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Russell Peters Dishes On His Juno Hosting Duties

Posted Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:48pm PDT by Yahoo! Music Canada in Sound Check

Looks like the music isn't the only thing heating up Vancouver this weekend. Juno host Russell Peters is back for a second kick at the Emcee can, and is making no bones about his feelings towards Canadian musicians. So what can viewers expect Sunday night? With Peters at the helm, expecting the unexpected is always a safe bet.

The Canadian Press' Nick Patch offers up more on Peters' hosting duties here:

Russell Peters says he'll skewer Nickelback again as host of Juno Awards 

By Nick Patch, The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A year after he skewered Nickelback while hosting the Juno Awards, Russell Peters says he reached out to the band to appear in a skit with him.

They declined, and now Peters says he isn't going to pull any punches when he helms the show for a second straight year Sunday (CTV, check local listings.)

"That's one of the reasons I may be targeting them," Peters said in an interview on Friday.

And as for the reason the Hanna, Alta., rockers declined the chance to appear in a sketch?

"Ego, I guess," Peters said. "Being a Canadian award show, the pompousness was never really there (with the Junos). But now I think egos are getting involved, and that makes things a little weird."

The acid-tongued Brampton, Ont., comedian was a hit as host last year, which is why producers made the rare move of bringing him back for a second consecutive show.

Having constantly professed his lack of interest in Canadian music and the Junos in general, he was an unpredictable MC who brought a sense of levity to the proceedings and made viewers constantly wonder about his next target.

"I go for it, I don't really care, because I'm not trying to hurt your feelings," he said. "If your ego gets hurt, it's not really your feelings, it's your ego, and that's your problem, not ours."

This year, he says he's more comfortable and expects to send more than a few performers home with deflated egos - but Celine Dion won't be among them.

"Celine we did last year," he said. "It's just too easy of a target. She's kind of irrelevant in my life, so why bother?"

Peters will, however, collaborate with Vancouver crooner Michael Buble, whom Peters says has a good sense of humour.

"Mike's a good guy, he's a very funny dude, and we like each other, so we're going to have a good time," he said. "If more artists were like him or Anne Murray and they could take a joke, then that would be a good thing."

Though he often revels in how out of touch he is with the Canadian music scene, he says he's starting to figure out the artists themselves.

"Musicians are weird, dude," he said. "Comedians, we're like real people. I think that's why people listen to what comedians have to say. If a comedian tells you about something and a musician tells you about something, a musician is going to tell you in a way like: 'You have to do something about this.'

"They have a very demanding way about them, and comedians have a more convincing way about them. We're more the salesmen, you know?"

So, is he willing to take a break from cracking on the Junos and actually sell viewers on the show?

"Sure, it'll be worth watching," he said. "If not for anything else, just to see what I'm going to say about everything."

Meanwhile, Peters is taking steps to keep the show fresh. He promises an entirely unique opening - "It's starting completely different than you've ever seen a Canadian award show start before," he says - and plans on cracking a few jokes about the stereotypes of the host city, Vancouver.

"It's a drug town, you guys have a big drug reputation, it's a big gang violence town," he noted. "It's supposed to be laid back and yet you have a high amount of murders happening, it's a little weird. 'We're laid back - we'll kill you, I guess."'

And he says he's willing to do the show as long as Juno organizers keep asking him back.

"I enjoy it despite how I make it outwardly appear," he said. "I really do enjoy hosting it, and I think eventually Canadians will just get used to me hosting it. By the same token, maybe if I host it all the time it won't be such a special event for them.

"But if I'm not back next year, I'll be back again at some point. I'm always open to it, and I just want you to love me."

64 Comments

1. Yahoo! Music User -
I Highly doubt they "declined"your invite due to ego,more because there musicians Not actors?Man your one strange dude.I hate to say.Pick all you want your never gonna be as kool or famous as Nickelback!

