Friends with Benefits

Episode #		161 (7.22)
Season #		7
Original Airdate		5/19/2005
Writer		Jon Kinnally & Tracy Poust
Producers		Alex Herschlag & Dave Flebotte and James Burrows
Director		James Burrows

Plot Synopsis

Having quit his job at the law firm, Will turns to a career in writing where he catches the eye of Malcolm, who claims to have high-profile connections -- but when his writing career fails, Malcolm has another job offer for Will. Meanwhile, Tom, an old flame from college, returns to ask Grace to design a hotel that he and his wife just bought -- only to discover that there are still romantic feelings between the two of them. Jack struggles to produce his latest show for Out TV, but spoiled child star Randall fails to embody Jack's vision. Under threat of a lawsuit, Karen is forced to publicly apologize to Beverley Leslie for an embarrassing rumor.

Cast

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

Guest Cast

Seth Green (Randall Finn)
Eric Stoltz (Tom Cassidy)
Alec Baldwin (Malcolm Widmark)
Leslie Jordan (Beverley Leslie)
John Ducey (Jamie)
Bridget Flanery (Viv Cassidy)
Mathew Botuchis (Dave)
Brian A. Setzer (Benji)

Notes

To be continued...
Karen had announced "Beverley Leslie is a homosexual" at a soirée for the Republican Party.
This is the first episode extra Brian A. Setzer is credited for the part of Beverley Leslie's "business associate", Benji.
This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series.