The classic sitcom Will & Grace returned on Thursday night after 11 years off the air, and for fans, not too much had changed. In an effort to reboot an unpopular ending, the show has been retconned to have the titular twosome single again and living together despite ending the series with families. People enjoy the familiar, so this was probably a wise move to appease viewers, even if it does detract from the original finale.
One thing that had slightly changed was how vocally political it was in it’s new series premiere. While the show had always been quietly subversive due to its subject matter at the time, the ninth season came out with guns blazing, throwing around political buzzwords like “p*ssy hat,” “woke,” and “Cheetoh” left and right. While there were plenty of people who would have preferred to keep politics out of their sitcom (that was always pretty political), for the most part, Twitter was here for the 2017 version of pop culture activism.
it's 2017 and Will is judgy, Grace is crazy, Karen's drunk & Jack's on the prowl… the world is finally safe again #WillAndGrace
— garland 🧃 (@lisaloopners) September 29, 2017
I’m dead from Karen sitting like Kellyanne Conway in the Oval Office. #WillAndGrace pic.twitter.com/SLIR5fmd9s
— .:RiotGrlErin:. (@RiotGrlErin) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/DionnewithaV/status/913574076513345543
https://twitter.com/_VickiLugo/status/913576434274357248
#WillAndGrace to all those mad that this show is talking politics change the channel and stop whining @RedMystiqu pic.twitter.com/VrXfWQmMCU
— 🦂🇻🇮🌟💖M.I.S.H.💖🌟🇰🇳🦂 (@ScorpionMish) September 29, 2017
“A Russian-English dictionary and fidget spinner” LOL so much shade thrown at 45. Love it, #WillAndGrace
— Nv (@kinonikko) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/SheldonMarcus83/status/913576392750718976
https://twitter.com/NicDeBaceRech/status/913585335996690433
In these weird, classless, absurd times we need more #WillAndGrace. Keeps us woke and with a huge smile on our faces! @DebraMessing
— Baklava (@MrsBaklava) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/CMoukazis/status/913585004189569024
The writers are phenomenal (and making notes since November 9 I'm sure)#WillAndGrace
— Rex 🌻 (@hothouserex) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/guiye_m/status/913584553725497345
https://twitter.com/jimmy_G236/status/913584351044087808
All of these people mad in the hashtag like #WillandGrace hasn't always been political I… pic.twitter.com/5fTZBnyXwM
— 𝚊. (@xoxofeedsters) September 29, 2017
SOOOO glad that former #WillAndGrace fans and current Republicans didn't like the show. To them I say : Good things aren't for you!!!
— UBI/UniversalHealthcare/Housing4All/BravoOpinion (@SusieQuewl) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/maximusmom22/status/913584177634721792
https://twitter.com/MarkHazzard5/status/913587488081539072
People were particularly interested in how President Trump, who was the butt of many, many jokes and has taken to Twitter to criticize pop culture that isn’t in his favor in the past, will respond to the political premiere. Here’s hoping Melania changed his password.
https://twitter.com/r21yna/status/913576178929356800
Waiting for Trump's tweet like…. #WillAndGrace pic.twitter.com/lO7TwWMjv2
— Bri Cooper (@moxiegalbiz) September 29, 2017
I predict @realDonaldTrump will tweet about how TERRIBLE #WillandGrace was and how the ratings are BIGLY bad because of the cheeto joke.
— Holman (@EmilyVanHolman) September 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/w_fisher/status/913572729231757312
https://twitter.com/CourtniRunser/status/913584375425413120
Me: Waiting for @realDonaldTrump to Tweet about the premier of #WillAndGrace pic.twitter.com/nNbtsbvF9p
— Sara A (Parody) (@SaratheEnginerd) September 29, 2017
Will and Grace did NoT disappoint! Waiting for the presidents disapproval tweets haha @WillAndGrace #WillAndGrace
— carrie pearson (@carrie4898) September 29, 2017
We’ll see if the show continues on a very vocally political path for the entire season (and the next) or if it tapers off a bit from the premiere, but it’s safe to say that people will be watching either way.