Comic Shaun Majumder says his Indian heritage hasn’t limited him at all in Hollywood.
“Not really, no. Well, you do get called in to play a lot of Indian doctors,” says Majumder in a call from Los Angeles, where’s he’s lived, off and on, for the last decade.
The “Indian doctor” likely refers to last year’s turn as Freddy on the Farrelly Brothers’ short-lived Fox series Unhitched.
More infamous was his 2007 appearance as a middle-eastern terrorist on 24 in which the Newfoundland-born Majumder got to nuke California.
24 has never recovered from that explosive “high point” with its audience.
“That’s what I heard. Happy to deliver,” jokes Majumder, who says for the most part, the roles he tries out for in Hollywood are wide-ranging.
“I did just do a pilot for ABC recently where I played just a single dad. Didn’t get picked up though. But you go where the work is.
“And I got to say, there’s no place I’d rather be in February than here.”
July in Canada is just fine, however. Majumder is scheduled to host Toronto’s Just for Laughs Festival’s Ethnic Comedy Show — which runs Friday and Saturday at the Winter Garden Theater.
Performers include Godfrey, Daniel Kinno and Steve Byrne. Majumder doesn’t feel the title “ethnic comedy show” should restrict its audience.
“Just the opposite now. We’re all shapes, sizes, breeds and species in Canada. Well, maybe not Alberta. No. That’s not true either now. Sorry Alberta.”
Majumder also recently appeared with Tiger Woods and NBA great Charles Barkley at a golf charity event in Nova Scotia, where he witnessed Barkley’s legendary bad golf swing.
“He’s got a real good swing on the practice range, but on the course he’s got a real hiccup. It’s ugly. It’s a real mental thing.
In the fall, Majumder is looking forward to another season of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, where he’s been a cast regular since 2003.
His sweaty reporter Raj Binder remains one of the show’s most-loved bits.
“I really feel like I walked into an institution there,” he says.
“Ten years from now, the show will still be running with another entirely different cast.”
Tickets for the Toronto Just For Laughs Ethnic Comedy Show are on sale now. Details are available at www.hahaha.com/toronto.
Just for Laughs
The Toronto Just for Laughs Festival runs until Sunday at venues around the city. For full details visit www.hahaha.com. Here’s a glance at what’s on:
Today
• The Canadian Masters, Absolute Comedy, 8:30 p.m.
• John Lequizamo Live, Berkeley Street Theatre, 8 p.m.
• The Danny Bhoy Show, St. Lawrence Centre, 7 p.m.
• Jon Dore Show, The Rivoli, 8 p.m.
• John Caparulo and Jimmy Carr, Yuk Yuk’s, 8 p.m.
Tomorrow
• The Canadian Masters, Absolute Comedy, 8:30 p.m.
• John Lequizamo Live, Berkeley Street Theatre, 8 p.m.
• The Danny Bhoy Show, St. Lawrence Centre, 7 p.m.
• All-Star Galas, Massey Hall, 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
• Jon Dore Show, The Rivoli, 8 p.m.
• Bo Burham, French Comedy Bastards and a sketch show, Second City, 7 p.m. and onward.
• Colin and Brad, St. Lawrence Centre, 7:30 p.m.
• Todd Glass and Steve Byrne, Yuk Yuk’s, 8 p.m.
