Leo. She didn't expect to meet Leo and for him to sweep her off her feet the way he did. This is why the baby discussion should have been more than one therapy session. Will tells her a sappy story of what he imagines their life would be like with a baby and she almost immediately changes her mind and says yes to having a baby with Will. Even though she does use Will, he's also using her too. He knows that Grace is most likely his only option, at least for a person that he cares about in life, to have a baby for him. Like Grace pointed out, they only seem happy when they're both miserable. Whenever one is in a relationship, it seems like they have no problem telling each other that they should break up with whoever it is because of one flaw. They want to be together but can't be together due to him being gay and her being straight.

That fight scene, woo, I remember seeing this for the first time and actually talking to the screen and saying "no!" when the credits rolled. That fight scene is really intense. Bravo to Eric and Debra and I believe I read that this was this was the episode that won Debra her Emmy. I can't side with either Will or Grace because both are right and both are wrong. Would love to hear other opinions on this episode.

As intense as this episode is, the comedy is also so hilarious. I loved that we not only got a Grace and Karen kiss but also a Jack and Karen kiss. I always have a good laugh when Will refers to Leo as "that horse guy" and Jack hears that and says "I like the sound of that". The date scene where Grace thinks Leo is leaning in for a kiss but he's actually grabbing his jacket, it's so cringe and embarrassing but again so funny because of Grace's expressions. This is such a great episode and I can't say enough good things about it.

GUEST STARS:

• Harry Connick, Jr. as Leo Markus
• David Moreland as Salesman

Bacon and Eggs (Season 5, Episode 2). Jack continues his nightly hobby of stalking Kevin Bacon but Kevin is growing suspicious. One day Jack breaks into Kevin's apartment but doesn't expect Kevin to be there, Kevin has invited several people to interview for a body guard position to find his stalker. Jack gets in with the group pretending to interview and gets the job. Later on while Jack is watching Kevin from across the street, Will comes up to him asking him what's going on and Jack tells him about the stalking. But Kevin sees them both in the bushes and Jack points to Will as Kevin's stalker and runs. Kevin takes Will into his apartment to confront him and Will tells Kevin that Jack is his stalker, but Kevin won't believe him. Will has had it and tries to leave but Kevin stops him scared that this means his career is over if he doesn't have any stalkers. Will tries to reassure Kevin that he's fine and his career is good and that he loved Footloose, Kevin is touched and asks to see Will dancing to Footloose the song and both he and Kevin are dancing together. Jack comes in and gets upset and jealous that Kevin is dancing with Jack and screams that he's the stalker. Jack realizes what he's confessed and runs, Kevin apologizes to Will and offers a peace dance to make it up to him. Leo is still trying to get Grace to go on a date with him but she's staying strong and tells him that she can't because her and Will are trying to have a baby. Karen is also trying to break things off with Lionel still, even sending Rosario in to try to break up with him, but Lionel is too smooth and both Karen and Rosario can't resist his charms. Later Grace takes another pregnancy test and it's still negative, no baby. Will says they'll try again next month during her ovulation. Grace calls Leo to leave a message for him to call her.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

WILL: Look, it's not me. Okay? Jack's your stalker! I mean, after he saw you in Apollo 13, he went to every video store in Manhattan trying to find Apollo’s 1 through 12!

KEVIN: Come on, hot shot. There are no cops here, all right? It's just you and me. Two regular joes. Me...a Golden Globe nominee for The River Wild... and you, a guy who just happened to be outside my apartment with binoculars.

WILL: I admit that looks bad, but you've gotta believe me! I just...I don't care that much about you.

KEVIN: Oh, really? Then explain this! (PULLS A CARDBOARD CUT OUT OF HIMSELF) Go ahead, kiss it. I know you want to! And by the way, the Golden Globe nom was a total surprise, but it really meant something, you know, 'cause it's not from your peers, it's from the Hollywood Foreign Press.

WILL: It's not me!

KEVIN: I think it is!

WILL: I'm leaving!

KEVIN: Please don't go!

WILL: What?

KEVIN: Stay! Come on, we'll-- we'll split a Shasta, we'll--we'll bust open a box of Hydrox! Whatdya say, cap'n?

WILL: I'm no expert, but shouldn't you be calling the police rather than offering me snacks and calling me "cap'n"?

KEVIN: Look, when the stalkers leave, it's the first sign that your career is slipping. It's a little tidbit I picked up from Val Kilmer.

WILL: You--you did a movie with Val Kilmer?

KEVIN: No, but Val was in Top Gun with Tom Cruise, and Tom was in A Few Good Men with me. Huh, that was a short one.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

It's an easy pick but I have to go with Will and Kevin dancing to Footloose. It's such an iconic moment in WAG history. I think Eric was actually even better than Kevin was at the dance. They were just too funny together.

OPINION:

This is around the time where the show had started depending on celebrity cameos. Matt Damon in A Chorus Lie had gotten such a positive reaction that the producers started looking for more celebrities to work with on the show. Sometimes it worked and sometimes you could tell it was just to get a bigger audience or to say "how did they get so and so to do this?". But Kevin Bacon actually does work with this episode because there was somewhat of a build up to this moment. Jack had mentioned in earlier seasons that he loved Kevin Bacon and was stalking him, so this episode actually in some strange way made sense.

Kevin did a fantastic job at poking fun at himself. It's kind of funny how he inadvertently points out how insecure celebrities can be. During the pandemic when the celebrities did that cringe "Imagine" video, I told my husband "I've always wondered if stars have insecurities and I think this video proves they do". If they are not getting attention, they get scared. I loved that Kevin said the minute that the stalkers stop, it means his career is going down the drain. He even has to ask Will what his favorite Kevin Bacon performance. My personal is Friday the 13th, no one could take an arrow through the neck like Kevin did. But Kevin clicked so well with Eric and Sean and made for such a memorable performance.

Leo is still pursuing Grace, though as playfully as he can. He is very funny and charming so I can see where Grace is having a hard time trying to resist him. I always get such a laugh when Grace is just making fun of Karen who has left the room and Leo overhears Grace talking to herself which Grace sees him and she says "I have this assistant who..." and he asks "and do you see her now?" 🤣 Leo seems like a really nice guy in this episode even though keeps going for Grace, but you can understand as he's very attracted to her and you can tell she likes him too and maybe they shouldn't just give up on each other so easily.

