Will & Grace
Friends with Benefits
TV Flash files “Friends with Benefits” as hour 169 of 246 in the TV Flash guide — Will & Grace (1998–2006) on NBC, season 7, episode 23, aired 2005-05-19, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S07E23: listed hour 169 of 246 in the Will & Grace guide, hour 23 of 24 in season 7. It aired 2005-05-19 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “From Queer to Eternity” (S07E22). Next is “Kiss and Tell” (S07E24).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Having quit his job at the law firm, Will turns to a career in writing where he catches the eye of Malcolm, who claims he has 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 feelings between the two of them. Jack struggles to produce his latest show for OutTV, but spoiled child star Randall fails to embody Jack's vision. Under threat of a lawsuit, Karen is forced to publicly apologize to Beverly for an embarrassing rumor, but Karen has a different announcement in mind.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Friends with Benefits sit in the Will & Grace guide?
S07E23 is listed hour 169 of 246 — hour 23 of 24 in season 7, season 7 episode 23.
When did Will & Grace S07E23 air?
Friends with Benefits aired 2005-05-19 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Original run or revival?
Start with the 1998–2006 NBC seasons; the 2017–2020 revival is extra chemistry, not the historical jolt.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Gay lawyer, straight designer, and two nuclear sidekicks who treat restraint as an insult. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick put a gay lead at the center of Must-See farce without turning Thursday into a PSA. McCormack, Messing, Mullally, and Hayes sell door-slam comedy as a culture shift — representation that still lands the joke.
The look is a New York apartment that photographs as a marriage. Gay lawyer Will Truman and straight interior designer Grace Adler share a friendship more binding than most contracts, plus two nuclear sidekicks — Jack and Karen — who treat restraint as a personal insult. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick put a gay lead at the center of Must-See farce without making Thursday a PSA. Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes: door-slam comedy as a culture shift you could actually see. Premiere September…
Filed against
- Eric McCormack as Will Truman
Eric McCormack centered Must-See farce as Will Truman on Will & Grace — gay lawyer, straight designer, nuclear sidekicks, Thursday as a door-slam culture argument instead of a PSA. David Kohan and Max Mutchnick put a gay lead in the…
- Debra Messing as Grace Adler
Debra Messing’s Grace Adler made Will & Grace a designer with volume — gay lawyer, straight decorator, two nuclear sidekicks who treat restraint as an insult. Kohan and Mutchnick put a gay lead at the center of Must-See farce. TV Flash…
- Megan Mullally as Karen Walker
Megan Mullally’s Karen Walker treated restraint as an insult on Will & Grace — 1990s Must-See farce with a gay lead at the center and two nuclear sidekicks who detonated the living room. Door-slam comedy as culture, not a PSA. TV Flash…
- Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland
Sean Hayes's Jack McFarland treated restraint as an insult on Will & Grace — gay lawyer, straight designer, two nuclear sidekicks, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick putting a gay lead at the center of Must-See farce without a Thursday PSA.…