Stand-up comedian Jason Stuart is looking for Mr. Right.
So far, he says, he’s met “Mr. Right Now,” “Mr. Maybe,” and even “Mr. Mom.”
But he’s hoping a visit to the Motor City will change all that.
“I love Detroit men,” Stuart gushes over the phone from his home in Los Angeles. “There’s such a strong sense of family in the gay community there.”
Stuart will be in town on the latest leg of his aptly named Looking for Mr. Right stand-up tour. Ebullient and witty, he has made a name for himself as one of the country’s first openly gay stand-up comedians. He also has several film and television roles under his belt. Recently, he appeared in episodes of HBO’s Fat Actress and FOX’s House. He’s probably best-known, however, for his recurring role as gay psychiatrist Dr. Thomas on ABC’s My Wife and Kids. In the past year, Stuart has also wrapped filming for five movies, working alongside Mekhi Pfeiffer in Easier Softer Way and Faye Dunaway in Ghosts Never Sleep.
Despite his many successes, Stuart says he still experiences discrimination as a result of his sexual orientation. Performances have been canceled, promoters have been hesitant to book his act. But he feels strongly that stand-up has provided him with the opportunity to make inroads against this long-standing prejudice. “It’s given me a place to be who I am, as an openly gay person.” Stuart says. “In that way, I hope I’ve been able to break some ground.”
Stuart’s act covers a wide range of topics, weaving his Jewish background with his political opinions. But as the tour name suggests, he does spend a fair amount of time rehashing relationship woes. For instance: “There was a guy I dated, and one day he called me up to say he was running late. When I asked him why, he told me that people were chasing him. It turns out he was on crystal meth. Needless to say, that was over. Even though he did assure me that he only got high on the weekends.”
While it appears that paranoid addicts aren’t his forte, Stuart is quick with a list of criteria for his Mr. Right. “He’s got to be smart, sexy, out,” he tells me, “and have a car that he doesn’t live in.”
Gentlemen, start your engines.
Nov. 17-19, at Wise Guys, 40380 Grand River Ave., Novi; 248-919-3216.
Monica Price is a Metro Times editorial intern. Send comments to [email protected]
