Pilot

Episode #		1 (1.01)
Season #		1
Original Airdate		9/21/1998
Writer		David Kohan & Max Mutchnick
Producers		David Kohan & Max Mutchnick
Director		James Burrows

Plot Synopsis

Will's poker night with his buddies gets interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Grace, who has once again broken up with her boyfriend and arrives to spend the night--much to the displeasure of Will's friend Jack, who was planning to move in temporarily while his own apartment has new flooring put in. Will talks Grace into finally leaving her boyfriend for good, she marches off to confront him, but when she returns to announce that she has accepted a marriage proposal, Will risks their friendship by telling her what he thinks.

Cast

Eric McCormack (Will Truman)
Debra Messing (Grace Adler)
Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland)
Megan Mullally (Karen Walker)

Guest Cast

Gary Grubbs (Harlin Polk)
Tom Gallop (Rob)
Leigh-Allyn Baker (Ellen)
Todd Eckert (Jurgen Franzblau)
Will Radford (Patron #1)
Jimm Giannini (Gino)

Notes

"Will & Grace" is rated TVPG and airs on NBC Monday at 9:30, after "Caroline in the City."
The series takes place in New York City, Upper West Side Manhattan. Will's apartment building is located at 155 Riverside Drive, Apt. 9C. Grace's office is located in the Puck Building at 295 Lafayette St., south of Houston St.
The pilot was shot on 3/12/1998.
Creator/Producer/Writer Max Mutchnick is gay; the show is based in large part on his own experience as a gay man.
Grace's ex-boyfriend is Danny. Will's ex-boyfriend is Michael.
Jack and Karen have no interaction in this episode (they meet in Episode 2).
Will originally had a law partner, Higgins, but his scenes were deleted in the final draft of the script.
Gino is credited, but his scene was deleted during editing. He is Grace's builder, who created an over-stuffed chair for her.
Staff writer Ellen Idelson supplied the voice of Will's secretary, Ellen.
Syndication began on 9/23/2002. For syndication, scenes I and VII were deleted; the opening credits began after Scene III.