The Emmy-winning “Will & Grace” alumna also will serve as an executive producer and take up ownership on the single-camera project, from Sony TV and Tantamount.

Penned by actress-writer Stephnie Weir (“MadTV”), “Wrong” centers on Evelyn Wright (Messing), a driven conservative pundit who tries to maintain her public persona despite facing her own vulnerabilities.

Messing will executive producer alongside Tantamount’s Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum. Weir also will exec produce, with Messing’s manager Molly Madden also set to receive a producing credit. Andy Fickman is directing.

Last year, Messing was attached to a comedy project by writers Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott that sparked a bidding war before landing at NBC.

After her eight-year run on NBC’s “Grace,” which earned her an Emmy, Messing, repped by Gersh, 3 Arts and attorney Rick Genow, toplined USA Network’s miniseries “The Starter Wife” as well as the series it spawned.

Source.

The US actress-singer, who played outspoken Karen Walker, has kept in touch with co-stars Debra Messing (Grace), Eric McCormack (Will) and Sean Hayes (Jack) since the American sitcom ended in 2006.

“There’s been no talk of any kind of reunion show or movie or anything like that but you never know – it’s getting to be the right time to have a little party of some sort and reunite,” she said.

Megan – who’s currently performing with her band Supreme Music Program at London’s Vaudeville Theatre – had hoped the show would have continued for two more seasons.

“I don’t know if I was disappointed, I mean, all things must pass,” she said.

“On the one hand it seemed like the right time and on the other hand, I personally think it could have gone for two more seasons, but not everybody agreed with that, even some of the cast and some of the writers. So because of that, you know, you have to kind of go along with everything.”

She added: “I wasn’t disappointed, no, it definitely felt like the right time for it to end but at the same time, in an alternate universe I think it could have gone a little bit longer.”

Source.

Debra Messing, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Mariska Hargitay and other celebs have joined together to support The Joyful Heart Foundation to help survivors of Domestic and Sexual Assault. For the cause Michael Stars has created a limited-edition charity T-Shirt, for every shirt sold Michael Stars will give a free T-Shirt to a survivor of domestic and sexual assault and donate $5 to the Joyful Heart Foundation.

You can purchase your own T-Shirt here.

“In a region ravaged by HIV, Zimbabwe has made extensive strides to stem the spread of this disease,” said Messing. “Though I am deeply saddened to see the devastation the disease has caused, I am filled with hope when I see the incredible team of people – local leaders, NGOs, the donor community and the people of Zimbabwe themselves – who are joining together in the fight against HIV and AIDS.”

Messing, along with a representative of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), is concluding a week-long trip in the country, where she is visiting HIV programs funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and run by implementing partner PSI.

Of particular note was Messing’s trip to a hair salon where the hairdressers offered HIV education to customers in the shop. In Zimbabwe, women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Through a program funded by DFID and USAID, PSI is able to reach this vulnerable population by training hairdressers as peer educators, teaching them about PSI’s care female condom, common misconceptions about the disease, and how to answer client questions about HIV and HIV prevention. There are now 1,500 hairdressers that are part of the peer education network in Zimbabwe and are also the subject of a short film produced by DFID, Braids not AIDS.

“Hairdressing salons across the world are known as places of straight-talking advice, and these Zimbabwean hairdressers are doing a great job at stopping the rise of HIV and AIDS,” said UK Minister for International Development Mike Foster. “Thanks in part to them telling their customers about the importance of safe sex, there has been a sharp drop in the number of new HIV infections in Zimbabwe.”

In addition to the salons, Messing also visited a male circumcision pilot clinic in Harare, which has already shown promising and impressive results. Male circumcision is more effective at reducing HIV infections than any vaccine currently in development. In collaboration with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and funding from DFID and USAID, PSI has trained 120 health care workers in male circumcision delivery and helped them perform the procedure on more than 2,500 men who had requested the operation. Following that visit, Messing went to PSI’s New Start center for HIV testing and counseling, talking with individuals and couples who were being tested before choosing to undergo the HIV test herself.

Messing returns to the United States early next week to raise awareness about the need for additional support to further reduce HIV rates in Zimbabwe and, more specifically, Messing will urge for scale up of male circumcision; for reduction in concurrent sexual partnerships – a key driver in HIV transmission in Zimbabwe – and to encourage testing and counseling and post-test support services.

“I am honored to be invited to speak at the Auxillia Chimusoro Awards ceremony, honoring Auxillia’s legacy and recognizing those making such direct progress against this devastating disease,” said Messing who is arriving in the country next week. “USAID’s ongoing support has made such success possible and I’m grateful to them for their commitment, generosity, and partnership.”

While in Zimbabwe, Messing will take the opportunity to visit a variety of HIV prevention and treatment programmes and will meet with local officials and researchers.

The awards, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrate organisations and individuals who have demonstrated commitment and courage in breaking the silence around the infection, reducing stigma and discrimination, and caring for infected and affected people.

The awards are named after Auxillia Chimusoro, one of the first people in Zimbabwe to openly disclose their HIV positive status in 1987 when the disease was shrouded in silence.

“We are excited to have Debra Messing speak to Zimbabwean HIV and AIDS activists during the Auxillia Chimusoro Awards,” says Tim Gerhardson, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Harare. “The fight against AIDS is a central piece of the foreign policy and global health agenda outlined by the United States. Artists can play an important role in both spreading the message and fundraising, which makes Messing’s experience with PSI a positive model for all Zimbabweans.”

