The Sixth Season

In 1998 prime time television was hit with a remarkable new series, Will & Grace. After a very successful first season, the show became very popular and gained an enormous fan base. This is due to the unique comedy that the show provides. Will & Grace tells the tale of two best friends, a gay attorney and an interior designer, along with their friends Jack, an extremely flamboyant homosexual, and Karen, an overly wealthy alcoholic. The success of season one provided a platform for the show, during which the characters were developed and the format was setup. The series has continued to provide the same hilarious comedy with some great chemistry between the cast. For more details about this series please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one, season two, season three, season four, season five,and series finale.

Season six presents a different tone and tempo than past seasons. In the past, the storylines have been led by the foursome Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen. The difference with season six is less Grace. Debra Messing was pregnant throughout season six (her character Grace was not) and as such she appears less. The lack of Grace playing a prominent role leaves a void that is filled with more Will, Jack, and Karen escapades. In addition, there are several strong episodes and story arcs, as well as a good lineup of guest stars such as James Earl Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Jack Black, Geena Davis, Dave Foley, John Cleese, Candice Bergen, Mira Sorvino, and more. While the season has a lot of fun, the lack of Messing leaves the show not feeling quite as good as earlier seasons.

One of the biggest story arcs throughout the seasons dealt with picks up from the season five finale. In the finale, Grace had to deal with the fact that her recent husband, who left for a six month tour in the Doctors Without Borders program, was being pursued by his attractive co-worker. Grace was also troubled that her recent betrothed was willing to leave her. In the season six premiere, this storyline is re-addressed and it all ends with a happy note. Leo comes back and decides to give up the program and be with Grace. But it isn't enough for Leo, and he decides to go to Cambodia to do volunteer work. Grace goes with him, but soon finds the marriage in shambles and returns without him. The rest of the season Grace is depressed and tries to cope with it.

Another huge story arc is about Karen. She goes to confront Lorraine, her ex-husband's mistress, and meets her father Lyle Finster (John Cleese). Sparks fly and they engage in an awkward courtship, which eventually leads to living together (with Lorraine) and a marriage in the two-part season finale. The relationship is a bit of a joke, but worth a lot of laughs as Cleese brings a wacky, eccentric character to the bunch.

Will and Jack both find significant others. Will has a new client named Stuart (Dave Foley). He is a gay, geeky rich businessman who loves The Lord of the Rings. He has eyes for Jack, who Will convinces him to date (because he wants to keep his client happy). As it turns out, Jack and Stuart hit it off and make a lovely couple. Will also finds love when he meets a police officer named Vince. Their relationship starts off shaking, but quickly finds solid ground.

In addition to romance, Jack makes a grownup decision about his life, although his initial intentions are far from it. Jack meets a cute male student nurse at the hospital and decides to enroll in nursing school for the wrong reason. Karen and Will are shocked to learn that he is actually a good nurse. And when Jack decides to quit, they are not stunned to find out that he is afraid of becoming a responsible adult-type. Needless to say, Jack sticks with it and graduates... only to switch back to acting.

For general fun episodes, there are several. One of my favorites is "Last Ex To Brooklyn". Mira Sorvino guest stars as Leo's ex-girlfriend Diane. Grace and Leo invite her to dinner. Grace quickly finds that she is her worst nightmare and Leo faces a pickle. While in college, Diane was the first and only woman Will had sex with. And the pickle is that since, she hasn't been with anyone as good as Will. The news hurts Leo's ego and Grace feels left out. The episode is just one ridiculous situation with the entire cast playing out their parts to good effect. Other fun episodes include "I Never Cheered For My Father", Elliot tries to get Jack's attention by trying out for cheer, and "No Sex 'N The City", Jack and Karen deal with their favorite shows (Friends, Sex and the City, and Frasier) recent cancellations; they try to live out their own sitcoms; Bebe Neuwirth makes a brief, yet hysterical appearance.

Overall, Will & Grace's sixth season is fun, but it is not quite at the level as past seasons. The general fun tempo is still there (in part), but due to Messing's diminished role in the season, the show's fun appeal is not as strong. On the flipside, a couple reoccurring characters (e.g., John Cleese) are introduced, who offer solid laughs. In the end, the show's sixth season is fun, but clearly not at its best.

