Connick Plans Holiday 'Grace' Note

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From Zap2It ...

Connick Plans Holiday 'Grace' Note
(Sunday, November 16 04:00 AM)
By Rick Porter

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Harry Connick Jr. doesn't envy the writers of "Will & Grace."

Connick's commitment to the show, which he joined last season, lasts for only a couple more episodes, which he'll shoot early next year. In that time, the story of his character, Dr. Leo Markus', marriage to Grace Adler (Debra Messing) will have to be resolved. At the moment, the show has the two of them in Cambodia, where he's working for Doctors Without Borders.

And, oh yeah, Messing is pregnant in real life, but the show's producers are on record saying that Grace won't be.

"I don't know how they're gonna resolve this thing," Connick says. "It's quite a mountain to climb in with regard to their creativity. They're gonna have to figure some stuff out."
Even if he did know how the Leo-Grace relationship would resolve itself, he probably wouldn't tell, but he says he rarely sees scripts for "Will & Grace" in advance. He just has one wish for his character.

"I hope he doesn't die," Connick says with a laugh. "Everything I do, I always die. So it would be nice to live for once."

Connick's stint on "Will & Grace" has already lasted longer than he expected. He says he signed on for only six episodes at first, but "I just had a great time, and they seemed to enjoy having me on the show, so I did a bunch more" -- 16 so far. It's his other career -- as a Grammy-winning singer and arranger -- that's drawing him away.

"I've got a new record out Valentine's Day ... and I have to go promote that. It really is true, that out of sight, out of mind concept," he says. "No matter how well you're doing, you've got to get out there and promote and do the whole circuit.

"'Will & Grace' is great. It's just that when I'm there I can't do anything else."

Connick is also headlining an NBC special, "Harry for the Holidays," airing at 10 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving, and developing his own sitcom for the network as well.

"It seems like a lot more than it actually is," he says. "... Everything kind of comes out at once. The 'Will & Grace' episodes, the TV special and the album are all things I did in months past. I do like to keep busy, but it's manageable."

The special will feature Connick singing some original seasonal songs as well as some old chestnuts and comedy bits with Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg. He'll perform duets with Marc Anthony and gospel artist Kim Burrell.

Connick remembers watching the Bing Crosby and Andy Williams holiday specials when he was growing up, and to have one of his own now seems a little "freaky" to him.

"Network TV specials are very hard to come by, and to have one is a great honor. There's kind of a sense of responsibility," he says. "I have a chance to put something that I think is important out there, and it's a big deal to me. I worked pretty hard on it and tried to make it a good special."

Connick's final "Will & Grace" appearances will likely be sweeps material, but he hasn't heard yet whether he'll bow out during the February or May sweeps. Whatever the case, he hopes Leo's departure isn't too devastating for Grace.

"I hope they do it in a way that Grace isn't too -- I hope they put it more on her, make it her decision. Because it's gonna be rough," he says. "I don't think the fans like to see her moping around and depressed."