Will & Grace: Season Six

With Sex and the City, Friends, and Frasier finishing their runs in 2004, Will & Grace was left to carry the torch as TV's reigning urbane sitcom, deftly balancing physical comedy with a sparkling wit that made even the crudest oral sex jokes sound like Oscar Wilde. But the 24 episodes from the 2003-04 sixth season see the beginning of the series' slow decline (it's always a red flag when a long-running series flirts with the meta side). In the episode, “No Sex ‘N' the City,” Karen (Megan Mullally) and Jack (Sean Hayes) encounter Frasier's Bebe Neuwirth. “Talk like Lilith,” Karen beseeches her. “We hate your real voice.” “I will if you will,” Neuwirth replies, to “ooohs” from the studio audience. On the whole, the A-list guest stars appearing as themselves this season (Jennifer Lopez, James Earl Jones, Barry Manilow) do not fare as well as those who portrayed characters. John Cleese received an Emmy nomination as Lyle Finster, the father of Karen's former rival, Lorraine (a saucy Minnie Driver). Their loony courtship provides the season with one of its most rewarding story arcs. Edie Falco and Chloe Sevigny appear in “East Side Story” as intimidating lesbians who engage in a turf war with budding “apartment flippers” Will (Eric McCormack) and Grace (Debra Messing). Mira Sorvino turns up in “Last Ex to Brooklyn” as the only girl with whom gay Will had sex. Geena Davis is at her endearing best as Grace's flaky, freeloading sister in “The Accidental Tsuris.” But the Emmy-winning, lightning-in-a-bottle ensemble need no reflected star power to shine. “Strangers with Candice,” which unfolds during an eventful evening out, is Will & Grace's version of the classic Seinfeld episode, “The Chinese Restaurant.” Over the course of a dinner, a stood-up Will has a “date” with an unsuspecting female patron, Grace hooks up with a former fling, and Karen engages in a prank war with her “nemesis/best friend” (Candice Bergen). The sixth season is somewhat Grace-less, as Messing was pregnant and missing in action in several episodes. But the writers keep the remaining trio busy. In addition to Karen's courtship, Jack becomes a student nurse and gets a new boyfriend (Dave Foley), and Will meets his future life partner, Vince (Bobby Cannavale), a policeman. As for Grace, her rocky marriage to doctor Leo (odd man out Harry Connick Jr.) gets the season finale cliffhanger treatment. Will & Grace's ensemble got along famously, which makes their outtakes, included here as a special feature, particularly fun. Other DVD extras include a half-hour-plus of 14 themed montages ranging from “Fashion Quips” to “Pop Goes the Culture.” Recommended, overall. (D. Liebenson)