Comedian shows his ‘dad’ side
Russell Peters is showing a new side of himself.
As co-host of Netflix’s new series A Little Help With Carol Burnett, launching Friday, the comedy star from Brampton banters with kids aged 5-9 before they give advice to celebrity guests.
“The show gave me a chance to show my paternal side and give people an opportunity to see the other side of me — not the brash, say-anything-I-want comedian,” Peters, who has a daughter, said in a recent interview. “This is the toneddown, dad version of me … I really am that way when I’m around kids.”
Burnett is the onstage host and chats with the guests, who include Taraji P. Henson, DJ Khaled, Lisa Kudrow, Wanda Sykes and Vancouver native Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things.
The comedian also brought his 7-year-old daughter to set to watch a couple of times.
“She showed no desire to be on it, which was great for me,” Peters said. “If she wants to get into this business, I’d let her, but I wouldn’t guide her to it.”
At 48, Peters said he feels like he’s entering a new stage of life. He still tours with his comedy act, which has sold out arenas around the world, but there’s also his TV series The Indian Detective. It stars Peters as a Toronto police officer caught in the middle of a murder investigation in Mumbai.
He’s now working on a second season. “I’m almost 30 years in this business now, so at some point you’ve got to show them that you’re not just this onetrick pony,” Peters said.