The cast of Will & Grace delivered some excellent quotes that made audiences howl with laughter, but it was Jack McFarland that helped bring a lot of light-hearted humor and quick wit that helped characterize the show. With his big flamboyant personality and confident nature, he was fearless in saying what was on his mind at any given moment. Jack always brought his A-game for reads and shade before the general American audience knew what that ever was.
Over the course of the original run of Will & Grace (plus the revival), Jack delivered some truly iconic lines mixed with hilarious antics that are still fondly remembered by audiences. From his one-man show "Just Jack", touching stomachs with Karen, and his explosively hilarious entrances, viewers always can count on Jack for a clever quip that will leave them roaring with laughter.
Jack Being a Supportive Friend
"Is There Anything I Can Pretend To Do For You Right Now?"
Jack and Karen are always getting into all sorts of scenarios together such as trying to get high off of helium, for example. This quote perfectly encapsulates their dynamic and how they support one another.
In this episode, Jack befriends Stanley's mistress Lorraine, but, ultimately, Jack chooses Karen. This showcases that while Karen has only been there partially for Jack's struggles, he still values their friendship more than anything. In fact, the friendship is what both characters end up needing over the course of Will & Grace: a person that will help with their problems but not make it into a thing.
Jack Seeing Karen's Huge Closet
"My God. If My Closet Were Like This, I Never Would Have Come Out Of It."
Karen's closet definitely deserves one of Jack's classic exclamations of "Peter, Paul, and Mary!" When Jack sees it for the first time, his astonishment is palpable. So much so that it prompted one of the most ingenious quotes on the show.
The play of words regarding his sexuality is one of Jack's signatures within the series. Besides the quote being pure irony, it also gives the character more reasons to admire Karen's decadent yet emotionally shallow lifestyle. The enormous closet to Jack is representative of the many perks that he gets to enjoy as Karen's best friend.
Jack Teaching Acting
"They Say Acting Is Reacting. I Say Acting Is Attracting."
"Are you attractive enough?" Jack asks just after stating his theory for what exactly is acting. Suffice to say, Jack was never the conventional teacher or performer. He taught his students the superficial aspects of acting This quote represents his interest in looks, aesthetics, and youth, something that didn't change in the revival.
A big part of Jack's arc on the show was jumping from job to job while still maintaining his dream of being an actor. Unlike his brief nursing career, his teaching job and the MacFarland Method would be something that he continually comes back to.
Jack Being Honest
"Some People Were Born To Dance, You Were Born To Drink."
Here's another "endearing" moment between Jack and Karen. Jack never joked about singing or dancing, one of the few areas he was truly serious about. When Karen begged for him to teach her how to fox-trot, Jack made sure to answer with the truth.
Still, Jack did teach Karen how to dance in one of the most memorable yet emotional sequences of the pair, which includes a bittersweet moment when Karen says they can't hang out due to her marriage. The way the pair play it is oddly serious for them, making the moment land even harder. Thankfully, these two, much like Will and Grace, can't stay away for too long and end up dancing till the end of the episode.
Jack Teaching Grace About Morals
"Yes, I Too Am A Woman Of Quality."
This quote from season 8 revealed that Jack McFarland had actually never cheated, contrary to popular belief. He convinces Grace not to sleep with a married man. What makes the moment more hysterical, however, is that it was part of an episode that was shot 100% live, with no commercials and no second takes.
Debra Messing, who played Grace, broke character just before this line was uttered, which caused Jack's actor Sean Hayes to giggle in the middle of his delivery. Somehow, the result was even funnier, thanks to the energy of the live audience. More importantly, thanks to Jack's rare moment of pure honesty, Grace didn't end up making a huge mistake.
Jack Being Passive Aggressive
"Anger Doesn't Really Go With What You're Wearing."
In addition to his close and verbal-barbed bond with Karen, Jack and Will share a very close friendship filled with sly remarks and witty jokes. In this episode, we first get an iconic Jack-entrance, after which Will says, "Let me guess, you've got a whole day of nothing ahead of you." This comment elicits Jacks's reaction.
The truth is, Will and Jack might take jabs at each other constantly regarding their body or fashion sense, but they always find ways to help each other. It showcases that no matter how many reads the pair give to each other, they always have the other's back. In this case, Will helps Jack with his IRS debt preventing him from going to jail.
Jack Loving Britney Spears
"I Can Actually Feel The Spirit Of Britney In The Room."
During its runs, Will and Grace was known for adding pop culture references into its jokes. This quote from Jack is not only very timely since Britney was at her peak during the original series run, but it was accompanied by Jack and Grace dancing the exact choreography to Spear's 2000 hit 'Oops!... I Did It Again.'
Of course, in pure Jack form, he was the one teaching Grace the right moves to the song. This is another detail about Jack's personality. Whether it is Britney, Cher, or Madonna, he is the ultimate fan and willing to go the extra mile to show his dedication to whatever pop icon deserves his attention.
Jack Hating Life As An Adult
"I Don't Want To Be An Adult Anymore. It's Very Hard!"
It's safe to say, Jack was never really good at adulting. He always found innovative ways to ignore and escape the realities of daily life to hilarious results.
Luckily for Jack, Will was always by his side, making sure he paid his bills, got a job when he needed one, and supported his dreams. Part of the reason that Jack found adulthood hard is due to Will and Karen shielding him from the reality of it. Either way, viewers were shown a more adult Jack that still knew how to have a good time in the revival, which showcased his growth from the original series.
Jack Teaching Karen Some History
"Language Was Only Invented When Unattractive People Were Born And Needed To Be Commented On."
Another quote from the episode where Jack teaches Karen to dance, this line takes the trophy for one of Will and Grace's best and most creative lines. He also remarks how "before language people communicated through intricate choreography, costume changes, and lighting". If there is a piece of dialogue that shows the essence of Jack, it might be that one.
Sadly, the history lesson is cut short because Karen is marrying Lyle, an excellent dancer, and needs to learn immediately. Jack then proceeds to dance Karen, getting into their same old ridiculous shenanigans while showcasing outstanding physical comedy from both actors. Overall, the episode, "Fred Astaire and Ginger Chicken" truly highlights what makes Jack and Karen's friendship so special and hilarious.
Jack Being Proud Of Himself
"I took an oath in front of God and my mother. I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it."
This final quote represents the free-spirited, confident, and proud gay man Jack is. In the episode, Jack becomes Karen's personal masseuse. As the days go by, Jack begins to feel bad about the fact that he's touching her naked body with no emotion and resembles his actions to that of straight men saying, "I'm acting like a straight man, and it's making me sick."
The quote is from season 1 of the series, which was considered a bold move at the time it was made. But, it's Jack's love for himself that keeps winning audiences over as the years go by.