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Prelude

Recently, I was approached to provide comments on the television series "Will & Grace". It was exciting that millions of viewers would tune into watch Will and best pal Grace weekly. I think it's easy to forget what TV was like before we had the show, and were just hearing about the possibility of it's existence. That we might actually see a gay leading character portrayed positively was, for me, an incredible prospect. Thinking of all that has followed on television in terms of gay characters, it seems that a fair percentage of the credit should be afforded to the show. I believe it has increased acceptance of gay people because we were presented in an everyday, albeit exaggerated, context. For how many people I wonder, was this their first knowing exposure to gay people?

What does sadden me is that, often, there still only seems to be acceptance of gay and lesbian characters if they are presented as entertainment caricatures or partial beings. As long as we play the role of the court eunuchs, we're acceptable. It appears that there is a major difference in the reaction when we expect to be seen as complete beings with full lives that include affection, intimacy, individuality, relationships, acceptance and equality. Something that became painfully obvious to me personally as I worked against Prop. 2 this past election. From the loss of those I considered friends to hate mail received...even to the battles with the MDP leadership as we fought to have a resolution against Proposal 2 included the MDP Platform in 2004.

(Which we did achieve!)
Chris

Some in area feel show didn't take gay issues far enough
Sunday, May 14, 2006
BY ROGER LELIEVRE
News Arts Writer
The Ann Arbor News

It's time to say goodbye to "Will & Grace.''

Now the question is: Will anyone miss it?

The NBC sitcom will end its eight-year run Thursday night. Trailblazing for its time, the prime-time program was the first on a major network to feature gay characters on an equal footing with heterosexuals.

For that alone, it should get some credit - although much of the show's appeal has worn off, say members of the Ann Arbor gay community.

"I think, given the time, it was groundbreaking. I think a lot has happened in the past eight years. To think about it today as still groundbreaking, it's probably not,'' said Jackie Simpson, interim director of the University of Michigan's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs.

"When the show came on, it was so exciting. Here was a program where the main characters were gay,'' said Ann Arborite Mike Romatowski. "It was a visibility thing.'' Now, he said, "we never make time to watch the show or tape it. The bottom line is, it's funny, the people who appear on it are gay supportive, but it's time to move on.''

The NBC sitcom about handsome, successful gay lawyer Will (Eric McCormack); his straight interior-decorator best friend Grace (Debra Messing); her dipsomaniac assistant Karen (Megan Mullally); and self-obsessed, flamboyant pal Jack (Sean Hayes) premiered on Sept. 21, 1998.

"Will & Grace'' featured an ensemble cast of relative unknowns that clicked not only with each other but with the public. Along the way there were a couple of live episodes and a conga line of guest stars that included Cher, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Britney Spears, Debbie Reynolds, Lily Tomlin, Rip Torn ...

All four stars won Emmys, and the series won the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000. "Will & Grace'' had its best year in the Nielsens in 2001-02, averaging 17.3 million viewers.

NBC is still keeping the details about the final "Will & Grace'' episode under wraps, but it is expected to answer the question of whether the pair will decide to raise Grace's baby together or pair off with their respective boyfriends.

A one-hour W&G retrospective will air before the one-hour final episode.

Ann Arbor gay activist Chris O'Brien, who operates the Web site justice

forallmichigan.com, said "Will & Grace'' was a trailblazer, paving the way for such mainstream-friendly programs as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,'' but it ultimately didn't go far enough.

"I have reverence for the show in that it really did test some things. But I kind of wish it would have tested some things further ... gotten Will more involved with dating, shown more of an emotional life for him. How many times did we see Grace meet some guy, make out, have a relationship, and break up?'' he asked.

For Romatowski , the novelty has also worn off.

"It's been a great ride, a funny show,'' he said, "but disappointing in a way as well. Here's a show that is supposed to be so positive and supportive of gays and Sean Hayes dances around his own sexuality in real life. The fact he says he doesn't want to address it ... perpetuates the whole idea you can't come out, can't afford to risk anything.''

Simpson, meanwhile, credits the show for making gay characters more acceptable in prime time.

"I believe it normalized (homosexuality) in a lot of ways for people who might not have known they knew somebody who was gay or lesbian,'' she said. "They could see people who identified as gay living very similar lives that they themselves were living, getting up in the morning, having coffee and breakfast, going to work, being nervous about a date.''

Another result, she said, is the inclusion of more gay characters on other shows.

"It did allow people to believe they could have a gay character and that would be OK, that their ratings wouldn't do down or people wouldn't watch because of a gay or lesbian character.''

Keith Orr, co-owner of Ann Arbor's primarily gay and lesbian Aut Bar, said "Will and Grace'' may have been relatively tame compared to frankly sexual cable shows such as "Queer as Folk'' and "The L Word,'' but it still served an important purpose.

"When (viewers) invite these people into their homes week after week they are more likely to say gay people should be treated equally,'' he said. "Will was a very safe character to present to the straight world.''

He also said the show's positive effect on younger kids should not be overlooked: "To have gay people in the media is really important.''

Orr credited the show's success to a mix of good writing, a wonderful ensemble, and character development. "Karen is a drunk you've got to love,'' he said.

Simpson said the show has also helped ease the fear that an actor playing a gay character is making a bad career move.

"I think people worry less about that now. Can they act? That's really the question. None of us want to watch a bad actor no matter what their sexual orientation. And ironically, if you're a good actor you actually do look beyond sexual orientation.''

NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly called the decision to cancel the show bittersweet, telling reporters at the Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena earlier this year that "there's

a point where you want to send a show off with dignity and with some semblance of success.''

Evidently that point has arrived.

But for those who don't think life is worth living without a weekly dose of "Will & Grace,'' consider this: More than 180 episodes have been released on DVD. Then there's (gulp) syndication. Hmm. Maybe life won't be so bad after all.

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