Can you tell us a little bit about the experience of partnering with Netflix and what you are hoping for from the deal? (This week, the streaming site debuted Peters’ Notorious, its first original standup show, as well as a four-part, behind-the-scenes documentary.)
I’ve licensed all of my specials to Netflix, from Outsourced to Red, White and Brown and The Green Card Tour. Netflix has opened me up to new fans who didn’t know me from either the original broadcast on television or from YouTube. I liked the idea of working outside the system again. What some people don’t realise is that I’ve been working independently since the beginning. I’ve been self-financing and doing my own distribution for the past eight years. I’ve partnered with Warner Brothers and Comedy Central, but it’s always been my money. Netflix is working outside the system and I really liked that about them. I’m happy with my new special, Notorious, and the documentary series lets the fans see me in a lot of different ways – with my daughter, playing arenas, playing small clubs, hanging out with my DJs and with my mom and my brother.
When you first started (before you became rich and famous) your humour appealed to the common man. While the common man still loves you, how has your approach to stand-up changed now that you are breathing slightly more rarefied air?
I am the common man. My mom worked in a Kmart cafeteria and my dad was a meat inspector. I was flat broke as recently as 2004. I haven’t forgotten that. I still hang out with the same guys I’ve always hung out with. It’s my job to stay connected and to pay attention to the world around me.
Which cultural stereotype do you enjoy highlighting the most and why?
There’s so many, it’s hard to say. I really like to know what I’m talking about when I talk about a group of people. And I’ll only talk about them if they’re in the room.
My favourite thing is when I talk about a stereotype and then right there in the front row is somebody who embodies that stereotype. I love that.
Is there anything you can do on stage in this region that you wouldn’t be able to get away with in North America? And vice versa?
Nope. My act is the same globally. People think that I do different material when I travel, but my fans want my real act. They don’t want me to change.
Can you describe the volume and types of hate mail you receive from people who don’t get your brand of comedy?
Comedy is subjective. There are always people who like you and don’t like you. You can’t worry about it. I know that there are comics in the States and Canada who don’t get what I do. I know that there are people in Hollywood who don’t get what I do.
If you’ve never dealt with different cultures or faced racism or maybe you don’t come from an immigrant family, you may not get my material. I do what I do and that’s what my fans respond to.
How do you make your daughter laugh?
I don’t think my daughter actually knows what my real voice sounds like, because I always talk to her in this high-pitched excited voice that makes her laugh. Mind you, she makes me laugh more than I make her laugh. She’s hilarious and the funny thing is, I think she knows that she’s funny. She has that twinkle in her eye when she says or does something funny that I recognise all too well.
Any thoughts on the growth in Canadian culture catching on here in the desert? (First it was Tim Hortons, now Dubai has a Canadian deli and a French-Canadian restaurant … no telling what’s next!)
You never know with us Canadians. We’re much more low-key than the Americans so we kind of sneak up on you. Next thing you know, the national sport of Abu Dhabi will be ice hockey.
• Russell Peters will perform at the du Arena, Yas Island, on Wednesday. Tickets cost Dh250 for General Admission, Dh350 for Reserve, Dh450 for Gold, Dh550 for Platinum and Dh650 for Diamond categories at www.ticketmaster.ae, and are also available at select Virgin Megastore outlets across the UAE
artslife@thenational.ae
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Company profile
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Omar Abu Innab, Silvia Eldawi, Walid Shihabi
Based: Dubai
Sector: PropTech / investment
Employees: 40
Stage: Seed
Investors: Multiple
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Company profile
Company: Wafeq
Started: January 2019
Founder: Nadim Alameddine
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: software as a service
Funds raised: $3 million
Investors: Raed Ventures and Wamda, among others
Blonde
Director: Andrew Dominik
Stars: Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale
Rating: 3/5
Tour de France Stage 16:
165km run from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère
The five pillars of Islam
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')
Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')
Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
ANDROID VERSION NAMES, IN ORDER
Android Alpha
Android Beta
Android Cupcake
Android Donut
Android Eclair
Android Froyo
Android Gingerbread
Android Honeycomb
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Android Jelly Bean
Android KitKat
Android Lollipop
Android Marshmallow
Android Nougat
Android Oreo
Android Pie
Android 10 (Quince Tart*)
Android 11 (Red Velvet Cake*)
Android 12 (Snow Cone*)
Android 13 (Tiramisu*)
Android 14 (Upside Down Cake*)
Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream*)
* internal codenames
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order