Jason Stuart was funny when I interviewed him two years ago, prior to his appearance at Zanie's, and he's still funny. Stuart, who continues to make guest appearances on a variety of television shows and movies is coming to Chicago for a few days, performing at both Club Voltaire and at Park West for the annual "Statement For Freedom" fundraiser.
Gregg Shapiro: Jason, you are going to be in Chicago performing at Voltaire and at the Equality Illinois fundraiser "Statement For Freedom." What are some of the subjects from which you are deriving material for your standup comedy routines?
Jason Stuart: I talk about everything. I talk about my life, my family, pop culture. I talk about dating and gay marriage. I talk about the military and politics and what's going on with Hilary Clinton. There are so many things I talk about.
GS: Is there a new theme or topic, in your show, such as Dr. Laura, from which you are creating comedic material?
JS: The new things I talk about are ( Vice Presidential nominee Joseph Lieberman ) and ( the TV show ) Survivor.
GS: Is this the first time you are going to be back in Chicago doing standup since 1998?
JS: Yes. I think so.
GS: When I interviewed you a couple of years ago, you had just finished shooting the David Spade movie Lost And Found. Have you been doing any other film work?
JS: Oh, God, yes. I did a film recently with Scott Bakula called Ghost Of A Chance.
GS: You've also been quite busy in the television realm, beginning with playing an ex-gay man married to a woman on the ABC sitcom "Norm." Who is playing your wife?
JS: Mary Pat Green. The guest star lesbian on the show is Courtney Thorne Smith from "Ally McBeal." She was great. Quite sweet.
GS: I tend to think of her in more serious roles. Is she a natural comedian?
JS: No, but she was incredibly charming. She had a real good delivery, I thought.
GS: What is your opinion of the ex-gay movement?
JS: Oh, gosh, where do you start on something like that? Basically, I think they prey upon people who have religious problems, a lot of religious guilt. I think it's sort of sad. In this day and age you'd think that people would be more supportive and not so angry. Most of the people in these groups have failed.
GS: You think it's people who were rejected by the gay community?
JS: No, no. Most of them have failed to be ex-gays. I dated a guy who had been in the group for seven years. He was very big in the group. He would go around the country and lecture. At night, he would lecture about being a heterosexual, and during the day he would be having sex with the guy that he was lecturing with.
GS: Unbelievable. What a story. What was it like working with Laurie Metcalf on "Norm"?
JS: Laurie was a doll. I was only in one scene with her. Watching her work...she could twenty things at once. I watched her quite a bit on the set. I learned an incredible amount from her.
GS: Speaking of Laurie Metcalf, her former "Rosanne" co-star John Goodman is playing a gay man in a new sitcom. Is there any chance that you will be making an appearance on his show?
JS: We're working on it ( laughs ) . I think I have a good chance, I do.
GS: You also worked with Annette O'Toole on "The Huntress."
JS: I did two episodes.
GS: Okay. I've loved her ever since she was Robby Benson's tutor/love interest in the movie "One On One."
JS: And you know what's funny? Robby directed the second episode that I did.
GS: Wow! What was it like working with Annette?
JS: She said, "Oh, my God, it's so good to see you." She remembered me. I did a film with her thirteen years ago called "Cross My Heart," with Martin Short.
GS: What was it like working Robby Benson?
JS: He was so sweet. He was sort of like a football coach. He would run around and he was very, very enthusiastic. Very supportive. Almost cheerleader-esque.
GS: Is he still cute?
JS: Oh, he's adorable.
GS: Are all of the characters that you are playing, including the ones on "Providence" and "The Sausage Factory," gay?
JS: Most of them don't have time for a sexual preference. No, they're not identified as gay. The only one who is identified as gay is the one on "Norm." To me, some of them and some of them aren't, depending on what my choices are.
GS: What do you think about "Will & Grace"'s multiple wins at the Emmy Awards on a few weeks ago?
JS: Fabulous! Wasn't it exciting?
GS: Amazing. Speaking of which, what will your fans be able to find at your web-site, www.jasonstuart.com?
JS: Everything ( laughs ) . All sorts of stuff; photos of me and celebrities; articles on me from newspapers by people like you; contact information, if you want to keep in touch; my tour schedule. There's also a page that if you want to buy the old cassette of my standup show from years ago and a poster, you can get them there.
GS: Will you be reissuing the cassette on CD?
JS: I'm going to be doing a new CD next year.
GS: Would you like to leave the readers laughing?
JS: Yes. My favorite new joke is that I do a bit about all gay people going to hell. I say, When I was a kid I used to watch all the Sunday morning ( religious ) television. All the preachers would say, "All the gay people are going to hell. You're all going to hell." And I'm thinking, if we're all going hell, where else would I want to go? What am I going to do, go to heaven with all the straight people wearing white after Labor Day? I mean, they're nice people, but for eternity? I don't think so. I'm going to hell. I'm gonna wear a Speedo, because I hear it's hot.