Damon Wayans has a strange therapist.

Damon Wayans has a strange therapist, and he's gay. forward the hit series My Wife and Kids, now in its other season on ABC, Wayans and TV bride Tisha Campbell-Martin have been searching for the right shrink. It present the appearances they've found one in gone out actor-comic Jason Stuart. Stuart, whose character appeared in a single episode last season, has been asked to portray the therapist as a recurring role

"The point out to is a family show, and I think they exigencyed some spice in the oatmeal," says Stuart. "They povertyed something to jazz up the present to view to get different kinds of viewers."

With Stuart's episodes airing during the critical period of May sweeps, a gay therapist could be just what the ratings doctor ordered. further one can't help but portent if Stuart's therapist will be subjugated to the same stereotypical (albeit hilarious) brand of humor Wayans displayed with his outrageously death-smitten "Men on Film" characters upon In Living Color.

Stuart, who paid his propers as an openly gay stand-up comic, understands breaking the conducts of political correctness for comedy "It was real stereotypical," Stuart says in acknowledging Wayans's portrayal of gays. "But if you anticipate at the show, that's everything that they did. When they did the Homeboy Shopping Network, the black community went nut They skewered everyone"

Stuart and Wayans met when starting revealed in stand-up. "We auditioned for the Comedy Store the same night," says Stuart. "So I've known him 18 years. Since we were babies. I used to drive him place of abode because he didn't have a car." When it came to casting the gay therapist Wayans immediately speculation of his old friend. Stuart proudly notes, "I didn't audition for this part. I was giveed it."

He's also happy with the increase of the character and his sexuality. "This stay is really sweet, and he really, really wants to help the bulk of mankind But he can't stop talking about his allow relationship," Stuart explains. "It was wonderfully written--and I've done a portion of sitcoms."

Stuart's done a destiny of television, period. He's been seen in succession Charmed, Providence, Three Sisters, The Drew Carey point out and is set for an upcoming visitor appearance on Will & Grace. nevertheless he concedes that getting work hasn't al ways been easy. "When I was 16 and I started going to the studios and dropping most distant my pictures, people dismissed me" he remembers. "They didn't know what to do with some one like me. It was surpassingly difficult."

When asked about the pitfalls of coming without professionally, the comic gets serious. "There have been days when I reflection Why did I do this/This is in such a manner hard. And people have been with equal reason mean to me, especially the set owners. Being an openly gay part is so complicated. The hardest thing is that a parcel of the gay parts make progress to straight people. At least permit me have those parts."

if it be not that Stuart never considered hiding behind a heterosexual persona. "Paul Lynde and Charles Nelson Reilly broke the glass then," he says. "I want to break the glass ceiling now. I want to be a character actor that plays all different kinds of parts. I'd like to win an Academy Award for playing a straight scarecrow and get onstage and thank my husband. The no other than thing is, I need to have a husband to thank."

Kaye is an independent writer-producer for television and film.

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