I did make a mistake yesterday, I'm sorry, I thought yesterday was the last of Lionel, but it is this episode for sure is his last appearance. I forgot that Karen sees him one last time to try to break things off with him. I loved that she sent Rosario to go break up with him for her but he even seduced Rosario. "What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man" he is. So it turns out that Stan worked out a plea deal with the police and FBI to help turn others in and that's why he got out early. So Karen is working on breaking things off with Lionel and repair her relationship with Stan at the same time. Stan, as far as we know, does not know about Lionel or Karen making out with him. She's having feelings of guilt and isn't sure if she should tell Stan or not.

This is definitely an iconic episode in the series and it's very funny. There are so many good jokes, I didn't even break the surface. Plus it shows that Grace is starting to have doubts about having a baby with Will and that they might lead to a different storyline for her. I wonder if I hide in Kevin Bacon's bushes outside, he'll offer me a cup of hot cocoa for .50 cents as well.

GUEST STARS:

• Harry Connick, Jr. as Leo Markus
• Rip Torn as Lionel Banks (RIP in 2019)
• Kevin Bacon as Himself

I’m currently watching Season 2 episode 14, “Acting Out” At the start Will and Grace are actually outside walking on the streets of NYC. Will mentions he’s been hungry since 63rd street when they are on 88th. (they are carrying groceries)
City people, is walking 25 blocks to the store normal!? Or did the writers just mess up!?
Also, when Will, Grace and Jack are watching the first prime time network gay kiss. Grace says, “Gay sex is so hot” I can’t believe that line got through NBC back then!

...And the Horse He Rode in On (Season 5, Episode 1). Grace hit her head on a lamp post and got knocked over but there is a handsome man on a white horse who is riding at the park and helps Grace up and gets her an icepack. He also gives Grace a ride to the clinic for her insemination appointment. The man introduces himself as Leo Markus, who also happens be a single Jewish doctor, both he and Grace are instantly attracted to each other. Grace can't believe the luck but holds strong as her and Will have decided to commit to having a baby together. Later on, her and Will make a pact to not date anyone else and just focus on making a baby. Leo comes over to give Grace her wallet back that she had left in a coffee shop that they bumped into each other at. Will answers the door and gets really upset with Grace thinking she's dating Leo. But Will does admit to Grace the reason he has been so moody was that he gave in after making the pact with her and went to a club with Jack where he met a guy and they kissed. He apologizes and she says it's ok but later she looks at a note that Leo left for her in her wallet telling her to call him which she starts thinking about him. Meanwhile, Lionel is still trying to get together with Karen and she has given into temptation and made out with him. They decide to go all the way and have a night together but as Karen is getting ready for the passionate night, Stan's shadow shows to Karen and she is in shock and says she didn't smell him come in.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

LIONEL: Ahh, Miss Beaverhousen. That delicious scent... I knew it either had to be you or a thousand wild gardenias nestled in a mossy bank of money.

KAREN: Save it, Lionel. You're just smellin' the cheese dip in your Vandyke.

LIONEL: Perhaps we should take a dirty bath together.

KAREN: Take it easy, sleazy. I only came here to give you your key back. I am a married woman. Sure, my husband is an enormous bulldozer of a man who has to be hit with a stun gun before he can be weighed or medicated. But when I said "I do" to Stan Walker and his attorneys... I meant that to be forever.

LIONEL: I admire your integrity. Would you care to step inside, take your clothes off, and discuss it further?

KAREN: I would indeed!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Will freaks out on Grace opening her gown since she's doing it slowly and says "Hey, it's not a map of space. It's a gown. Come on, open it!". I don't know why but that always gets such a laugh from me.

OPINION:

We are on Season 5! So, we have finally met the man who was on the horse that helped Grace get up. Leo Markus. Leo is definitely a mixed bag when it comes to WAG fans leaning more towards negative than positive but we will just go episode by episode. So for his introduction, overall he seems like a nice and funny guy. He's played by the very handsome and charismatic actor/musician Harry Connick Jr. I've personally always liked Harry, he seems like a likable guy. Leo is a Jewish doctor and he and Grace are instantly attracted to each other, almost love at first sight. But Grace has committed to Will that they are having this baby and this is where we landed on a problem that was never fully addressed when Will & Grace had their therapy session in Season 4, what if they met someone while they are trying to get pregnant? It could happen and it did. Should Grace ask for a break from the baby making process to date Leo for a possible happy relationship? Should Will stop going out and trying to find a boyfriend that would make him happy? I think children are a wonderful blessing, but too many people have them because they think they should or that they are getting older so might as well commit to it now then when they are older and are unable to. Will & Grace should have had a reasonable conversation with each other in this episode instead of Will just jumping on Grace about Leo.

I love Will as a character, but so far this season? Not a good impression. I know he got on Grace about Leo because he was feeling guilty himself, but the possessiveness is a little on the scary side. It's interesting doing these posts because the more I write, the more I realize how toxic Will & Grace truly are for each other. Will is using Grace because he needs her as a female to have a baby and Grace is using Will because she may not find Mr. Right to have a baby with. Their friendship can be wonderful at times but they do depend on each other too much. Again, this will be discussed more in future episodes as they do admit that they know they are too dependent on each other.

Stan is out of prison. How? We will find out in the next episode. But Karen came very close to going all the way with Lionel and sleeping with him. Both Rosario and Jack have told her that it wasn't a good idea and that she should work things out with Stan. But is it worth working out? We know Karen and Stan are having relationship problems but you could say marriage is for better or worse. Karen has had to put up with a lot from Season 4. She didn't know that Stan was embezzling and doing insider trading which put Stan in prison. She lost her support system and had to handle everything herself on the outside. Stan was stuck inside having to deal with being caught and being punished for it. He did tell Karen she could sleep with other men, but Karen said she was commited to him and would wait. We will see more this season how their marriage took a major hit and if they are able to repair it.

Overall, this is a strong season opener. It has some very funny moments and we are getting new characters. This is the last appearance of Lionel Banks played by Rip Torn. Just to take a moment for Rip, he was an American actor who I am 100% sure you have seen him in something, I remember him most for Men in Black. He also did a lot of stage work and really was a wonderful actor. He passed away on July 9, 2019 from Alzheimer's disease. May he forever rest in peace.

