Credits | Summary | Quotes | Did You Notice?
"Boardroom and a Parked Place"
Episode #5.06 | Original Airdate 11/7/2002
Written by Gail Lerner | Directed by James Burrows | Eric McCormack (Will Truman) | Debra Messing (Grace Adler) | Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland) | Megan Mullally (Karen Walker) | Shelley Morrison (Rosario Salazar) | GUEST CAST: Gene Wilder (Mr. Stein) | Jamie Kaler (Gary) | Rachel Quaintance (Roz) | Brandon Jarrett (Colin) | Kari Lizer (Connie) |
Summary: Will's new boss, Mr. Stein, arrives at the office to take over for Ben Doucette, who has retired. Mr. Stein, who formally ran the London office, seems coldhearted and cruel, yelling at his employees and scaring Will. However, while in the bathroom, Will overhears Mr. Stein in one of the stalls, whimpering.
He confronts his boss, who breaks down, hugging Will, then admitting that he wasn't really away at the London offices all this time; he was in a mental institution, and it seems as if he isn't completely cured. He coaxes Will into being his secret helper, bribing him with tickets to the opera in the company box.
Meanwhile, Grace learns from Jack that Karen, having left her husband, has had her all her accounts frozen, leaving her broke and sleeping in her limo with Rosario. Grace and Jack decide to confront Karen in order to get her to move in with them. Karen, however, is too proud to give in, so Grace and Jack decide to spend the night with her. This last for about two mintues before the two decide to leave Karen to her own devices.
Back at the office, Mr. Stein has been giving Will everything he's every wanted at the company - regardless of who he has to fire to give it to him. When Mr. Stein fires the "grandma" of the office, Will's friends turn their backs on him, and Will realises that he has to have a talk with his boss.
Over at Will and Grace's, Grace and Jack find Karen showering in Grace's bathroom. Karen admits that she needs help and does want to stay with them - and about a second later, Rosario rushes in to tell Karen that Stan caved in, giving Karen the money she needs. Karen starts to run off after her, then stops, inviting Grace and Jack to come along.
Will takes Mr. Stein to a Japanese restaurant to talk to him, but Mr. Stein proves very difficult to talk to. Finally Will gets through to him by reminding Mr. Stein of all the cases he's won, and how tough he was. Mr. Stein slowly remembers, then leaps up for joy, seemingly cured. That is until he leaves the restaurant arguing with himself over who has to pay the bill.
Did You Notice...
~A 40-min "Super-Size" episode.
~Ben has retired.
~When Will was first hired by Ben in "Terms of Employment", he said: "Like this is Willy Wonka and you've just given me the keys to the Chocolate Factory?" In this episode, Will's other boss is played by Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
~The reason Mr. Stein (of "Doucette & Stein") hasn't been seen was thought to be because he was working in the London offices. However, it turns out he was in a mental institution.
~At one point in the Japanese restaurant scene, Mr. Stein says to Will, "I want to thank you from the heart of my bottom. (PAUSE) Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it." This is a reference to the movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, which Gene Wilder starred in. In the movie, he had a line that went "So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it."
~There is also a reference to the movie Young Frankenstein, which starred Gene Wilder. In the movie, his character, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, constantly denies his last name, referring to himself as "Fronkensteen". This is referenced when Will gets Mr. Stein to exclaim proudly, "I'm Stein!"
~Gene Wilder won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor for his portrayal of Mr. Stein.
Back to Season Five
Back to season list
Back to Show
Back to the main page