I haven't done TV since "Different Strokes", and it's not like "Saturday Night Live" where you can read cue cards. On "Will & Grace", they're always rewriting, so you're always memorising." Jackson, however, said that the dancing was the "easy part of playing myself". It was also announced that actor Will Arnett would guest star, as Jack's dance rival. Alex Herschlag, executive producer of "Will & Grace", revealed Arnett's subplot in the episode, saying that Hayes and Arnett are "vying for a job as Janet Jackson's backup dancer." In an online chat session with the "Los Angeles Times", Arnett revealed that the reason for his guest spot was due to knowing one of the writers of the show, and Arnett being friends with Hayes. In an April 2007 interview with "The Advocate", Arnett said that he enjoyed doing his guest spot on the show. According to the Nielsen system, "Back Up, Dancer" was watched by 15.32 million households in its original American broadcast. The episode received a 7.1 rating/19 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic, and was the eighth highest-rated show on the NBC network that week. "Back Up, Dancer" finished in 13th place in the weekly ratings for the week of September 20–26, 2004. Since airing the episode has received mixed reviews from television critics. In preview of the episode, Phil Rosenthal of the "Chicago Sun-Times" said: "If you're going to book a former cast member from "Good Times" as a guest for your sitcom, do yourself a favor and try getting Jimmie Walker, John Amos or Ja'net Dubois before settling for Janet Jackson." Scott D. Pierce of "Deseret News" reported that Jackson's appearance "takes the focus off the regular characters" while Mark Harris of "Entertainment Weekly" commented that Jackson's guest spot "was an all-time low". Gary Susman of "Entertainment Weekly" was complimentary towards Jackson, concluding that she was "all business, playing it straight" in the episode. He reported that "she makes a fabulous entrance and departs with her dignity intact". "Charleston Daily Mail" contributor Kevin McDonough wrote that in the season premiere episode "FYI: I Hurt, Too" of season seven, singer Jennifer Lopez appeared "in a farfetched and laugh-free guest appearance. Tonight ['Back Up, Dancer'], it's Janet Jackson's turn.