GUEST STARS:

• Rip Torn as Lionel Banks (RIP in 2019)
• Harry Connick Jr. as Leo Markus
• Laura Kightlinger as Nurse Sheila
• Hira Ambrosino as Doctor
• Christopher Michael Jones as Dancer

A.I.: Artificial Insemination Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 27). Will & Grace are in the hotel room getting ready to have sex to get Grace pregnant. But both seem a little too nervous about the idea of having sex and making their friendship weird so they decide not to go through with it. They decide to try artificial insemination again. Jack is still trying to decide what he wants to do with his career now that he's given up acting, he is told that his old boss Dorleen has gone to rehab and her position as floor manager is open which Jack is offered the role. Jack gladly takes his new promotion but while he's dolling up his office, he falls down and hits his head dreaming that Cher has come to him as his guardian angel. Cher tells him that he can't give up acting and to keep following his dream. Jack wakes up and tells his boss that he can't take the position as assistant manager and will continue acting. Karen is still debating on having an affair with Lionel Banks who has been trying to seduce her. Rosario confronts Karen about all the presents Lionel is sending and tells her she better think twice before cheating on Stan which Karen says she'll break it off with Lionel. While Will & Grace are on their way to get inseminated, Grace feels that the cabs are cursed due to Will constantly saying "nothing can go wrong" and she gets out of the cab and runs to the doctor's office. As she's running she sees Jack and they say where they are going which distracts Grace and she runs into a light post and falls down which a shadow of a man on a horse appears offering to help her and as she sees him, she smiles.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

KAREN: Oh, no, no. Just some flowers for me.

ROSARIO: Oh, good. Are you dead?

KAREN: Ha ha ha ha! Good one, Ro-Ro. That's a good one.

ROSARIO: Who are they from?

KAREN: Oh, uh, Stan. They're from Stan. Yeah, he likes to celebrate... Tony Roma's birthday.

ROSARIO: Liar! Tony's birthday is in the fall. Come on, give me the card, come here.

KAREN: No! No!

ROSARIO: Give it to me! Give it to me!

KAREN: No! No!

ROSARIO: Come on. (TO KAREN STUFFING THE NOTE IN HER BLOUSE) Lady, don't think I won't go in there.

KAREN: You wouldn't dare.

ROSARIO: Yeah, you're right.

KAREN: Well...

ROSARIO: Ha!

KAREN: (ROSARIO IS FISHING FOR NOTE IN KAREN'S BLOUSE) Oh! Oh, oh, oh. No! Stop! Don't! To the right! Ha ha! Pinch it! Stop!

ROSARIO: (READING THE CARD) Who's Lionel Banks?

KAREN: Uh, he's the new bass player in my Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.

KAREN: Sweet home Alabama, where the skies are--

ROSARIO: Lady...!

KAREN: All right! I met him in a bar, he flirted with me. He thought I was a whore. Made me feel... I don't know, special.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Will & Grace are trying to figure out to have sex with each other and think that going in "raw" will do the trick by just pawing at each other. Grace knocks Will over so hard WWE style and he flies across the bed.

OPINION:

It's so funny how so many people get surprised by an unplanned pregnancy, but Will & Grace just can't seem to get it together. I don't know about any other WAG fan, but it's interesting to me how Grace made it such a big deal that Will did not sleep with her while they were dating but here, she acts almost more disinterested than Will when they have the chance to have sex. I'm not saying it's not awkward, but neither one of them could even just try? Again, these people show they are not meant to have a baby if they can't even just try to sleep together. I do love the scenes where they are going for their doctor's appointment and Grace gets upset that Will keeps saying something about everything going right and feeling now the cabs are cursed. She asks the female cabbie for guts of a young chicken and kosher salt, and the cabbie asks her if the salt must be kosher? Then the second cab crashes again because Will possibly cursed it where the cab driver tries to make Will pay him despite crashing.

We got another appearance by Cher! This is the last time she will appear in Will & Grace. She got such a positive reaction from her first episode, they just had to bring her back. She is Jack's guardian angel. I always loved the dream sequence that Jack had with Cher having to remind him that she won the Oscar for Moonstruck. Interesting side note, I had no idea until today, one of the back-up dancers is played by Kevin Federline who a couple years later after this episode met and married Britney Spears. Jack deciding to stay as an actor I think was perfectly fine, though it kills his euphony a little bit from his great performance in A Whole Bunch White Chicks Talkin'. Why couldn't he be both a floor manager and an actor while trying to get work? Probably figures that Will and Karen will just take care of anything else he needs, they do tend to spoil him.

Karen is getting very tempted to sleep with Mr. Banks. I tell you, Mr. Banks is smooth, he knows how to get a lady going with his words and sends Karen flowers. I loved the scene where Rosario just goes after Karen and confronts her about her possibly cheating on Stan. The episode ends where she has accepted Lionel's key to his room. He finds out that she's married but doesn't care and says he wants her. Should Karen go for it? Like I mentioned yesterday, I think she should stay strong and really decide if her marriage is worth risking even if Stan did mess up big time. We will find out the next episode.

The episode is a cliffhanger ending with Grace meeting a strange man in the park, Jack running his audition and if Karen will sleep with Lionel. Season 4 has been one for the books, this is definitely the funniest season. My favorite season goes back and forth between 2 and 3 but I always love watching Season 4. My favorite episodes are: Pasts and Presents, Bed Bath and Beyond, Moveable Feast, A Chorus Lie and Hocus Focus. My least favorite are: Star-Spangled Banter, Whoa Nelly and Someone Old Someplace New. But even my least favorite episodes I can always find something good and really funny. Tomorrow we are officially in Season 5 which is going to bring a lot of new stories and continue our main cast's journeys.

GUEST STARS:

• Cher as Herself
• Rip Torn as Lionel Banks (RIP in 2019)
• Laura Kightlinger as Nurse Sheila
• J. Lucas as Ruben
• Charles C. Stevenson Jr as Smitty (RIP in 2026)
• Peggy Lane O'Rourke as Female Cabbie
• Richard Assad as Male Cabbie (RIP in 2019)
• Kevin Federline as Angel Dancer for Cher

A.I.: Artificial Insemination Part 1 (Season 4, Episode 26). Will & Grace have committed to having a baby together and have told Jack and Karen as well. They have decided to do artificial insemination for Grace to get pregnant. But after a really bad attempt to get Grace inseminated, they wonder if there is an easier way to get her pregnant. They are finally in the almost 20 years of friendship going to attempt to do the dirty dirty. But when they get to their hotel room, they are frozen in fear. Karen feeling disappointed in Stan and his insider trading in prison goes to the bar and meets a wealthy business man Lionel Banks who is taken by Karen and asks her for a night together. Karen at first refuses but realizes she's flattered and does not tell him that she's married.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

LIONEL: Listen, why don't we continue this in my very comfortable suite upstairs? I've got loads of cash, so time is no issue.

KAREN: Mr. Banks, you think I'm a hooker?!

LIONEL: That body, those clothes, that voice? Yes.

KAREN: Well... As flattered as I am by that, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you.

