From Queer to Eternity

From Queer to Eternity is the 22nd episode of the seventh season, and the 161st overall.

After a "near-death" experience, Grace decides to write her will. Jack and Karen find an impostor teaching Jack's McFarland Method of acting.

Synopsis[]

Just another lawyer with a lot of stuff[]

Grace falls while shopping for new jeans. Though she was not hurt, it got her to thinking and decides to make her last will and testament, leaving a portion of it according to how much Will is leaving her on his will. Will however refuses to divulge how much she is leaving Grace on his will. To make sure she's fair when bequeathing her money, Grace pays a visit to Will's mother Marilyn, who is the only other person who has seen his will. With the help of alcohol, Grace learns that Will is leaving her a measly $1400.

Back at home, she confronts Will about the amount but he storms out, upset of Grace's breach of trust. Grace runs after him on the streets of New York where he admits that he has not updated his will in 15 years, and the money he left for Grace was all the money he had at the time. He confides that he tried to re-write it many times but felt he still has accomplished nothing and that he is not the person he wanted to be. The next day, Will quits his job.

Jack... (McFarland)![]

Jack bumps into Joanne, a former acting student of his. Jack learns from her that after he stopped going to the classes, Wendell, who claims to be his successor, has been teaching them. Jack is appalled that someone else is teaching the acting method he invented so he and Karen go to the learning annex to confront Wendell, who has been using the classes to sleep with the female students. Since Jack did not trademark his acting method, he has no power to replace Wendell so Karen uses her contacts to get Wendell an acting job he would not refuse: banging on a garbage can lid in the road company of STOMP. However, soon after Jack's return, he realizes he does not actually miss teaching and abandons the class once more.

Cast[]

Main[]

Guest[]

Blythe Danner (Marilyn Truman)
Stacy Keach (Wendell Schacter)
Emily Rutherfurd (Joanne)
Jon Fleming (Russell)
Rachelle Wells (Elaine)
Matthew J. Williamson (Salesperson)

Notes[]

Joanne's final appearance.
Jack's student whom he always asks to take his shirt off, Russell, appears but only in a flashback.

Cultural references[]

Marilyn mentions watching the black comedy series Desperate Housewives which premiered the year before and became an instant hit during the 2004-05 season.
- Season 7 executive producer and writer Dave Flebotte also worked on Desperate Housewives.
Jack reveals that one of his desires is "a balloon ride over Taye Diggs' house". Diggs would later guest star during season 8 as James.
Trying not to insult Jack's failed acting career, Karen mentions famed acting coach Uta Hagen. Hagen was previously mentioned in the episode Terms of Employment.
Karen refers to Wendell as actor Brian Dennehy, whom he bears a striking resemblance to and is actually a good friend of Stacy Keach (who plays Wendell). In 2020, after Dennehy's death Keach wrote a memorial remembering his friend.
- Karen then compares herself to cartoon character Betty Boop, who not unlike her has similar hairdo and buxom figure.
Using her social contacts Karen is able to get Wendell a part in the road company of STOMP, the theater performance originating in the UK which uses everyday objects as percussion instruments.

Quotes[]

Grace:	I wanna do a will
Will:	Yeah, well, get in line behind all the other ladies!

—after her near death experience

Joanne:	Wendell is amazing. You couldn't have named a better successor.
Jack:	Well, I never named a successor. And if I had, I wouldn't have named him Wendell.

Jack:	This Wendell is teaching the McFarland Method? He's stealing from me! This is identity theft, the most heinous of crimes!
Salesman:	Here are your sweaters, Mr. Truman.
Jack:	Thank you.