As a young boy, which cartoon character did you have a crush on?

Cartoon character crush? Hmmmm that would be a toss-up between Penelope Pitstop and Melody from Josie and the Pussycats. In a pinch it would have to be Melody because she was so funny. Now, live action? Hands down Batgirl. I had such a thing for her when I was six or so, that I went dressed as Batgirl for Halloween. Looking back on that, yeah it's embarrassing that I was so in love with her I wanted to be her. But it was also kind of great that nobody made feel like I was a weirdo. Not my friends or my Mom or even my Dad for that matter, and this was back in the early seventies.

You share your name with Peter Gardner Ostrum, star of the orginial Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Is there anything you share with the character Charlie?

To be honest I was never a big fan. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the other hand is much more relevent to this discussion. The dad Caractacus Potts (played by Dick Van Dyke in the film) was the dad I most wanted to be like and in some ways have become. Caractacus was funny, loved his kids to a fault and would do what ever he could to make them happy. Since he didn't have much money he would use the things he found around him to create these wonderful inventions. By definition he was an improviser for sure. Constantly trying something new and adapting new ways to do them was the essence of this character and come to think of it that's always been our family motto "Try new things".

How has being an improviser helped you as a parent?

Well, listening, being playful and adapting which are all improv skills are a huge help. Especially with little kids who get fussy at dinner. You start off by giving them your complete attention and really listening to what they are upset about. Nine times out of ten they will calm down when they realize they are being heard (just like we all do). Now that they are in a sort of neutral zone, see if you can get them to laugh, a funny noise, a goofy face and talking in a strange voice goes a long way. In less than a minute or two we're having fun and we're all on the same page as well. Here's comes the tricky part, you have to adapt your approach. If you want them eat their beans or go to bed or whatever, you have to build on the good faith you have created. So instead of going back to telling them to do it, the game continues and transforms into doing the task (eating the beans). Believe it or not this takes a lot less energy than making them bend to your will or negotiating with them to get your way.

What is your overall philosophy on parenting?

My overall philosophy on parenting would be a couple of things actually. Number one parenting is a team sport, Mom and Dad always have each others back no matter what. Some times we have to play our roles whether we like it or not. What I mean by that is, for example I like to think of myself as a fun dad but if somebody disrespects mom I know it's my job to break out the "dad voice" and deliver a fatherly classic such as " What Did You Just Say?". Now for parents with little kids this tool is unnecessary but as they get to be teens and they start to push boundaries it works like a charm.
As for teaching them how to behave you have to be prepared to be the model in your day to day life, because like it or not that's where they learn it all from, watching you.
Finally, parenting is hard work. Your mission should you decide to accept it is to send good people into this crazy world of ours, who will hopefully be helpful to others and might be around long after your gone. Nothing you do in life, will be more important.

Fill in the blank:

If my kids see the video of the time I had to ___________ they will never stop making fun of me.

If my kids see the video of the time I had to wear a giant turkey costume as the stove top turkey or as a goofy scarecrow or as a giant purple vitamin A they will never stop making fun of me.
Fact is, it's already happened and I'm sure it will continue.

I want to be my wife for one day just so I could ___________________.

I want to be my wife for one day just so I could trust strangers completely the moment I meet them.

If you could outsource any aspect of parenting, what would it be?

It would be worry. When your seventeen year old son pulls the car keys off the rack and says "I'm going out", at night, in Los Angeles. You'll know what I'm talking about.

What would be your dream role?

I'm not sure about what role, but I could tell you my dream job. That would be working on a TV show with a great ensemble cast, where the work day would end at 6pm so I could make it home in time for dinner.