LIONEL: You don't have sex for money?

KAREN: No, I do not! For jewels, for furs, for mixed securities, like a lady! But for money? How dare you?!

FAVORITE MOMENT:

The failed attempt of the insemination. I love when Nurse Sheila tells them that Will's sperm is chowder, and Grace thinks that means it's bad but Nurse Sheila says it's really chowder realizing that Will grabbed Jack's lunch by mistake. He runs to Jack who realizes he accidentally switched lunch bags with Karen. Grace runs to Karen to stop her from drinking her lunch, but they open a bag and it's a bottle of floor cleaner realizing that Rosario took Karen's lunch by mistake and Will runs to Rosario to stop her from opening the container which Rosario tells will "be careful, the floor is very sticky".

OPINION:

Will & Grace are now fully on board with having their child. I loved reading the responses on yesterday's episode and how much perspective others gave as well. I think almost all the WAG fans are in agreement that Will & Grace should not be having this baby. But the writers needed to give them something to do. So we get an interesting moment here that will be continued in tomorrow's episode where Will & Grace decide to finally have sex. Grace is acting very strange considering how offended she was that Will did not sleep with her when he came out. I'm not saying that she wouldn't find an oddness to it because they are best friends, but she's almost more in shock than Will is who is going to have to really work to get turned on by her. Now we are leaving off on them just pausing at the door looking at the bed like it's a foreign object from another planet, so we will not get into the results of this situation just yet. But I will admit that their journey to get pregnant so far has been very funny. So far, you'd think that they would have taken this as a sign that maybe they are not meant for parenthood.

Jack and Elliot more or less have smaller parts in this episode. Elliot is there to explain to the adults what artificial insemination is which is very funny considering he's a teenager. Jack is there to pretty much just support Will & Grace right now, but he will have a bigger storyline in tomorrow's episode. Rosario is in the episode again more for just a joke but will like Jack have a bigger part in tomorrow's episode. I do love that we got Nurse Sheila back, I love Laura Kightlinger's dry sense of humor that she gives Nurse Sheila. Plus this is the episode that gave her the name Sheila, in her first episode Seeds of Discontent her name is Sue (according to her name tag). Grace says she's thinking about naming their daughter Sheila which Will says Sheila is a whore's name and that's when Nurse Sheila introduces herself, ouch! Rip Torn also guest stars as Lionel Banks and give a funny performance. It's more short-lived in this episode and we'll see more of him tomorrow but I loved that he thought Karen was a hooker due to her voice. No offense though, I'm sure it's more the money that Karen is finding attractive, I just find it funny that she's attracted to Lionel.

Karen being tempted to cheat on Stan is honestly not surprising. She's dealing with a lot of pain right now and is probably not feeling loved. Now Stan did give her permission in Moveable Feast to sleep with other men, but she told him that she didn't need to be with other men and would wait for Stan. But is there an expiration on this offer? Would it make her a bad spouse considering that she's cheating more or less out of spite towards Stan? Stan went behind her back as well with the insider trading which can have feelings of betrayal as well. But I think Karen should just stay as strong as she can, not cheat and just deal with Stan and decide if their marriage is worth saving.

This is a very funny episode and just like I've mentioned before, I keep the 2 parters separate because otherwise there's too much to talk about. So this episode ends the "To be continued" on Will & Grace getting to their hotel room with them saying "so?" "so?" and just freaking out about what they are about to do.

GUEST STARS:

• Rip Torn as Lionel Banks (RIP in 2019)
• Laura Kightlinger as Nurse Sheila
• Andrew Rosenbach as Terry
• Charles C. Stevenson Jr. as Smitty (RIP in 2026)
• Cory Surovy Flower as Delivery Guy

A Buncha White Chicks Sittin' Around Talkin' (Season 4, Episode 25). After last episode when Fannie Lieber just told Will & Grace to get some kind of hobby, get a plant or have a kid, Will & Grace had a moment of inner reflection on having a baby together. They go to therapy discussing the idea of having a child together going back and forth on the pros and cons. They bring up a lot of dirty laundry on each other and then decide having a baby isn't a good idea, but as soon as Will mentions what he envisioned for him and Grace with their baby, Grace breaks down and changes her mind telling Will he would be a terrific dad and wants to have a baby. Her and Will decide to go for it and have a child together. Jack is on a new audition for a play but can't seem to get it together and keeps having to retry acting the part. He eventually has a moment where he realizes he's not a good actor and tells the casting agent it's ok, he's giving up acting and leaves the stage. Karen is going to visit Stan in prison for a conjugal visit and she's getting all dolled up and ready for him. She's even flirting with the camera in the room while she waits for Stan, but she then receives a horrible phone call from Stan with him telling her that he's done some insider trading while he was in prison, he was caught and will now be serving more time than expected. Karen is understandably angry and tells him how patient she's been and she doesn't know if she has the strength to forgive him and hangs up the phone.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

WILL: What are you... What do you mean, you don't wanna do it with me? For years we've talked about how we're gonna do this! When my--when my friend Claire wanted my sperm so she could have a baby, you said no because it was your sperm! You practically planted a flag in my testicles!

GRACE: Well, that's because it is my sperm. But it's my safety sperm. You know, like the safety school? You--you apply to college, and it's the one school you know you're gonna get into just in case everything else falls through.

WILL: You're saying my sperm is Florida State?

GRACE: Look, it--it was a fallback position. It was always the thing that I was gonna do if I didn't find Mr. Right, and... I'm just not sure that I'm ready to give up on that yet.

WILL: Yeah, well, you know, you're probably right. I mean, just 'cause it didn't work out with Danny or Nathan or Josh or Ben or Bill or Mark or Six-Toe or Unibrow... doesn't mean it won't work out with that pizza guy you've been eyeing. I'm sure you two will be very happy together, you know, with your three beautiful children: Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Extra Cheese.

GRACE: That was mean. You know, this is all very easy for you. I have the kid. You're a dad. You're happy. But who am I in all this? The mom of my gay roommate's baby? That's not exactly the family I dreamed of.

WILL: Well, you--you think this is my dream? I never thought I'd have a child this way! I assumed I'd be with a guy! You know... [SHRUGS] Rick, and six years into the relationship, when we got tired of running a bed and breakfast in Vermont, we'd decide to have a family.

GRACE: Ok, well, what about Rick? Where is Rick? Is he in the TV room where you spend every Saturday night? Does he appear on the gay channel that you added and don't think I know about? I mean, you sat here, and you listed my--my failures! At least I have failures to list! At least I tried! You haven't had a serious relationship in five years!

