Ice Cream Balls

Ice Cream Balls
Episode	6.13
Written by	Laura Kightlinger
Directed by	James Burrows
Release
Original network	NBC
Original airdate	February 10, 2004
Chronology
Previous	A Gay/December Romance
Next	Looking for Mr. Good Enough

Ice Cream Balls is the 13th episode of the sixth season and 135th overall.

Will bribes Jack to go out with his new client Stuart. Grace and Karen go to Leo's cabin and find money hidden under the bed.

Synopsis

Whenever we're together, wackiness ensues

What, honey, no kiss?

Karen joins Grace visiting Leo's cabin in Vermont to fix some frozen pipes. As they go to sleep on the bed, they find money hidden under the bed amounting to at least $42,500. Grace becomes indignant that her husband is hiding a large amount of money from her. The next day, as revenge, she and Karen spend the money on ridiculous things such as 45 pairs of Ralph Lauren irregular jeans, $3,000 worth of apple butter, Japanese silverware and ice cream.

Grace laments how disappointed she is and how her marriage may truly be in trouble. Then, an old couple arrive at the cabin and asks Karen and Grace what are they doing at their house. It turns out Leo's cabin is next door and they have spent the old couple's life savings.

No second date, yes second scoop

During Will's meeting with his firm's new client Stuart, Jack barges in and Stuart is immediately smitten by him that he asks Will to set them up. Jack is reluctant but Will gives him all the change in his pocket (74 cents) and a Chapstick so he agrees to go on a date.

The next day, the two have become really close that Stuart asks Jack to stay during his meeting with Will. Jack, however, keeps interrupting and even persuades Stuart to reject an offer on his company. Will becomes annoyed and blurts out that Jack only went out with Stuart because of a bribe. A brokenhearted Stuart storms off. Later, Will sees Jack cry while eating ice cream, and realizes that Jack and Stuart really are in love. He fixes them up one more time and they reconcile.

Cast

• Eric McCormack (Will Truman)
• Debra Messing (Grace Adler)
• Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland)
• Megan Mullally (Karen Walker)

Guest

• Dave Foley (Stuart Lamarack)
• Kathryn Joosten (Felicia)
• Kenneth Tigar (John)
• Kari Lizer (Connie)

Notes

• Third episode with "balls" in the title; all are written by Laura Kightlinger.
• This originally aired as a super-sized episode and ran 27 minutes (without commercials), however the DVD and streaming packages use the shorter 21 minute syndicated cut.
  • One audio difference between the two is whenever Jack intrudes on the business meeting between Stuart and Jack, specifically when Will says "I guess I'll have to cancel our proposed acquisition of Falcon Crest Vineyards". On the syndicated/DVD version it's redubbed to "Felcon Crest Vineyards".

Cultural references

• Stuart mentions he left his previous firm because they did not watch Lord of the Rings trilogy released from 2001 to 2003. He makes a reference to the character Gollum when he quotes, "My precious".
• Will and Jack both eat bobsled brownie from Baskin-Robins when they are depressed.
• After Karen impulsively rubs Grace's hand against her breast, she apologizes, pointing out "something about Vermont". This is a reference to Vermont being one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states in the US, and was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in 2000.