Internationally, Messing is best known for her role on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series “Will & Grace.” She captivated television audiences worldwide for eight seasons with her comedic brilliance as Grace Adler. For her work on the popular sitcom, Messing won the 2003 Emmy Award and has earned numerous accolades, including several Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild nominations. In 2001, Messing collected the TV Guide’s Actress of the Year in a Comedy Series honor and was awarded a Screen Actors Guild award with the cast of “Will & Grace.”

She also portrayed Mary Magdalene in the four-hour CBS miniseries, “Jesus,” and starred in the USA miniseries “The Starter Wife” with Joe Mantegna. Messing’s recent film work includes several romantic comedies, including The Wedding Date, box office hit Along Came Polly, with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston, and The Women, alongside Annette Benning and Meg Ryan.

“Few ever remember Debra Messing as a brunette, and now she always wears her signature red,” Corbett says. Can you imagine her any other way? “Most importantly — and above trends — the color needs to suit the person,” he adds.

The charity, which provides shelter for homeless families in New York City and services that help women get back on their feet, challenged about 30 designers, Hollywood and Broadway stars and VIPs to decorate papier-mâché houses — the kind that might go under a Christmas tree. It’s a colorful, spirited and in some cases heavily ornamented array that will be on auction Nov. 9 to 30 on Charitybuzz.com.

Josie Natori, a WIN board member for five years, said her house reflects her “East meets West aesthetic,” while Cameron Silver said her goal was to re-create the signature elements of her Decades boutique in Los Angeles, which are mixed metals, leopard and lights. “All of the metal bricks on the outside of the house were cut by hand, giving it an haute couture sensibility,” Silver said.

“My hope was to create a Kate Spade New York house that is infused with a sense of optimism, that will make people smile,” said Deborah Lloyd, co-president and creative director of Kate Spade NY. “Hopefully, it will help inspire others to do good things as well.”

Other houses were designed by Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Donna Karan, Jennifer Lopez, Isaac Mizrahi, Justin Timberlake, Debra Messing, Sean Avery, Lidia Bastianich, Victoria and David Beckham, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Bobbi Brown, the cast of “Hair,” Sean “Diddy” Combs, Cheyenne Jackson, Monica Rich Kosann, Dylan Lauren, Richard Leach for the Park Avenue Autumn restaurant, Moby, George Rodrigue, Trace Ayala and “Today” show anchors Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera, Al Roker and Ann Curry.

Parsons The New School for Design collaborated on several of the designs, and some houses have been embellished courtesy of Crystallized Swarovski Elements.

Saks Fifth Avenue will feature the houses in its Fifth Avenue windows Nov. 5 to 9. The auction is scheduled to begin Nov. 9 at the Park Avenue Autumn restaurant on East 63rd Street. Myla Lerner, Larry Kramer, Deborah Roberts Roker, and Karin and Stephen I. Sadove are event hosts.

“New York City is my heart’s home,” Messing said. “In these terrible economic times, I hope that people who are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads and a meaningful support system will give what they can to those in need.”

Saturday night’s event drew more than 400 people.

The Palm Springs Equality Awards is one of five statewide events to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues, while raising money for the San Francisco-based nonprofit group.

“This raises the funds that allows us to do the work,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and a part-time Palm Springs resident.

Last year’s statewide events raised more than $2 million, organizers said.

Gay civil rights is an important issue in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations, per capita, in the United States.

Pérez, D-Coachella, was recognized for championing measures important to the gay community, such as supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and woman, and establishing a day honoring the nation’s first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.

“It’s a civil rights issue,” Pérez said. “I decided very early on that I was going to stand up for what I believe in when it comes to civil rights, and that includes the LGBT community.”

Best known for her role as Grace Adler on the hit NBC show, “Will & Grace,” Messing was honored for helping “bring the stories of LGBT people to television and stage.”

Messing has a history of supporting gay issues, having come out in 2000 against Proposition 22, a state law that banned gays and lesbians from marrying.

“For me, it’s a no-brainer,” Messing said. “Equal rights means equal rights for everybody.”

Equality California also honored the California Teachers Association, considered a crucial ally as one of the biggest contributors to the No on 8 campaign.

CTA President David Sanchez, the first openly gay president of the association elected statewide, accepted the award.

“In CTA, we strongly believe that our diversity is what makes us whole as a society,” Sanchez said.

“It is to be celebrated in our classrooms. Our commitment to human and civil rights over our 146-year history is why I can stand here tonight as the first openly gay CTA president to accept this award on behalf of our members,” he said.

The evening also included a fashion show featuring designs from the cast of “Project Runway” and a silent auction where the highest bidder could win a framed marriage bill submitted in 2007 and signed by its author, state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco; or cocktails with actor David Hyde Pierce.

Founded in 1998, the San Francisco-based nonprofit group works for equality and legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The Palm Springs Equality Awards are scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs.

Perez is being recognized for championing measures supporting the repeal of Proposition 8, which defined marriage as between a man and woman and honoring the nation’s first elected openly gay person, Harvey Milk.

Best known for her role as Grace Adler on “Will & Grace,” Messing is being awarded for her helping “bring the stories of LGBT people to television and stage” as well as supporting the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Project Angel Food, according to a news release.

The group also will honor the California Teachers Association, one of the biggest contributors to the No on 8 campaign.

The evening includes a silent auction, dinner and fashion show featuring designs from the cast of Project Runway, including Raymundo Baltazar, Kristen Ehrig and Nick Verreos.

The Master of Ceremony will be actor Doug Spearman.

Proceeds benefit Equality California.

Founded in 1998, the San Francisco-based group works for equality and legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Source.

A general admission ticket is $250. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.eqca.org.