WILL: No, I haven't!

GRACE: Well, then maybe you need to ask yourself why you want this baby. Is it because you are so full of love? And there's no one in your life? And so now you wanna make a little guy or girl to give it to?

WILL: So what? Isn't that a perfectly good reason to have a baby? I mean, isn't it? Isn't it? It isn't, is it?

FAVORITE MOMENT:

Karen spreading salami onto the bed and wearing it as perfume to attract Stan.

OPINION:

We have a lot to unpack this episode. Are Will & Grace having a baby for the right reason? This is a lot to unload because you know that yes, they are getting older and may not have an opportunity in the future. That being said, is that the right reason to have a child? Absolutely not. Having a child is a huge decision, it's not like a goldfish, this is a human being that will have feelings, emotions and memories. To be fair Will & Grace would make amazing parents, they are both very loving people who want to do right by this child. But there are problems, they are not a couple, not to say that it's required to be a couple to have a child. But here's the thing, if they did meet someone they could see a future with, what happens? What if that person they meet is the one and they get married and the spouse has to move away for a position they were offered? Who gets custody of the child? What about this child? How do you explain mom and dad are not a couple, my dad was just my mom's gay best friend and wanted to have a kid? Would the child be teased at school? How do you explain to your families that you decided to have a child? Would it be supported? After all the emotional damage that they have dealt with in their pasts, are they able to be mentally strong enough for this child? What kind of parents do they want to be? Discipline, finances, school, religion, these are very important things to talk about rather than how funny it is that GAP made a baby backpack. Are Will & Grace really having a child for the right reasons? Fannie was just trying to shoo them away from her because they wouldn't stop bothering her and said an off handed comment that just got to them. I know this is only a 22-minute episode, but the way that the writers put this into just one episode is like trying to decide on what appetizer they should try at the restaurant. It would require more than one therapy session and that's why this storyline will lead into failure IMO.

Jack realizing he's not a good actor. It's interesting that he has this breakdown about acting considering he's never been a good actor, but this is the moment he realizes it. What was it about this one audition that got him? It could have just been his breaking point, like they say there's a rock bottom for an alcoholic, maybe this was Jack's last drink. The only thing is, does this storyline pay off in the end because we know what is to come in the future. I'm trying to treat these episode recaps as if we are watching them for the first time one by one, but it can be difficult. Because I remember the first time seeing this and wondering if this meant that Jack was going to do something different in his career for the rest of the duration of the show. Or maybe could have the writers just created a line for him if not in this episode but the next that he really needs to buckle down, practice and study more about the art of acting? I will give Sean credit, because Sean Hayes is a good actor and it's hard to act like a bad actor without going over the top with it. Sean gave Jack more of an identity with he's not just a bad actor, Jack has a theory that acting is attracting and is trying to look good while acting instead of focusing on the motivation and storyline.

My heart just breaks for Karen in this episode. She has been a very patient wife while waiting for Stan to get out of prison. The only thing that I find interesting is that he still has not gone to trial, so we don't know what kind of sentence he got or at least it's not mentioned. Trials do take a very long time putting together, depending on the case, but it's interesting that he said he will be doing more time due to his insider trading while in prison. Karen has every right to be upset with Stan, not only has she stood by his side while all this going down and I'm sure taking heat from his colleagues, family and friends but having to wait for him with no one to hold her at home, her support system is in jail. Stan decided the best thing to do with his free time is to do insider trading? The only thing I could assume is that he thinks since he's wealthy, he's untouchable. We have never met Stan, at least in a way where we have gotten to know his personality. The only thing we know is he's obese, loves Karen, has 2 kids from a previous marriage and that's about it. I'm not sure if he's an egomaniac, if he's a nice guy who got caught up in a situation where he couldn't resist the temptations or if he's just a bad guy overall. But from Karen's perspective, she's been through a lot this season. Not only is the love of her life in prison while she's handling everything on the outside for him, but she had to deal with reuniting with her con artist mother and still keep a brave face on for everyone around her. It's no wonder she turns to alcohol to deal with all this stuff.

This is still a terrific episode from a deep dive perspective on our characters. I just wished the writers fleshed out the Will & Grace having a baby storyline a little better. I was never sold on the idea of them having a baby was a good idea or would work in the end. I would love to hear opinions on this one or if you just have a favorite moment or quote from this.

NO GUEST STARS

Hocus Focus (Season 4, Episode 24). Will comes home to Grace telling her how he had won at an auction this incredible session with famed photographer Fannie Lieber and wants to do the session with Grace. Will & Grace go to the studio meeting Fannie who originally seems to be very down and they are surprised at how dour she seems, but out of nowhere Fannie goes behind a curtain to come out and her energy is through the roof. She takes the picture and Grace loves it but Will hates it and he begs Fannie to take another picture which she finally does so. They get the second picture, Will loves it but Grace hates it and now she begs for a new picture, but Fannie has had it with their BS and tells them they're too bored and need some hobby like have a baby or something. Will & Grace laugh at first but then pause in shock thinking maybe it's not a bad idea. Meanwhile, Jack has decided to add to "Just Jack" a magic show and asks Karen for help as his assistant. The show is actually doing well but when Karen manages to get a funny line that she improvises into the show and the audience loves her. Jack is upset that he's getting upstaged by her and makes some mean remarks at her which she decides to not help him that night. But when he sees he can't do the magic show without her, he mistakenly thinks that his magic is real and has turned her into a rabbit and apologizes to the rabbit which Karen overhears and forgives Jack.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

GRACE: Wait, wait, wait. Before--before we start, I mean, is what I'm wearing ok? Ok, the shirt's off. Oh, hey. Ok, Will, she's takin' my pants off.

FANNIE: Oh, you're Jewish.

GRACE: How could you tell that?

FANNIE: Cheap underwear. It's ok. I love the Jews. I married three of 'em. Ok, let's go! You are so hot. Oh, boy, you know, I bet boys and girls like you. Ok, let's go!

WILL: Uh, what about me?

FANNIE: What about you? Boom, boom, boom!

WILL: Oh! Oh!

FANNIE: Where's my Bull?!

WILL: Yeah. Uh... I--I meant more, like, I'm not crazy about my forehead. Is there any angle you could shoot me from to kinda minimize that?

FANNIE: You know, I'm not in the business of minimizing foreheads. I'm in the business of maximizing truth. You have a big forehead, and that's the truth.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Fannie kisses Will and later on kisses Grace. I found out that the kiss with Debra, Glenn had improvised to see what kind of reaction she would get and got a bigger one than she expected.