2. Yahoo! Music User -
Hooray for Russel Peters!! Any excuse to poke fun at that grossly untalented, repetitive, regurgitated, poor excuse for a cover band Nickelback is fine by me. The Junos are pointless. Nickelback is pointless. 80% of the Canadian music scene is absolutely pointless and derivative, and I'm glad that someone like Russel is hosting the Junos purely for a paycheck, and for the chance to get some jabs in. I'm ashamed to call myself a Canadian musician, only because of the types of so-called "bands" that I will be associated with. We definitely pump out some of the worst boring crap in the entire world. Unless you've gotten lucky, no one else outside of Canada is going to know who you are, or CARE who you are. Unless we start raising the bar for our own musical integrity, passion, skill and quality, we'll never be taken seriously as a country that has any discernible artistry. Nickelback? I'm sorry, but their idea of music is throwing a bunch of different songs at FM radio to see which one would be a hit, then oversaturating the market with that particular style of song by taking "How You Remind Me" and changing the lyrics around for more songs based on it. That's a ridiculous cash grab, and it's absolutely typical of a band that has absolutely no songwriting skill. And don't even try to convince me or anyone else about WHY they're famous: Teenage girls will buy ANYTHING, and that's exactly what this snotty garbage is targeted towards.

3. mike -
Leave it to the Canadian music industry to pick an emcee that admits his negative feelings for both Canadian music and the Junos. As for the negetive views of Nickelback... I've seen them live, and it was the second best concert I've seen. They give it all from start to finish. I'm really not a big fan of theirs (not too big on the new album)but it was a great show. Like it or not, it's the best we have in Canadian Music now. We should be supporting ALL Canadian efforts.

4. suzi -
I think Nickelback declined because of ego and no sense of humor. Russell Peters is already more famous than they will ever be and I'm guessing that hurts them where it counts, the size of their wallet.

5. Gary -
the days of Burton Cummings,the Bang,and the Holding Company are gone and not one band has stepped up to bad. Canadian bands are going the same way as our politicians Done the Tube

6. cinthyann -
Hey Russell ruffle Nicklelback feathers indian shtlye ha ha cheers you go dude

7. Does it really -
GO PETERS you're the best

8. gerald.gallant -
thank you peters u rock and if i had a band u can be its front man lol

9. M -
Somebody is going to get hurt really bad....

Russell, Do I look like Ryan's mom ::)) Look forward to watching him instead..as I don't care who wins at the so called Juno's Music Awards

10. nevermore -
I've always claimed that there is no cure for stupid and it appears there is no cure to Russell Peters. He's an idiot.

11. KIM -
This will be a show actually worth watching!!

12. callitasicit33 -
If this were any time especially the seventies or eighties Nickelcrap wouldn't even survive!! That band sucks, all their songs sound the same and the lead singer is a hack!! I hope Russell Peters skewers them!!

13. sidfsifa -
50 % of u say russell peters is the joke and 50% of you say nickle back is crap...i'm sure the comments will stay in the same % after the show is over

14. Yahoo! Music User -
Hey! why are half of you insulting one of the greatest bands ever! all of you can go [profane]s! if they don't wanna get insulted by the douchebag russel peters then russel shouldn't insult them! and as for you callitasicit33, nickelback kicks ass! the leadsinger isn't a hack! hes great! their songs might sound the same but thats what makes them unique, every other band change up their songs and now thats the common thing to do, they have their definite sound so that people can recognize them! thats who they are and you shouldn't insult their style!

15. Yahoo! Music User -
I'm kidding, Nickelback sucks!!! I was being sarcastic! LOL

16. Yahoo! Music User -
Just in case some of you didn't realize!

17. Yahoo! Music User -
Go Russel, you rock!

18. compassn -
How petty.
I think someone has an ego he just can't handle eh Rus?
I think I'll skip the Juno's.The idea of watching Russel Peters use the show as his personal bathroom wall just doesn't appeal to me.
To have Peters host the show AGAIN? He admits he doesn't care for Canadian music or musicians etc.....could they not find anyone else? I guess all the GOOD Canadian comedians were busy.
Oh well...I guess if your stuck having to watch Canadian TV you'd do anything in hopes of getting a laugh.
Sooooo typically Canadian.

19. Yahoo! Music User -
PASSIVE CANADIANS AS ALWAYS!!!!!I didn't watch the Juno's last year and I am not too familiar with Peter Russell.....but did this article say he knows nothing about Canadian Music???? And pretty much make fun at everyone???? It would be a little legit, if he knew something.... Does being Canadian mean ANYTHING to any of YOU????? Or as always should we just sit back on our passive little a*#es as we always do and laugh along with this guy....YEAH!!! We totally should because we couldn't fight if we tried, right?....yes, yes, yes, I know......lets once again let someone who speaks mostly negative towards Canadians do his thang.....He is so efen cool......and we all want to cool and fit in with that crowd, don't we?..... COME ON CANADIANS STEP UP TO THE PLATE, HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AND REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL!!!!!!

20. Exorcist -
Haha....personal bathroom...I like that!!!
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