Last week, CBS’ Gary Unmarried premiered with actor and comedian Jay Mohr taking the titular role of Gary Brooks, a burdened painting contractor who recently ended his 15-year marriage with his wife Allison (Paula Marshall), who decides to get engaged to their marriage counselor.  Add to that the fact that they start sharing custody of their 11-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, and that Gary has grown attracted to one of his clients, Vanessa (Jaime King).

Recently, the star of Gary Unmarried spoke to CBS News and the Press Telegram about how he landed the role and how much he is enjoying working on the CBS comedy.

The 38-year-old actor, who is best known as the grubby sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire, was also responsible for creating the reality TV show, Last Comic Standing, which he hosted and executively produced.

"That's a skin I'm still shedding.  I was perceived as a version of Bob Sugar or Peter Dragon.  People thought me (a jerk), and I was," Mohr rold the Press Telegram.  "But if you marry the right person and get a job that's ridiculously fun, there's not much to be upset about."

The Gary Unmarried star is wed to Las Vegas star, Nikki Cox, who was with him when he first got the call to do the show. He recalled that it was in the evening when they called, and he was given 12 hours to decide to take it or not.  First refusing the role because of his prior engagement with Ghost Whisperer, Mohr was again approached, given ample time to prepare.  This time, he accepted the job.

In talking about his character, Mohr says, “Even though he hates his ex-wife, they probably should just be together, like Sam and Diane (of Cheers). But he's dedicated to his kids.  Anything can be happening, he can be juggling two polar opposites, but when the kids walk in, everything stops and he takes care of them.  If he's not a good father, you don't have a show - he's just a bumbling idiot.”

Mohr adds that he’s very happy with the developments of his career and the success of the show.  He also admits that comedy has been a passion of his, and that he truly enjoys every moment he gets to express his creativity.

“In a sitcom, you walk in the room, say something funny, walk across the room, say something else funny, and then walk out,” he says.  “What I like about stand-up is, it's truthful.  I'm not up there trying to get laid or look cool. I'm up there because I really love it, and it makes people happier.”

Gary Unmarried airs every Wednesday at 8:30pm on CBS.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CBS News, Press Telegram
(Photo courtesy of CBS)