‘Will & Grace’ stars reminisce on their groundbreaking series

CEBU, Philippines - Debra Messing and Eric McCormack, who costarred on “Will & Grace” from 1998 to 2006, both appeared on Thursday’s “Today” to reminisce about the groundbreaking series.

“It definitely does not feel like 15 years ago,” Messing told Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie when the show’s Sept. 21, 1998 premiere date was brought up. “It feels as if it was just two years ago.”

And it was while filming that very first episode, the costars realized that they had something special on their hands.

“I was too superstitious to say anything, but Erik turned to me after the pilot and said, ‘I think we’re going to be together for a long time,’” recalled Messing.

The series, which centered on best friends Will Truman, a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler, a straight interior designer, sharing a New York City apartment, certainly made a lasting social impact.

“What I’m most proud of is that the show always treated Will’s desire for the perfect man as equal as Grace’s desire for the perfect man,” McCormack said. “And I think that is where it was subversive.” (FREEMAN)