We may have just two episodes of the first season to go, but NBC has announced that fans will be getting plenty more of the revived Will & Grace over the next couple of years.
In addition to expanding the already-announced second season from 13 episodes to 18, the network has granted the show a (very) early renewal for a third season (or eleventh, in old money), which will get underway in 2019.
The revived series, which reunites original stars Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes with creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan and director James Brurrow, has proven to be a solid hit for NBC with fans and critics alike. It is the network’s top-rated comedy, pulling in an average of 9.8 million viewers an episode in Live+7 ratings.
“As far as I’m concerned, we can’t get enough of Will & Grace, and 23 more episodes is music to my ears,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. “We’re eternally grateful that Debra, Eric, Sean and Megan feel the same way and wanted to keep this good thing going. I’m overwhelmed by the euphoric response the new show has received from the press and the audience, and my hat is off to the unrivaled writing team of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, as well as the brilliant directing of Jimmy Burrows, for consistently delivering one of the best shows on television.”
Will & Grace airs on Thursday nights on NBC.