New Sitcom's Gay Character Needs "Help"

Checked out an advance screener of ABC's new Ted Danson sitcom "Help Me Help You" mainly because it is one of the few new shows on the broadcast networks that actually has a gay character. In "Help Me," the gay man is Jonathan, played by a very funny Jim Rash (second from left in photo above). Jonathan is part of the self-obsessed people in group therapy run by Danson's character, a therapist who is something of an icon among his fellow therapists and the author of several psychotherapy text books. But people don't know is he's probably more screwed up than his clients.

Danson is funny in the part and has terrific chemistry with guest star Jane Kaczmarek who plays his estranged wife. I hope Kaczmarek will make a lot of appearances because she and Danson are so good together. The therapy group clients are played by Charlie Finn, Suzy Nakamura, Darlene Hunt and Jere Burns.

As for Rash's character, in a perfect world I'd love to see more well-adjusted gay characters on television but I'm hopeful he will get there. We've all probably known someone who is clearly just so gay but seems to be the last person to know it. That's Jonathan. He'll cop to being a "metrosexual" but nothing more and his attempts to butch it up by lowering his voice and pretending to be interested in basketball are a scream.

If Rash looks familiar, you may recognize him from his recurring roles on "That '70s Show" and "Reno 911!," as well as guest starring roles on "Will & Grace," "Less than Perfect," "According to Jim," "The Practice," "Becker," "CSI" and "Navy NCIS." He has also co-starred on "Cybill" and "Tracey Takes On," and was a series regular on "Thanks," "Katie Joplin" and "The Naked Truth." His feature film credits include "Sky High," "Minority Report," "Simone," "Slackers," "One Hour Photo" and "Auto Motives." His two most recent films, "Smiley Face" and "Reno 911!: The Movie," are due to be released in 2007.

"Help Me" will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m.