ABC and "Will & Grace" duo team on gay-themed comedy

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - In one of the first major TV deals since the Hollywood writers strike ended last Tuesday, ABC has ordered a comedy pilot from the creators of "Will & Grace."

The untitled project revolves around two men -- one straight, one gay -- who are lifelong best friends and business partners. Both of them are in serious romantic relationships and try to find a balance between their allegiances to each other and to their significant others.

The central characters mirror the relationship between "Will & Grace" creators David Kohan, who is straight, and Max Mutchnick, who is gay. They have been friends since their teenage years at Beverly Hills High School.

Last development season, the duo wrote a CBS pilot revolving around a gay writer, a straight writer and their hot young assistants.

The ABC project is brand new, and was written on spec before the strike began on November 5. Warner Bros. Television, where they have a production deal, shopped it to the networks immediately after the strike ended.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter