TORONTO - Standup superstar Russell Peters says everyone will be a comedy target when he hosts the Gemini Awards on Wednesday, as homegrown celebs including Jason Priestley, Catherine O'Hara, Alan Thicke, Hugh Dillon and Nicole Appleton gather to celebrate the best in Canadian television.
The veteran funnyman promises well-aimed barbs at Canada's most famous small-screen faces, adding he isn't worried about hurting fragile egos.
"Actors have no sense of humour to begin with," says Peters, whose own burgeoning acting resume includes upcoming roles in the hockey film "Breakaway" and Garry Marshall's sprawling ensemble "New Year's Eve."
"Generally, the better the actor the less personality they have. Thank God we don't have that many great actors in Canada."
"This should be a room full of personality, at least," he adds.
This year's Gemini bash features a strong comedy bent behind the scenes as well, with prankster Tom Green hosting a backstage party that will stream live online.
Green, who shot to fame in the late '90s with ridiculous stunts that included putting a cow's head on his parents' bed, says he'll be eyeing any opportunity to pull Priestley or CBC mainstay Rick Mercer into the webcast.
"I'm going to distract them with just a huge spread of amazing cheese," Green says of his tactics, also noting that the set-up will be similar in tone to his more recent claim to fame -- a laid-back Internet chat show beamed from his living room.
"I'm excited about it. It's going to be delicious."
The frivolity comes as Gemini organizers attempt to court a more substantial audience than in years past with a prime-time, mid-week bash positioned amid the fall TV season debuts.
The hour-long CBC broadcast will also be heavy on performances -- Jim Cuddy, City and Colour and Deborah Cox are scheduled to sing -- and will feature just seven marquee categories: best sports host or interviewer, best actor and actress in a comedy, best actor and actress in a drama, best drama and best comedy.
Priestley's HBO Canada sitcom "Call Me Fitz" leads the comedy nominees while CTV's "Flashpoint" leads the drama contenders.
The trimmed-down ceremony had Priestley questioning the real reason for the revamped party, noting it was "a three-hour show" when he helmed it in 2008. That Gemini spectacle plowed through 10 awards in an hour-long broadcast, plus eight more in a non-televised pre-show.
"Russell Peters. He won't do a three-hour show, that's why," joked Priestley of this year's broadcast. "It's in his contract."
The bulk of the awards were handed out last week at two non-televised industry galas.
"Fitz" came away with six trophies including prizes for best direction, best writing, best supporting actor and best supporting actress in a comedy.
The raunchy sitcom about an oversexed used car salesman stands to earn four more at Wednesday's bash. It began the race with 16 nominations.
"Call Me Fitz" faces competition for the best comedy crown from CBC's "22 Minutes," The Movie Network/Movie Central's "Good Dog," CBC's "Halifax Comedy Fest 2010," The Movie Network/Movie Central's "Living In Your Car" and CBC's "Rick Mercer Report."
Priestley says he was so eager to hear whether his racy series scored a Gemini nomination he got up early in Los Angeles to watch a webcast of the Toronto press conference Aug. 3.
And upon learning that "Fitz" had scored so many nods, he says the Nova Scotia-based production pushed back its schedule so that the cast and crew could head to Toronto to take part in the glitzy celebration.
"For our show to be recognized, and to be recognized across the board, not only for me and the rest of the cast ... it's just an incredible feeling for all of us," says Priestley, who also serves as a director and producer on "Fitz."
"Flashpoint" collected three trophies at an industry bash last week -- including best supporting actor, best guest actor and best dramatic writing. It initially led the race with 17 nominations.
It competes for two more prizes Wednesday, including best drama against Bravo's "The Borgias," the Showcase mystery "Endgame," The Movie Network/Movie Central's teen series "Skins" and CBC's sexy period serial, "The Tudors."
Other multiple nominees Wednesday include The Movie Network/Movie Central's "Living In Your Car," Global's "Shattered," APTN's "Blackstone," CBC's "18 to Life" and CBC's "Being Erica," which each compete for two trophies.
Before arriving in Toronto this week to prepare for the broadcast, Peters said from his home in Los Angeles that he accepted the hosting job after being promised a lot of latitude.
"They said I could do as much or as little as I'd like to do," said Peters, whose back-to-back hosting gigs at the Juno Awards in 2008 and 2009 featured swipes at Nickelback, Avril Lavigne, Steven Page and Celine Dion.
"And that worked for me."
The Geminis air Wednesday on CBC-TV.
