LE:

Most people know your special brand of comedy and that it embraces unique influxes of racial humour directed at stereotypes.  How did it come about that you got on board with Tom Werner (Carsey-Werner) and his new associates Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold who are set up at Warner Bros. Television?

Russell:

I don’t actually know how it came together – we have theories on how it came together.  A lady named Kathleen Litery (sp) came to one of my shows at the Laugh Factory in June and she became a fan.  She was having lunch with Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold and she mentioned my name.  They did some investigation and found out that Jimmy Miller’s son, who’s 13, was already a fan.  Basically, that sealed the deal I think. 

Jim Carrey’s people are the ones producing my show. Jimmy Miller and Eric Gold are Jim Carrey’s managers as well as Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell.  They are the elite of the elite as far as managers go. 

LE:

What exactly is a talent development deal in the U.S.? 

Russell:

They are going to develop a sitcom around me, for me.  I am story editing and creative consulting. 

LE:

What can we look forward to, based on a current format?  I saw a reference to Ray Romano.

Russell:

No, that’s the way we thought it was going to go initially.  We’re not doing a family-based sitcom, we’re doing a workplace sitcom.  It’s not an office though.  It’s more of a relaxed work atmosphere. 

LE:

What’s the most exciting aspect of the deal for you? 

Russell:

I’m sure casting is going to be even more fun because they’re going to build a really solid cast around me. 

LE:

Do they have ideas as to who they’re going to cast or can you say?

Russell:

Well, they’ve dropped some names and I was quite impressed with the names they dropped. 

LE:

Who are some of the people that you’ll be working with behind the scenes? 

Russell:

My writer as it stands right now is Tom Brady – he was a writer on The Simpsons, he wrote The Hot Chick and The Animal.  He also used to write on Home Improvement.

LE:

And that’s right up your alley as far as to the style of your comedy.  What about the timing of this?

Russell:

Well, it’s been 16 years in the making really.  It’s multi-ethnic, multicultural.  It will be very much styled around my act.  So, there will be no apologies.

LE:

That’s how Ray Romano got started – Everybody Loves Raymond was based on his stand-up.

Russell:

Mine will have a little bit more of an edge to it.  (laughs)

LE:

Does this new deal mean that you’ll be touring less and living between Toronto and LA? 

Russell:

I think as soon as we get the first pilot episode written, then the touring will have to stop for a minute.  When I can tour, I will.  

LE:

Speaking of the tour, where will you be after the Canadian tour?

Russell:

I’m between the two, I’m here, I’m there (U.S.).  The Canadian tour is the Canadian tour but then we’re doing other U.S. dates as well. 

I’m doing the HBO Vegas Comedy Festival in November.  It’s the first year for it – (Jerry) Seinfeld will be there, (Dave) Chappelle will be there, I’ll be there, Ricky Gervais will be there from The Office. 

LE:

Are you weirded out by all this?

Russell:

No, you know why I’m not?  Because when I show up at these events, nobody really fawns over me because all these other guys are there.  So, it’s kind of cool because I still get to be the fly on the wall. 

LE:

So, the plan is to become a comedic superstar – who’s your favourite comedic superstar? 

Russell:

I don’t want to say that’s the plan, but I guess it is the plan.  I mean, George Carlin is the guy I always liked.  But, you know, he could walk through a mall and not everyone would know who he is.  I mean, I think he’s a brilliant comic.  All the old school cats I really dug – that’s why I got into it. 

LE:

What pieces of advice do you give someone who wants to become a comedian? 

Russell:

Don’t steal material.  It’s like wearing another man’s underwear – why would you do that?  I’ll give you the same advice that George Carlin gave me – get on stage as much as possible, no matter what.  The more you get on stage, the better you get, the more it helps.  And if you bomb, that’s not a bad thing.  Bombing’s good for you because it shows you how you don’t want to feel. 

LE:

Other than George Carlin, who are some of your other influences - not just in comedy but also musicians, etc. 

Russell:

I’m a hip hop junkie.  I’ve been listening to the music for over 20 years.  That’s very much shaped who I am, and the way I think, how I look at things and how I dress, how I carry myself.

LE:

Canadian artists, who’s your favourite on the urban scene?

Russell:

Kardinal, Saukrates – those guys are really talented.  Kardinal’s got some really hot songs and Saukrates is an all-round artist, as far as producer, musician, artist, rapper, singer.  And kos as well.  I mean, all these guys, they all really do their thing and they don’t really try to do the U.S. thing – they’re trying to do their own thing.  I think that’s the key to success – when you do ‘you’. 

LE:

Yes exactly, and I think this is the reason why this break has come for you.  You’ve got a unique brand of comedy with a global appeal.  We have a very  unique experience here in Canada.  What’s been one of the highlights of your career?

Russell:

Headlining the world famous Apollo Theatre in April.  That was a real buzz.  I sold it out and I tell you something, I was so in the zone, and the show went so well, I really didn’t want to get off the stage that night.  I did exactly one hour but I really wanted to stay.  It was the fact that it was the Apollo, 1,500 (sold out) seats, but it was the Apollo.  Everybody’s performed there.  I mean, considering that I grew up listening to Black music, every Black artist has performed there.  So, I felt like I was in the shadow of greatness the whole night. 

LE:

How is your (Indian) community embracing your success?

Russell:

My community right now is at the height of my support – they’re right there with me and I couldn’t be more happy about that.  There’s nothing better than getting accepted by your own people.  It’s better when other people accept you too - it makes it all the more sweeter.

LE:

In your travels, what country stood out the most to you?

Russell:

South Africa always.  I love it – it’s beautiful, it’s hot. Durban, specifically.  The culture - everything, it’s really cool over there – they’ve got the Indian Ocean right there. 

LE:

What’s in your CD player right now?

Russell:

I got this really dope mixed tape from LA, it’s called Jon Moskowitz Presents Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy.  Some guy took Frank Sinatra songs and mixed Biggie over it.  It’s ridiculous!  The Little Brother album is also very good – a solid album.

LE:

If you could work with any artist (living or past), who would they be?

Russell:

I would like to look out for my brown brothers and do something with Ben Kingsley or Engelbert Humperdinck – those are both my brown brothers.

LE:

What do you want people to remember you for? 

Russell:

Being first.  Trailblazing.  I didn’t set out to become that but when you find out that you are that, it’s even cooler to know.  There were other Indian guys that may have tried it before me, but then I found one guy was Trinidadian posing as an Indian, one guy was Iranian posing as an Indian.  I’m the real deal baby!  (laughs) So, it’s really cool that I’m the first.  And like Grandmaster Flash said - it doesn’t matter who comes after me or who’s better than me, the fact of the matter is that I was the first.