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 In this Sept. 16, 2012 file photo, comedian George Lopez hosts the ALMA Awards in Pasadena, Calif.
In this Sept. 16, 2012 file photo, comedian George Lopez hosts the ALMA Awards in Pasadena, Calif.
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He’s been a sitcom star, a talk show host and a talking chihuahua. But now Inland fans have a chance to see comedian George Lopez going back to his stand-up roots.

The “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” star will be performing at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Saturday.

What Lopez finds funny are things that happen in everyday life.

“Like no kid can eat a peanut now is ridiculous to me,” he said. “I find that funny. Nobody poor is allergic to gluten. We’ll eat anything! We knew stuff is bad for us and we still ate it. We’d eat shrimp that was sitting in the sun half the day. You never thought this was sitting in the sun all day.”

Even with starring in films such as “Rio 2” and “The Smurfs” as well as television shows such as “Saint George,” Lopez still loves going out on tour.

“This one I’m trying to prepare another HBO special for next July,” he said. “In that is a lot of work. I try to write them as I’m working them. I always have to find time to carve out for the stand-up. It’s always great to find humor and challenge yourself to find new things and keep getting better.”

When it comes to comedy, Lopez named Richard Pyror, Freddie Prinze and Robin Williams as people he looked up to. And the recent passing of Williams made Lopez reflect about a lot of things.

“I knew Robin Williams pretty good,” he said. “When you see a guy like that and his career was amazing. It will stand the test of time. When things leave, whether they’re people or things, you have to appreciate them while you have them. Because everything leaves. Everything goes.”

And thinking that way has surprised a man who has made a career out of making people laugh.

“I never thought I’d talk like that,” Lopez said. “I can’t believe what I’m turning into. As you get older you appreciate more. I was riding with someone who said as I look at my career, I’m more toward the end than I am toward the middle. You really have to enjoy these times. You never know what the future holds.”

IF YOU GO

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio

Admission: $39-$99

Information: 800-827-2946, fantasyspringsresort.com

VOICE ACTING ROLES

Grouchy Smurf in “The Smurfs” and “The Smurfs 2.”

Rafael the toucan in “Rio” and “Rio 2.”

Papi the chihuahua in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!”

Carlos the cat in “Marmaduke.”

Thurman the alien from “Escape From Planet Earth.”

Contact the writer: 951-368-9342 or tguy@pe.com