<P> The series was the first prime - time television series on U.S. terrestrial television to star openly gay lead characters, making it the highest - profile presence of LGBT characters on U.S. broadcast television since Ellen's eponymous lead character's coming - out in the 1997 "Puppy Episode". It has also been heralded as responsible for opening the door to a string of gay - themed television programs, such as Queer as Folk, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Boy Meets Boy . </P> <P> In May 2012, during a Meet the Press interview with host David Gregory, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden cited the series as an influence in American thinking regarding LGBT rights, saying, "I think Will & Grace did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done . People fear that which is different . Now they're beginning to understand ." In the same interview, Biden stated that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same - sex marriage, a statement which was followed on May 9 by President Barack Obama's speaking in favor of it . The day after Obama's statement, series co-creator Mutchnick later told CBS This Morning that Biden had spoken similar words at a private function which Mutchnick and his husband had attended two weeks prior to Biden's statement, although a White House official was cited by CBS This Morning's Bill Plante as asserting that the Meet the Press interview was not a "trial balloon" for the statement . Both Mutchnick and Kohan praised Biden's statement, but were critical of Obama's stance on marriage during the time between Biden's and Obama's statements . </P> <P> In 2004, the cast of the show were listed in Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters . In 2012, The Washington Post ranked Will & Grace the ninth - best NBC comedy of all time . </P> <P> In 2014, scripts, props, and set decor from Will & Grace were donated to the National Museum of American History, which is part of the Smithsonian . </P>

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