Russell Peters defends Pam Anderson as Virgin Mary

The Canadian comedian says he didn't have to try hard to convince his mother to be part of his Christmas special. He also explains how he chose Pamela Anderson to play the Virgin Mary, and why he decided to play Joseph as a 'Guido.'

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Russell Peters and Pamela Anderson are seen in a scene from 'It's a Russell Peters Christmas.'

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CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Mon. Nov. 21 2011 10:33 AM ET

Canadian funnyman Russell Peters is defending his choice of Pamela Anderson to play the Virgin Mary in his upcoming Christmas special, saying "come on, give the chick a break already."

Peters said Anderson was a perfect choice for a role in "A Russell Peters Christmas Special," which he described as an irreverent 1970s-style variety show.

"We had written the sketch and we didn't know who we were putting in it and we thought hey Pam Anderson is Canadian, we can use more Canadian people in this show," Peters told CTV News Channel.

"I didn't even think of the other side of Pam Anderson which is so long ago, it's like come on, give the chick a break already."

Anderson first rose to fame with her role as the buxom lifeguard C.J. Parker on Baywatch. She later achieved infamy with her on-again, off-again marriage to Tommy Lee, two leaked sex tapes and a stint as a Playboy Playmate.

Anderson will play Mary opposite Peters as Joseph. The show will also include a performance by Michael Buble, who will sing while surrounded by dancing lingerie models, and sketches by Jon Lovitz and Love Boat star Ted Lange.

News of Anderson's casting inspired cheeky headlines around the world such as "Pammy's a born again virgin" in Australia's Herald Sun.

But not surprisingly some Christian publications bristled at the announcement.

Tom Nalesnik, a pastor and contributor to the Boston Liberal Christian Examiner, wondered about the tone Peters would take in the sketch.

"The question is, will Russell Peters be doing his comedic send-up of Christmas in a positive way, or is he simply going for cheap laughs, in order to deride and mock the Christmas story? If his intent is to put down the faith, then that is certainly unfair and uncalled for, and worthy of outrage," Nalesnik wrote.

Peter said the show will be somewhat "irreverent" but said "there's nothing unholy about it" and suggested viewers should tune in ready for a lighthearted but fun evening.

"It's like watching a show from the 1970s where it was a little more irreverent and it was more about having a good time and seeing a bunch of funny friends hanging out and being goofballs."

A Russell Peters Christmas Special will air on CTV on Dec. 1 and on the Comedy Network on Dec. 10.

Comments are now closed for this story

Jenna
said

It's called Satire people! It's meant to be ironic. Wow...we really need to educate Canadians better if they can't see the humour in this!

beetlebaum
said

"I know the left wing fools in their atheistic claims..."you do know jesus was a socialist, right?

Mike
said

Epic fail !

leftwingpinko
said

"Those of us who believe in the Christmas story already have to endure the "Holiday" tree, lack of Christmas programs in our elementary schools, etc etc."oh poor you. has it occurred to you that you can just not watch?

joe canada
said

funny my last name is clark. lol And I do know magdalene was jesus's wife and so called virgin mary was his mother. just some dry humour.

flynnger
said

Hey, Jesus was a fictional character anyway, so what's the problem. No documentation or real evidence at the supposed time of his birth to back it up, only the Gospels that appeared about 75 years later! It is a nice celebration for us though!

Howard in Brampton
said

How ironic that Russel Peters has brought the hypocrisy of the "holier than thou" religious believers to the reader's attention. If Pamela Anderson playing the virgin Mary seems to provoke outrage with Christian believer's moral sensitivities, their outrage seems to me to be incongruent with their own beliefs in the forgiveness of Christ. This self contradiction renders the protestations of the proponents of religious moral correctness rationally indefensible. Surrendering an otherwise free and able mind to the shackles of political,cultural or religious ideologies is to me, more of a moral outrage than Ms. Anderson's portrayal of a fictional character.

Paul
said

She's too old. Mary was probably closer to 16 or 17. But they will probably be scripturally inaccurate about everything else (Jesus was born in March, the wise men never got there till 2 years later etc etc) so I guess it is a moot point.

Jim - North Saanich, BC
said

Why am I not surprised? We live in an age of the lowest common denominator and Mr. Peters is catering to it. Taste, respect and common decency are no longer extant and Mr. Peters, like many others, is simply seeking commercial success and profiting from it. A sad commentary on our society isn't it?