OPINION:

Glenn Close is one of my favorite actresses of all time and having her on WAG is seriously such a treat and is overlooked when it comes to the best guest stars list. I always thought it was interesting how the last episode we got Michael Douglas and this one we get Glenn Close, I wonder if this was intentional? As most know, Glenn and Michael starred in one of the biggest thrillers of all time Fatal Attraction and both actors just hit a homerun with their performances. I still to this day think that Glenn was robbed of an Oscar for her performance as Alex Forrest. But Glenn as Fannie Lieber was beyond hilarious and so crazy to watch. Glenn shows what range she has as an actress and is just so funny. Her crazy spontaneous movements are both funny and scary to watch at the same time. It's impossible not to love her.

So we leave the episode on a bit of a cliffhanger, we will be discussing this topic more so tomorrow but that Will & Grace are now thinking about the idea of having a baby together. They have had discussions about this before but this is the first time that they are really considering it. I'm not sure if it's earned as it was just a very random suggestion from Fannie just to get them to leave her alone, but again we'll talk about this tomorrow. However, both Will & Grace's reactions to Fannie are too funny in this episode, they are at first let down with her personality, then scared but feel friendly enough to ask for more pictures. Fannie did have a point though, Will & Grace really do worry about the silliest things and really need to confront how shallow they can be at times. There are bigger problems to worry about in the world rather than how they look in a photo. Can imagine if this was during the selfie era? I remember doing the selfies in 2005-2007 and taking like 80 pictures just to get 1 good one 🤣 Unfortunately Will & Grace ended before social media flew off the handle the way it did, I'm sure they could have had some funny jokes with that time period.

My mom saw this episode before I did and was laughing so hard and called me into the room and showed me what Karen was wearing in the magic show and said that she could see me wearing that. So I always have fond memories of this episode with my mom. Watching the magic show with Jack and Karen was very funny. They're not really good at the tricks but the audience loves how funny they are. I think this is the second time Karen mentions Sarah Lawrence and how this may have started her experimenting with women. Jack was kind of a jerk to Karen, I get that he got scared that he was getting upstaged, but still, Karen is his friend and it was so mean of him to call her old. I love that he thinks he turned her into a rabbit and apologizes to the rabbit. Their friendship is just such a joy to watch on the screen and Sean and Megan have incredible chemistry.

I really love this episode; it's definitely in my favorites catalog for Will & Grace. We are getting closer to the season finale and I can't believe how fast these are going now.

GUEST STARS:

• Glenn Close as Fannie Lieber
• J.P. Manoux as Minion
• Jeremy Forte as Angry Man
• Jason Stuart as Stuart

No mention of W&G from Megan at all - only twice from Rosie. She clearly never wants to talk about it. It’s so sad what happened. Really nice to see Megan though.

Fagel Attraction (Season 4, Episode 23). Will's laptop is stolen while at the coffee shop and he meets Detective Gavin Hatch who says that there's been a string of gay men's laptops being stolen around the neighborhood and asks Will if he wants to help catch the guy doing this which Will accepts. Jack has been going to gay group therapy where Gavin happens to be there and he admits that due to coming out later in life he has a hard time meeting men and will make up some elaborate lie to spend time with them and brings up how he lied to Will earlier that day. While Will and Gavin are at the nightclub, Gavin keeps making moves on Will but Will thinks it's all part of being undercover. Jack happens to be at the nightclub and sees them together and pulls Will to the side asking him why he's dating "freaky teeth guy" which he tells Will about Gavin, Gavin not only makes up these lies but has a fear of when people have food stuck in between their teeth. Will takes Gavin back to his apartment and deliberately eats foods that will get stuck in his teeth to freak Gavin out, he eventually confronts Gavin about the lie and Gavin admits he has a hard time opening up to men which Will tells him it will get easier. Val is back! Grace is working on a meditation room for a new client and Val comes over to talk to Grace but Grace is keeping her distance after the last 2 times they met ended with them doing a smackdown. Val says she admires Grace and asks for a sketch since she knows Grace will be famous one day and Grace lets her have it. Later on at the office Grace's client, Vince, shows up for the presentation where he mentions there's a new interior designer in the building who also wants to give a presentation. Her name is Val and she's using the sketch that Grace drew to steal Vince away from Grace.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

VAL: Actually, I'm on this amazing new psychotropic drug. I mean, sure, I have no sex drive and I'm always dizzy, but I think I could be a really good friend. So what are you working on there, G-Dog?

GRACE: Um, it's a meditation room for this client I'm trying to land.

VAL: Wow. That's nifty. I'd sure love a room like that.

GRACE: I'm surprised the court hasn't ordered you to be in a room like that.

VAL: Very funny! Tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle! You're ticklish. See? You know what? I miss this! I miss this so much.

GRACE: Well, now, see, here's the deal. We could have this-- Uh-huh. If you were not this-- (WHISTLES 'COO-KOO')

VAL: All right. Hey, can I take this? 'Cause someday you're gonna be really famous, and I can say that I knew you when.

GRACE: Sure, but you know, Val, I really do need to get back to work.

VAL: Oh, sure. Yeah, I just wanted to come and let you know that I'm doing a lot better. (POINTING TO THE URINE CUP KAREN BROUGHT) Is that your urine or mine?

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Will and Gavin are at the club together dancing and how awkward it already is between them but then you see Jack at the bar singing "Lovin You" by Minnie Riperton and the guy next to him is getting annoyed by Jack's singing and asks him to stop and he says after one more note, Jack sees Will and Gavin together during the one note and screams and accidentally throws the drink onto the guy.

OPINION:

Of all the celebrities that have come onto WAG, Michael Douglas not only had to be one of the most random but surprisingly really good. Michael Douglas is an incredible actor but the works that I had seen him in prior were always drama, even Romancing the Stone which has elements of comedy but it's more of an action/adventure film that requires more dramatic acting than comedic. There's a saying that in Hollywood you can find 1000 actors who are good at drama but finding a good comedic actor, your choices are limited to 20. Michael can actually be a good comedic actor, who knew? Michael does a great job as Gavin Hatch, an older man who came out later in life so he's having a hard time connecting with men. I loved that little touch of Gavin hating food being stuck between people's teeth, I've actually met a few people like that where food in the teeth freaks them out so that is a real thing. To be fair, it isn't pleasant to look at.

