On May 18, “Will & Grace” will become a part of television history, going down in the books as the longest running sitcom to feature gay characters. After eight seasons, it is leaving the air of its own volition – there are no angry, torch-wielding villagers calling for its demise. And that’s the show’s strong suit – you don’t need to be a card carrying ’mo to enjoy the shenanigans of Will, Grace, Jack and Karen – the folks in the Back 40 are laughing with us, not at us.

Since its debut in 1998, the show has straddled and then crossed the line with its bawdy humor, with hardly an eye batted from the powers-that-be at NBC. They even managed to secure a little on-air lip lock that didn’t raise the ire of the aforementioned powers, censors and/or conservative groups.

For some reason, “W&G” has always flown under the gaydar. Those critical of the show would argue that it never crossed certain unspoken lines; that the show builds upon age-old stereotypes of “the gays.” Sure, both Will and Jack have never had a long-term boyfriend. And yes, the show doesn’t tackle a lot of the pressing issues of the day. But that’s the point of the show – it’s a sitcom here to make us laugh. So take that, you Negative Nancys!

Personally, I have been a fan of the show since the get-go and will miss it being a Thursday night staple. The only thing I will not miss is people telling me I remind them of Jack!

Here’s a look at where the cast has been and where they are going.

Canuck Eric McCormack must have been destined to play it gay; his resume is peppered with such throwaway gay porn titles as “The Boys from Syracuse,” “Street Legal,” “Neon Riders,” “Night Visitors” and an episode of “Highlander, ” entitled “Manhunt.” His highest visibility before “W&G” came in 1996’s “Townies,” the Molly Ringwald starring vehicle where he played Scott for four episodes. Then he had his pick of working with “weight challenged” actresses, appearing on Kirstie Alley’s “Veronica’s Closet” and “Ally McBeal” with Calista Flockhart.

Debra Messing is no stranger to ampersands. Her biggest pre-Grace profile was on FOX’s 1995-1997 comedy “Ned & Stacey” – wonder who she played? Before she was the epitome of the neurotic New Yorker, she took on the Big Apple by backing the badge on “NYPD Blue” for three episodes and also appeared on two episodes of “Seinfeld.” And does anyone remember her turn in the sci-fi series “Prey,” which lasted for 13 episodes on ABC in ’98? Anyone? Anyone?

Sean Hayes’ first acting gig was as Sammy in A&P, which included such colorful supporting players as Queenie and Hi Ho Lady. Sounds like a great place to cut his teeth for his role as Jack McFarland! 1998’s Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss saw Hayes as the titular Billy, a gay photographer who yearned for the type of Hollywood screen kiss that typifies straight cinema.

With her unmistakable vocal intonations as Karen Walker, it’s no surprise that Megan Mullally was tapped to portray a grownup Pebbles Flintstone in 1993’s “I Yabba-Dabba Do!” No surprise, eh? Perhaps this is where her inspiration to refer to Will as Wilma was born. A veteran of the acting wars since the ’80s, Mullally earned her stripes as a call girl in Risky Business, and as Demi Moore’s slutty friend, Pat, in About Last Night. (And you’d be hard pressed to recognize her with her lighter hair color and poodle perm!)

As for her television acting chops, let’s just say she seasoned them with a sprinkling of one-night stands on “China Beach,” “Wings,” “Frasier,” “Seinfeld,” and even on Messing’s “Ned & Stacey.” Plus, she locked wits with Angela Lansbury in an episode of “Murder, She Wrote,” entitled “Coal Miner’s Slaughter.” Sounds positively riveting! Also, like her cohort McCormack, she had a few gay-sounding jobs in the interim, like “Queens Logic,” “Rainbow Drive” and “Fish Police.”

Rosario (Shelley Morrison) was most notably a fixture in a habit on “The Flying Nun” as Sister Sixto – say that fast six times in a row! Maybe that should be the new litmus test to determine if someone of questionable sexuality is truly family. I just bet there’d be a few extra S’s that were previously undetected.

So, when the curtain comes-a-closin’ for the “Will & Grace” cast, what will they do and where will they go? Well, Megan Mullally already has a new show lined up. The aptly named “Megan Mullally Show” is a talk show set to air in September. Girl, don’t pull a Danza!

Sean Hayes has a comedic movie called Simon Says in the works. A wee bit o’ career advice for Hayes: He should avoid the Matt LeBlanc “Joey” route and not spin his character off into his own show – typecasting will most likely be plaguing him as it is. He has amassed a few executive producer credits on shows like “Situation: Comedy,” so there’s always that aspect to help him keep a low profile, should he choose to.

Eric McCormack has two films in the can. Stand By Love, in which McCormack stars alongside Helena Bonham Carter, is about two exes reunited on a transatlantic flight. Free Enterprise 2 is a follow-up to 1998’s Free Enterprise. (Aren’t you glad I’m here to explain these things?)

By far, Debra Messing has the most on her plate, career-wise. She’s wrapped up three flicks, all due out in 2006. Open Season is an animated flick in which Messing lends her voice to a forest ranger by the name of Beth. So she’ll finally be playing a lesbian, huh? Then there’s Purple Violets, in which she plays second fiddle to Selma Blair. In Lucky You, a movie set in Vegas that involves a poker tournament, Messing plays second fiddle to Drew Barrymore. Hmm, I believe I’m sensing a theme here, and that’s probably a good thing since her 2005 flick The Wedding Date didn’t exactly solidify her as a bankable leading lady. But this new batch of flicks does showcase her strength as a strong ensemble player.

While it’s sad to see a favorite show go off the air, we can find solace in the fact that this Emmy-winning hit has been embraced by a wide audience. Besides, it can serve as a launching pad for more queer-themed shows. Still not consoled? Well, here’s a non-sequitur salve of upcoming stuff and things to apply to the wound.

Break out the shoulder pads and prepare a smack-down in a cement pond as “Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar” brings together John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Al Corley (Steven #1), Catherine Oxenberg (Amanda #1), Gordon Thomson (Adam #1) and Pammy Sue Martin (Fallon #1) to reminisce about the ’80s primetime sudser. Apparently, John James, Michael Nader and Heather Locklear thought the idea was a #2, as they’re not participating.

Kathy Griffin’s new special, “Strong Black Woman,” is scheduled to air on May 9 on Bravo, which is also the home to the second season of her reality series, “My Life on the D-List,” on June 6.

How about some music news to soothe your last gay nerve? The buzz on the new Pet Shop Boys CD, Fundamental, due out at the end of May, is that it’s their best album in 10 years. Erasure is getting naked – well, stripped-down is more like it – on the just-released Union Street, an acoustic reworking of some of their songs. Now that she’s put down the Ho Hos long enough to pick up a microphone, a back-in-shape Janet Jackson is readying Twenty Years Old (a nod to Control’s 20th anniversary) for a September release. And the first single is dropping in May, just like her post-Super Bowl scandal and Damita Jo underselling pounds.

See, when one gay door closes, others open. It’s the bathhouse philosophy of life. Until next time, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.