Bill in Calgary
said

I absolutely love the idea of Pam Anderson being Mother Mary for this 'comedic' satire comedy show. All you whiners out there complaining your weeee little eyes out can simply tune out that evening and go read your bible or plan your next campaign to rally against whatever it is you next feel that is insulting to the masses. hahahha cry cry cry cry

Rick W in BC
said

Leave it to some religious wingnut from the USA to make a mountain out of a molehill. There have been lots of comedy sketches done about Christmas in the past and there will be many more. If we really don't like it we will change the channel. Besides does it really matter who plays what character or does this have more to do with both main characters being played by Canadians?

Ted
said

She is soooo far from depicting the Virgin Mary, it's an insult to Christian faith. Unless of course they are filiming a Christmas Porn.

Anne
said

i think that it is totally unnecessary to create an "irreverant" comedy sketch about something so central to Christmas and the Christian faith. Those of us who believe in the Christmas story already have to endure the "Holiday" tree, lack of Christmas programs in our elementary schools, etc etc. Leave our central faith story alone and above mockery. Russell Peters has gone way down in my opinion as a comedian.

Oh My
said

Not even going to get into the overall debate here, but @Joe Canada: Perhaps you aren't aware but there is a HUGE difference between Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. Totally different people who just happened to have the same name. Kind of like equating Joe Canada with Joe Clark :-)

kg1
said

To Thomas: Why you are tyring to politicize this....left wing vs right wing? not sure what point you are trying to make..how about good taste vs bad taste...this is truly in bad taste but hey thats my opinion and no politics involved in that

bernice
said

looking forward to the show. i will be watching

Gaunilon
said

I don't care who he gets to play the Virgin Mary, as long as she plays the role with respect. A little irreverent humor is fine, but if the plan is to mock Christianity in general and Mary in particular by riffing on the pornstar element then Houston, we have a serious problem. What would actually be really funny, in a sad sort of way, is if some Canadian Muslims (many of whom also hold considerable reverence for Mary) begin to protest ever so slightly, and either the production company or the local Hate Crimes kangaroo court cancels the deal.

Hamish
said

Wow I can only assume that all the judgemental hypocrites are religious. Somehow i think you missed the point of all those weekly sermons.

KyleB65
said

Thanks for the heads-up. I will be looking for this show to watch. Russell Peters is a very funny guy and I think that the casting of Ms. Anderson is great! Remember people, if it is not offensive to someone, it is probably not funny! :-)

CR
said

LOVES IT! I'm so tuning in...!

DenS
said

Success and money getting to Russell's head. Another cheap humour production that the brain washed masses will laugh at.

Thomas
said

This is disgusting! I know the left wing fools in their atheistic claims do not have any spirit and lack identifying with something so sacred to millions and millions of Christians (or at the least denominations who want to call them selves such) but, to make a joke of it is just NASTY! I bet you if this was islam and others were doing the same towards it, every left wing nut in the country would be up in arms. Something extremely wrong with the left folks and we need to start doing something about it. These media, TV and movie outfits are filled with and sick with left wing thinking. This is just another example of how ill they are with it.

Lisa
said

I'm no fan of Pam Anderson, but I'm guessing she needs the work.

joe canada
said

Some historians believe Mary Magdalene worked in the oldest profession, so Pamala Anderson might not be such a stretch to play the role.

Original Canadien
said

Pam's past and present is irrelevant (I'm am not a Peta fan by any measure). However, her acting ability is very relevant. She is a mediocre actress at best. THere are far more talented actresses that would portrait the King's mother better than Pam can on her best day. No offence Pam but getting the job based on who you are and not your skill is like hiring a kid out of university over a 20 year veteran of the job. That's just wrong.

Syl
said

Pam will have to be an very good actress to pull this off!!!

John Lethbridge
said

From Playboy and Baywatch to the mother of Jesus? I WON'T be tuning in. What a pathetic disgrace and insult. I am not opposed to forgiveness for Ms Anderson, I am opposed to the story of Jesus turned into mockery and cheap side-show. There is nothing 'light-hearted' about a young girl giving birth and being relegated to a barn to do so because nobody cared. There is nothing light-hearted about the Son of God caring so much about mankind that he would leave his heavenly throne to be humiliated, pummelled, ridiculed, beaten and crucified, in addition to bearing the wrath of God, by those he came to provide reconciliation with God. Not quite comedy material.

raj
said

Cheap laughs, thats all this is If this were Mohamed and a danish cartoon, we would all be in trouble, oh, we were.I wont be watching , peters isnt that funny, &Anderson is an ageless fake

island girl
said

This man probably doesn't remember the 1970's. Those variety shows were funny. Carol Burnett was funny. Thanks for giving me the heads up on a show that, by the description of those responsible, would not be funny.