Have you heard?? Will & Grace is coming back to TV.
Maybe it’s been a bit hyped — so much so that the as-of-yet unproduced comeback party has already been picked up for a second season. It’s just that good, or so everyone imagines.
But there is one member of the W&G universe who shan’t be coming back to play.
And that someone is…
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
…Will!
OK, it’s not Will. They’d have to just call the show Grace and it would take a weird Jesusy slant.
However, Shelley Morrison, who played Karen’s maid Rosario, has retired from acting since the show’s been off the air.
Showrunners announced this week that she will not be returning when the gang gets back together.
Creator Max Mutchnick told reporters:
“Shelley has decided to retire. It was with a heavy heart that she gave us that information and that we received it, but it is the way that it goes. It is a choice that she has made. We really wanted Shelley to be a part of this series, so we find ourselves having to figure that out moving forward. It was not an easy decision to make, but it’s one that she made.”
Below find some clips of Rosario and Karen’s famed yelling-chemistry from the popular series:
The show returns to NBC on Thursday, September 28.
jcoberkrom
Shelley, Shelley, Shelley say it isn’t so. A guest appearance once in a while! Pleeasseeee!
Maybe with Rosario in a retirement home with Karen coming to visit. Some yelling, but with the bottom line that these two characters need and love one another!!
Spike
There is more to this story than the explanation that she has ‘retired’.
More than likely bad blood between she and MM and/or she didn’t want to continue being the butt of Karen’s racist jokes.
dfwenigma
I think Rosario gave as good as she got. Shelley Morrison didn’t seem to me to be that kind of person. Let’s separate the actress from the role. I think she probably played a lot of different roles and that some of them might have had a racist undertone. But in the case of Will & Grace none of the characters were flat. Even when she wore the maid uniform she gave Karen hell. The relationship between Karen and Rosario, like the one between Karen and her husband was pretty complex. The writers did a good job in that regard. I respectfully and humbly disagree.
MacAdvisor
Ms. Morrison is 80. She just may not want to rise at the crack of dawn, sit around a studio all day, spend an hour saying the same four lines over and over again, to repeat it all the next day. She may want to play with her grandchildren, read a book in the sun, shop, and enjoy herself.
wolfman6
I read last year that Shelley’s health is not good. I don’t think there is any issue with MM or the racist jokes. MM doesn’t write the jokes, she just says them. At Shelley’s age and in poor health, I’m sure she is heartbroken that she can’t be part of the revival, but she probably could not handle the rigors of television anymore. Remember, they work 5 – 7 days per episode and many days are 14 hours or more. There is a ton of rehearsal time to learn their lines, learn their marks, makeup, wardrobe, etc. to be able to film. I saw a taping of Designing Women back in 91 and it took over 4 1/2 hours because of retakes, reaction shots, breaks, camera set ups, and it is ungodly hot because they cannot run the air conditioning while taping because it makes too much noise. She might not be able to handle that.
Caine
No – she appeared in the youtube video they did for the election.
She was in a wheelchair – I can’t remember if that was part of the story or if she is physically not able but I suspect it is more likely that her health is preventing her from coming back full time. Unless they kill her off as a plot point – I would not be surprised if she makes a surprise cameo.
I also just looked it up. She is 80 years old now.
dfwenigma
I just wrote her agent and said exactly that. I hope she has a healthy and long retirement. Sadly I suspect that Ms. Morrison, like a lot of Thespians would not voluntarily quit acting. For some it’s in their blood. Quitting the craft / profession is for some a death sentence. If you look at Kirk Douglas – he’s had just about everything bad happen to him possible – yet he still posts online. I think if he were in better physical health he would still make cameos and do other things that he believed in. But he’s either 100 years old or nearing it. His son honestly looks aged. Old age sadly consumes the body before the mind and spirit.
Ummmm Yeah
I bet Leslie Jordan doesn’t come back either after he yapped and said there was a revival before he was supposed to.
dfwenigma
Don’t be pickin’ on my Leslie Jordan now 🙂 I love him. Every time I see him in something I think – wow – what a cool guy. He makes being gay somehow elegant.
Palmer Scott
His character died.
Ummmm Yeah
If they can just ignore the entire series finale the could work around that. Something was up, or he wouldn’t have known the show was being revived before it was announced. I’m not sure if they were willing to carry through with it after his his spoiler followed up by him saying he didn’t give a damn and would say whatever he wanted.
Kieran
I don’t think Debbie Reynolds will be returning either. She got a better gig.
Texasholdem
How about Michael Anganaro as Jack’s son Elliott? Neil Patrick Harris should come back too as his sorta ex gay character.
SportGuy
NOOOOO! Rasario was awesome!
Alan down in Florida
Karen and Rosario’s shouting matches often left me rolling on the floor gasping for air because I was laughing so hard. Shelly Morrison will be greatly missed from this new venture but since she has been making us laugh since The Flying Nun her retirement is well earned. Thank you Shelly for decades of laughter.
jkthsnk
Grace is Jewish.