Russell Peters shows his paternal side
Comic chats with kids on ‘A Little Help With Carol Burnett’
TORONTO — 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 to 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 toned-down, dad version of me. And it wasn’t like I was acting to be that way. 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.”
Peters is more behind the scenes, hanging out with the kids before they go onstage to listen to the guests’ problems and offer them their comically innocent thoughts.
Peters said he was a big fan of Burnett growing up, watching her variety show with his parents.
“The first time I met her I completely geeked,” said the standup giant, who skyrocketed to fame skewering racial stereotypes in his act. “I was in awe. Even after we shot all the episodes, every day I would see her and would still be like, ‘It’s Carol Burnett!’ ”
He also brought his seven-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.”
His daughter does seem to have her dad’s comedy gene, though.
“My daughter says things to me that, especially nowadays and day by day, that make me laugh and laugh heartily,” Peters said.
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 he’s also been racking up acting credits.
Then there’s his TV series “The Indian Detective,” which aired on CTV and Netflix. It stars Peters as a Toronto police officer caught in the middle of a murder investigation in Mumbai. He said he’s 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 one-trick pony,” said Peters.