Created by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, Will & Grace was an American sitcom that followed Will (gay) and Grace (straight) in New York City where they were navigating their close relationship while trying to find and maintain their own romantic couplings.
Premiering in 1998, it starred Eric McCormack as Will (lawyer) and Debra Messing (interior designer) as his best friend, Grace. Megan Mullally was Karen, Grace’s ridiculously rich and unhelpful assistant, and Sean Hayes played Jack, Will’s gay friend who was often out of work or between jobs and couldn’t decide on one career path.
In our eyes, over time Will & Grace became the Jack and Karen show.
At the time of its original airing, Will & Grace was seen as quite a progressive show due to having two gay main characters – it was important representation. Its first season was just a year following Ellen’s character (also named Ellen) coming out in “The Puppy Episode” on season 4 of the sitcom (not talkshow), Ellen.
Despite its obvious cultural impact, Will & Grace does have its detractors. There are (justified) complaints that Will and Jack’s romantic relationships were rarely part of the main narrative of episodes, and that the show did little to challenge gay stereotypes.
There’s no doubting that Karen Walker remains a firm fan-favourite of the show, given that all three of the tattoos we found are of her. If there’s one Will & Grace tattoo that we’d love to see – other than ones of Will, Grace and Jack – it is Beverley Leslie.
With which Will & Grace do you most relate? Has this list inspired you to begin thinking about a Will & Grace themed tattoo for your collection?
Stylised Karen Walker tattoo by @rachelbaldwintattoo
Karen Walker kewpie tattoo by @staceymartintattoos