MUMBAI: It is the turn of another popular sitcom to come to an end. Fresh off its own series record of 15 Emmy Award nominations last week US broadcaster NBC’s comedy Will And Grace will begin its eighth and final season on 29 September 2005.
In the final season debut – the series’ first live episode — two versions will be telecast, one live for the East coast and one for the West coast, resulting in different jokes to be used in each separate broadcast. The first show will shoot at 5:30 p.m. (PT) for the East coast (to air at 8:30 p.m. ET) and another show will be shot at 8:30 p.m. (PT) for the West coast. The premiere will be directed by multiple Emmy-winning director James Burrows. In India the show airs on Zee Cafe.
The previous season ended with Grace played by Debra Messing on the verge of beginning an affair with a married man Eric Stoltz. Meanwhile Will played by Eric McCormack discoveres that Karen’s ex-husband Stan — thought to be dead — was in fact, alive.
The season premiere will follow up on these plot lines, and also offer viewers more news on Jack’s played by Emmy winner Sean Hayes, new job as the host of his own talk show. Alec Baldwin returns as Will’s new boss is secretly working for Stan while also romancing Karen. All these stars received Emmy nominations.
NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says, “This opportunity for a challenging live platform launch for Will And Grace is the perfect way to inaugurate their final season. On the heels of the amazing Emmy nominations that recognised the series’ achievement, we think the audience is primed for a memorable first episode and an equally memorable last year.
Burrows said, “There’s nothing like live television to make everything we do on stage seem electric and dangerous. This will be like the classic golden era of television that I was weaned on where the audience sees everything. Directing a live broadcast will be a first for me and as long as I have been in the business there are very few firsts.”
