It was written by Tracy Poust and Jon Kinnally and directed by series producer James Burrows.

In the episode, Jack (Sean Hayes) auditions to be a backup dancer for singer Janet Jackson, but in order to get the job, he must compete in a dance-off with a fellow named Artemus (Arnett).

Meanwhile, Will (Eric McCormack) is torn between going out with his boyfriend Vince (Cannavale) and staying in to console Grace (Debra Messing) following her failed marriage.

"Back Up, Dancer" received generally mixed reviews from television critics, some of whom disliked Jackson's appearance on the show.

According to Nielsen, the episode was watched by 15.32 million households during its original broadcast, and received a 7.1 rating/19 share among viewers in the 18–49 demographic.

At the beginning of the episode Jack (Sean Hayes) learns he will have an audition to be a backup dancer for singer Janet Jackson.

"Back Up, Dancer" was written by Tracy Poust and Jon Kinnally and directed by series producer James Burrows.

[4][7] She told the entertainment news program Access Hollywood that she was a "big fan" of the show,[4] and that she could not wait to join the cast for her stint.

[14] According to the Nielsen system, "Back Up, Dancer" was watched by 15.32 million households in its original American broadcast.

[15][16] 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.

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.

[20] Gary Susman of Entertainment Weekly was complimentary towards Jackson, concluding that she was "all business, playing it straight" in the episode.

"[22] In her annual countdown of the best quotes of 2004, Amy Amatangelo of Knight Ridder included Will Arnett's line "Like a Sicilian woman's eyebrows, we could not be kept apart".