Episode Guide

1. Dames at Sea: Will and Jack awake in a precarious position - sharing a bed in the nude - while at sea. Unable to remember every detail from the night before, the two alleged bedfellows deny the possibility that anything happened, but each grow concerned as to how to dump the other.
2. Last Ex to Brooklyn: When Leo invites his hip and trendy ex-girlfriend (guest star Mira Sorvino) to a friendly dinner party, Grace turns to Will, Jack and Karen to round out the guest list and keep the night running smoothly. However, when Leo's ex turns out to be the only girl Will ever slept with, Grace's jealousy gets the better of her.
3. Home Court Disadvantage: When Grace and Leo join Karen for a friendly game of tennis at her exclusive club, her fierce playing style sends Grace feeling the court. However, when the reason for her angry play is revealed as her hatred for Leo, Grace is determined to find a way for them to get along. Blythe Danner also guest stars.
4. Me and Mr. Jones: Earning a brief speaking role in an off-Broadway play, Jack shares the stage with legendary actor James Earl Jones (guest starring as himself). However, when the play's director rejects James' performance in favor of Jack's one-line triumph, the award-winning actor looks to his co-star for instruction - enrolling in the McFarland acting school. Blythe Danner also guest stars.
5. A-Story, Bee-Story: Depressed over his decision to leave Doctors Without Borders, Leo turns to a motivated Will to rekindle his love for New York. However, when Will's version of "the best of New York" - filled with long shopping trips and high tea - doesn't do the trick, Leo decides to move in a different direction.
6. Heart Like a Wheelchair: Continuing his new role as caretaker for a disabled Marilyn (guest star Blythe Danner), a resentful Will takes his wheelchair-bound mother for an afternoon roll in the park and bumps into an attractive bachelor (guest star Dylan McDermott) wheeling an invalid of his own. Using his mother as a reason for a daily rendezvous in the park, Will attempts to build up the courage to ask Tom out. John Cleese also guest stars.
7. Nice in White Satin: Pressured by her lawyer, Will, Karen decides it's time for her annual Walker corporate physical, but begins to regret this decision after being examined by a slightly unorthodox physician (guest star Jack Black). Elsewhere, while accompanying Karen to her physical, Jack finds his true calling - student nursing.
8. Swimming from Cambodia: When Grace returns to New York for her mother's birthday, Will tires to coerce her into staying in town a bit longer so the two can spend some quality time together. Meanwhile, Jack struggles with his new nursing teacher, Nurse Carver (guest star Lea DeLaria), so Karen threatens her into letting Jack skip class and still make the grade. But, to everyone's surprise, Jack discovers that he really misses nursing school and learning.
9. Strangers with Candice: Attempting to help Grace shake off her marital woes, Will asks her to accompany him on his dinner date only to be stood up by his new man. Nursing his broken heart, Will catches the eye of a female diner while Grace reunites with a man (guest star Tom Everett Scott) form her past. Meanwhile, Karen takes Jack out to celebrate his first month as a student nurse, only to cross paths with her nemesis, Emmy winner Candice Bergen (as herself) sparking another battle in their ongoing prank war.
10. Fanilow: Opting out of the annual Adler Design Christmas party, ultimate "Fanilow" Will spends the night waiting in line for tickets to a special Barry Manilow (as himself) concert - only to have his weak bladder force him to make a quick pit stop and entrust Grace to hold his place. However, Will's snubbing of an overweight man in the bathroom line leaves his chances of meeting his idol in doubt. Debbie Reynolds also guest stars.
11. The Accidental Tsuris: When Grace's rebellious and freeloading older sister Janet (guest star Geena Davis) comes to town to launch her new jewelry enterprise/folding table subway stand, Grace decides to put her foot down, casting her sibling away. However, when her tough love prompts Janet to go corporate by taking a 9-5 job and studio apartment, Grace can't seem to handle her new image. Also guest stars John Cleese and Minnie Driver.
12. A Gay/December Romance: Attending a local gallery opening, Will catches the eye of a rich plastic surgeon (guest star Hal Linden), who uses his vast fortune to provide the modest lawyer with a new level of a material possessions. However, when Will realizes that he has become a "lady of leisure," he decides to confront his sugar daddy/boyfriend.

