The Creators Have a Lasting Friendship
“Will & Grace” was inspired by the friendship between executive producers Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. During their childhoods, Mutchnick developed a relationship with future New York voice-over casting agent Janet Eisenberg while the two were rehearsing a play at Temple Emanuel in California.
Three years later, Mutchnick introduced her to Kohan and the rest inspired Will and Grace’s relationship history. According to Jewish Journal, Kohan recalled Mutchnick and Eisenberg “went out for a couple of years… and Max comes out of the closet, springs it on her…” Like Jack does on the show, Kohan “functioned as a laison between the two of them” until their friendship was restored.