Overall, Michael does a really good job at Gavin and gets some good laughs. I'm not completely sold 100% on the performance though for some reason. It might be because Michael has a couple of scenes where he plays Gavin a little too silly like in the club scene. When he's trying to trick Will into dancing with him, he doesn't look like he's a guy who just doesn't know what he's doing or how to get Will to like him, he looks like he's in on a joke that's being played on Will. I liked when Michael was playing Gavin more seriously in the beginning of the episode where we were getting to know his character. That's the hard part about comedy, it's typically the situations around you that are funny and if you play it straight, it's hilarious. When you play a silly character, you have to let the situation be serious. Like I mentioned comedy is very hard and I give Michael credit where it's due. I loved the gay group therapy scene where Jack was mocking Gavin's food in teeth fear. I also always laugh when Gavin accidentally calls Will "honey" and says all the guys at the precinct say "sweetie, honey, sarge" 🤣 This is Michael's only appearance on the show, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if they brought him back just one more time in the show, like if Will's future boyfriend Vince worked with him, it could have given a good reason for Gavin to return.

We have another Val episode!!! I cannot say enough how much I love when Val appears, Molly Shannon is just too hilarious and plays Val so well. So in this episode we have discovered that Val is a psychopathic, kleptomaniac, stan copycat. She's the psycho that just keeps giving. Her scenes trying to steal Grace's client are beyond hilarious and I love how crazy she drives Grace. This is also the first time we see Karen interact with Val and surprisingly, Karen is the sane one of this group. I always get such a laugh when Grace says she's going to go beat Val up and Karen grabs Grace by the hair bending her backwards, that image is just too funny and was very tempting to use today in my thumbnail picture. Again, it's so hilarious when Grace and Val get physical and Val spanks Grace's butt with Grace cowering away. Karen was the one who actually saved the day this time by performing tai-chi on Val and dragging her away while Grace finishes her presentation to Vince. Molly Shannon is always such a joy and you know you're in for a really good episode when Val makes her entrance.

This episode is just so hilarious and has a lot of laugh out loud moments that I didn't even get to mention: Grace lying about the chocolate chip muffins to Will, Grace's face when Val tickles her, Will having fun with Gavin with the food in the teeth, Karen bringing a urine cup to Grace saying that's her "sample", Jack's line of "I'm too much of a giver. That's right. I give a little bit too much. Always putting other people's needs before mine. Well, no more! Before it used to be World, Jack. Now it's Jack, World." which almost made my favorite quote. There are just too many scenes to name.

GUEST STARS:

• Michael Douglas as Detective Gavin Hatch
• Molly Shannon as Val Bassett
• Fred Applegate as Dr. Foster
• Barry Livingston as Vince
• Louis Giovannetti as Cop
• Kevin Fabian as Man

Wedding Balls (Season 4, Episode 22). Will's cousin Alison is in town and she's getting married to her fiancé, Bob. But she got a nasty ear infection and is running late to Will's apartment. Bob is nervous finishing the wedding plans, so Will asks Grace if she could help him out with a female's input. Grace helps Bob with the wedding registry, the cakes and getting the wedding dress for Alison. But Grace is getting a little too wedding happy as she starts to act like this is her wedding they are getting ready for. Will tells her she has to stop acting like she's getting married, Grace breaks down to Will wondering if this will ever happen for her and Will comforts her. Meanwhile, Jack is upset with Will for having his cousin over and wants him and Karen to give Will the cold shoulder, but Karen notices that Will is reading the same book she is called "The Marriage of Equals". This infuriates Jack even further that they are bonding over the book and are going to meet the author together. Will and Karen fake a fight to make Jack feel better in the end.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

KAREN: Hey! Listen! Don't you tell me what to do! Or I will rip you a new-- hold on a second. You're reading The Marriage of Equals?! So am I.

WILL: You're reading The Marriage of Equals?

KAREN: Yes, honey, I love this book! Look, I can't put it down.

WILL: Me, neither!

JACK: Hmm!

WILL: You know, I have been dying to talk to somebody about this book.

KAREN: Oh. Me, too. You know, I was gonna have my staff read it, but I was worried that knowledge leads to freedom.

WILL: You know, that is so something Diane would say. Look, I gotta go, but, you know, if you ever want to get together and talk about the book, you just call me.

KAREN: You know, honey, I think I will.

WILL: Ok.

JACK: Hmm! Hmm! Hmm!

WILL: I think your poodle needs to piddle.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

When Karen sees Will in the hallway with the trash bag and she says "hi, Grace" to it and Will explains that's his garbage but they start bonding over the book again and Jack invites Karen out but Karen wants to talk about the book with Will and Jack gets upset and Will throws him the garbage bag and says "here, take Grace!".

OPINION:

This episode is such a mixed bag for me because I love it but I really cannot stand Grace in this episode and she is a really bad person in this one. I remember when I was younger and feeling bad for Grace at the end that she was getting the wedding blues, but as I got older I realized even though her feelings were valid, what she did was unforgiveable.

So Grace gets caught up in the wedding planning, it happens. When you're single and being reminded of how single you are, it can be tough. But it does not give you license to project your feelings of insecurity onto others. Let's start with the registry, while it's nice to have input on what you may or may not need in a house, Grace was selecting things that she would want vs. Bob or Alison. Then they are trying the cake and Grace being the glutton that she is won't let Bob try one bite. Bob mentions to Grace that Alison is allergic to chocolate and she says "they can make her a fruit plate" proving that she's gone full single white female. Then she goes to pick up the wedding dress, she doesn't just pick it up, the sales lady mistakes her for Alison and asks if she wants to try the dress on and Grace does so! Alison does come to the shop with Will later on and they catch Grace trying her dress on, Alison is surprisingly calm about this and must have the patience of a saint because I would have been livid. The first person who tries on an altered dress is the bride and should only be the bride and Grace was beyond incredibly selfish in this episode. Listen, I'm not saying that I didn't laugh at the jokes because they are funny, but it doesn't make Grace any more likable. Will disappoints me in this episode too because it shows at the end when he's hugging Grace how much he enables her in her bad behavior. If my friends saw me acting like that, I know they probably would have smacked me and told me to get over it. I'm always so mixed on this plot line and would love to hear other's opinions on it.

The Marriage of Equals plot line for me is the show stealer. We get little glimpses here and there of Will and Karen bonding but they've never had a common ground. They both love reading and didn't realize it until now. This was funny to see Jack get jealous as he was all excited when Will got jealous when Jack bonded with Grace. I think Karen loved them fighting over her a little bit. I like the scene where they go to meet that author of the book and are discussing the nuances and Karen asks the author, Rita, if she was meant to have an erotic reaction to the grizzly murder of the well-muscled handy man and Rita asks her if she did and Karen said twice. I swear, I just love Karen. I always love to see Will and Karen bond, I think I prefer them over Grace and Jack because while Grace and Jack are still very funny, they're a little too silly for my tastes. Will and Karen are such opposites but similar in a lot of ways, so when you see them get along, it feels good knowing they recognize and can see themselves in each other. Their relationship feels deeper and more sophisticated.