13. Ice Cream Balls: Love is in the air as Will's slightly eccentric new client (guest star Dave Foley) falls for Jack after he interrupts their meeting. But when Jack refuses to accept the romantic offer, Will sinks to bribing him in the hopes of furthering his career.
14. Looking for Mr. Good Enough: Will decides to further his cooking skills by taking a class and invites Jack to join him in the kitchen. However, when Jack decides to include his new boyfriend Stuart (guest star Dave Foley), the gourmet attorney finds himself the sad single in a cooking class full of couples. Also guest stars Suzannne Pleshette and Tracey Ullman.
15. Flip-Flop: Part 1: Dynamic enterprisers Will and Grace begin a new business venture, buying old apartments to refurbish and resell for a tidy profit. When budding student nurse Jack bumps into his former acting mentor Zandra (guest star Eileen Brennan), the pair of entrepreneurs find their first project apartment. Also guest stars John Cleese and Minnie Driver.
16. Flip-Flip: Part 2: Enjoying the success of their new business venture, entrepreneurs Will and Grace help their apartment buyers Jack and Stuart (guest star Dave Foley) settle into their new life under one roof. However, when Grace receives a higher offer on the apartment, the "friendly flippers" attempt to break up the happy couple by encouraging Jack's cold feet as they see a chance to make a quick buck. Also guest stars John Cleese and Minnie Driver.
17. East Side Story: Riding the success of their new real-estate venture, Will and Grace decide to expand the East Side, clashing with the reigning team of lesbian apartment flippers - Deirdre (guest star Edie Falco) and Monet (guest star Chloe Sevigny). John Edward also guest stars.
18. Courting Disaster: Searching for a movie-watching pal after Stuart (guest star Dave Foley) opts out, Jack invites Grace for an afternoon at the theatre. However, when the duo discovers Stuart and a mystery man secretly catching a matinee, Jack is left questioning their relationship.
19. No Sex 'n the City: Tiptoeing through his budding relationship, an apprehensive Will makes the mistake of taking Grace's advice on love, playing hard-to-get with his new pseudo-boyfriend (guest star Bobby Cannavale). However, when his game playing causes a rift in the budding romance. Will is left questioning Grace's wisdom in matters of the heart. Also guest starring Bebe Neuwirth and Sharon Osbourne.
20. Fred Astaire and Ginger Chicken: Smitten with his new boyfriend Vince (guest star Bobby Cannavale), Will puts his relationship to the test, introducing him to the overly critical Grace for her approval. However, when Grace abruptly cuts the introduction short, Will is convinced of her disapproval of Vince and thus begins to question his own feelings.
21. I Never Cheered for My Father: Responding to the pleas of his father's mistress-turned-girlfriend Tina (guest star Lesley Ann Warren), Will attempts to discover whether there is a new woman in his dad's life. However, when his father's new mistress turns out to be his mother (guest star Blythe Danner), Will must find a way to break the shocking truth to Tina. Michael Angarano also guest stars.
22. Speechless: On the eve of his graduation from nursing school, a nervous Jack turns to Will for help writing his commencement address. Reconnecting his past dreams of being an accomplished playwright, Will over analyzes the speech, searching for the life experience that sent jack to nursing school as a source of inspiration.
23-24. I Do & Oh, No, You Didn't: Opting to forego a picturesque fall wedding and elope in Las Vegas, Karen hops a plane to "Sin City" with fiancé Lyle (guest star John Cleese) and faithful friends Will and Jack, in the process bumping into superstar Jennifer Lopez who is vacationing and agrees - on behalf of Rosario - to sing at the ceremony. Meanwhile, Leo returns from Cambodia to meet up with Grace at the wedding, but their reunion is delayed by a freak design accident. Tim Curry also guest stars.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in its original television aspect ratio, 1.33:1 Full Frame color. Overall, the picture looks very good, with a relatively crisp and clean feel. There are very minor color distortions that are the product of video compression and some traces of edge enhancement. Despite the minor imperfections in the picture, it is substantially better looking than what you would expect to see from broadcast or cable television.

Audio:
The audio track that is included in this DVD release is given in English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo sound. The dialogue throughout the feature is very easily heard, but a little flat which is expected from dialogue driven TV on DVD releases. As for channel separation, there is little distinction between left and right channels.

Extras:
For special features there are fourteen themed featurettes included and a season six outtakes reel (7:52). The themed featurettes are montages of segments from season five dealing with a specific subject. They are entitled "My Breast Friend", "9 to 5ish", "Fashion Quips", "A Rose by Any Other Name", "The Little Voice in My Head", "With a Song in Our Hearts", "For Love or Money", "Rank & File", "Food For Thought", "Meet The Parents", "Lets Get Physical", "Pop Goes The Culture", "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex", and "The Sounds Of Comedy". The total runtime is 32:32. Overall, the extras are like past seasons. The bloopers reel has some fun moments of goofs captured during filming and the themed featurettes have some of the season's funniest moments.

Final Thoughts:
Will & Grace's sixth season has a notable difference from earlier seasons. Leading actress Debra Messing was pregnant and she appears much less, feeling more like a reoccurring character--sometimes not appearing at all! Her chemistry across the other leading performers is part of what makes the show so much fun. After all, it is Will & Grace and not Will, Jack & Karen. Despite Messing not appearing as much, the season still fairs well and has several fun episodes and story arcs that will appease fans. There are still enough laughs that this season will be a blast for fans.