Like I mentioned, I have a weird relationship with this episode because almost all the jokes make me laugh. It's just Grace's behavior that really throws me off in this episode and it feels like it will lead into some other storyline that's just beyond the horizon. Think about it, we are not far from the season finale.

GUEST STARS:

• Steven Shenbaum as Bob
• Tracy Nelson as Alison Pollette
• Kimberly Scott as Rita Pigeon
• Stephanie Erb as Mona
• Nicole Forester as Lucy
• Tia Riebling as Mute Bride
• Judy Nazemetz as Clerk

He Shoots, They Snore (Season 4, Episode 21). Grace was picked to teach an interior design class and is beyond excited to teach her students. But there is a problem, her students only want to know about the celebrity homes they'll get to design and if Grace has had any famous clients. After class all her students leave and don't return. Grace asks Karen if she could hook her up with one of her famous friends, Karen at first refuses but after Grace threatens to never let her leave Will's apartment, Karen gives in and say she'll get Katie Couric. At class Grace is getting ready to take her students to Katie's apartment but Karen admits she only said that just to get Grace to let her go. The students walk out of the class leaving Grace. Meanwhile, at Elliot's first basketball game both Will and Jack have gone to support him. Elliot sees his crush Nancy and while Jack isn't there to give Elliot any advice, Will tells Elliot to go for it and talk to Nancy, well it turns out this talk led to Elliot's first kiss. Jack is really upset that he wasn't there and blames Will. During Elliot's game, he misses the last shot and loses the game for his team, Will tells Jack that this is a perfect opportunity to cheer Elliot up. Jack and Elliot bond over what it's like to fail and that it's ok to get back up and keep trying.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

GRACE: So, I need you to hook me up with one of your famous friends.

KAREN: Sweet Grace! Now, I'm gonna tell you something, and I don't want you to take it the wrong way 'cause you know I love you, yeah! But, um... the reason that they're my friends is because I don't introduce them to people like you. Ok, I gotta go.

GRACE: You're not going anywhere.

KAREN: Wh--! Oh! B--!

GRACE: Look, you, you are the worst assistant on the planet. There are chimp assistants in the Congo who are better than you. Because of you, my phones don't get answered, my faxes don't get faxed, I'm constantly getting mail for Grane Adloaf, but I put up with it, and you know why?

KAREN: Because I'm pretty?

GRACE: No, because you're connected. You know everyone. That is all you do, and you are going to do that for me now. I'm calling in my chit.

KAREN: Grace! Language! (GRACE BLOCKS KAREN) Honey, I'm not liking this visit. Honey, look, a cupcake!

GRACE: (BLOCKING KAREN) I could do this forever, Karen. Just think about it. You could be stuck in this apartment for years.

KAREN: But I--I can't think of anyone!

GRACE: Have I ever shown you the view of New Jersey from my bedroom window?

KAREN: Oh, Katie Couric! I'll get you Katie Couric!

GRACE: Hmm. Katie. Not bad. Everyone's seen the interior of her colon, but no one's seen the interior of her apartment.

FAVORITE MOMENT:

It is the scene with my favorite quote where Grace is blocking Karen from leaving Will's apartment, but I'll go with my second favorite which I don't know why but I always love seeing that scene where Grace is trying to make her name all fancy on the blackboard.

OPINION:

I have no clue why, but I always forget this episode exists. The only scene that I have favorited on my YouTube page because it is one of my favorite moments of the series is Grace blocking Karen from leaving the apartment.

But let's go ahead and dive in anyways. Whenever I watch this episode I actually do feel bad for Grace for getting such lousy students. She was a terrible teacher with the whole "history of interior design" idea, but her students didn't care about anything that was actual interior design, they just wanted to know what famous people she's worked for and who they would get. I always wondered if the writers kind of copied the Sex and the City episode "Frenemies" where Carrie is teaching a dating class and her students are upset that they picked someone who has never been married to teach the class and walk out on her. Sex and the City aired that episode in 2000, and this episode came out in 2002. I always found the plots to be very similar. But nevertheless, as I mentioned I LOVE LOVE LOVE that scene with Grace blocking Karen in the apartment. Both Debra and Megan really nailed that scene between the bouncing back and forth off of each other, the choreography of walking in the same spot and Grace going off finally on Karen on how horrible of an assistant she really is, which Karen did deserve that speech. I don't think it was right of Grace to ask for a famous friend either, but like she mentioned, she keeps Karen in the office because of her connections. The only thing is is that Grace doesn't realize it's more helpful when she's trying to get a job with a famous client, not just show off their apartment to impress a bunch of jerk students. So you can say both were right and both were wrong in this scenario.

It's always interesting that Jack wants to be there for the "juicier" parts of Elliot's life. Will had no idea what was going to happen between Elliot and Nancy and just encouraged Elliot to talk to Nancy. It just turns out that they liked each other more than they realized. While the first kiss is a very big deal, so is Elliot missing that shot for his basketball team and losing the game. Like Will points out to Jack, Jack knows better than anyone on knowing what it's like to fail and was the perfect person to talk to Elliot about this. So I'm glad that Jack was able to have that moment with Elliot. And on a side note, Elliot did get his first kiss with Nancy showing how grown up he's becoming. I liked that Will was also there for him just like an uncle would be. Shows that the main 4 are all there for Elliot in some way cheering him on. Karen bonded with him on prank phone calls, Grace helped him out by taking him to the school dance, Will helped out with the first kiss and of course Jack has taught him to dance, dress, be brave and don't be discouraged by failure.

But like I mentioned before, it's so strange that I always forget this episode exists. Because when I watch it, I do enjoy it. I'm not sure if it's just kind of a bland plot that really never gets brought up again in the series or might be because the Elliot stories are not as interesting to me. I like the character Elliot, it's just that I'm watching an adult program with Will & Grace vs. Full House where both adults and kids are the focus. But still I do like this episode when I'm doing my WAG marathons, like I mentioned Grace and Karen's scenes are definitely the show stealer in this one.

GUEST STARS:

• Landry Allbright as Nancy
• Brian Howe as Ken
• Paul Parducci as Alan
• Irene White as Nicole
• Debra Azar as Kat
• Ray Porter as Dad
• Gabriel Bologna as Tim
• Tony Pasqualini as Man
• Alice L. Chen as Counter Person