When Pierre Berton almost lost his fingers on live TV

Live TV and a kitchen appliance were to blame

Pierre Berton is a legend. He is a major reason that I love Canadian history. His books helped ignite in me a passion for history that continues to this day.

He is known to generations of Canadians for his books, his reporting and his many, many television appearances including on Front Page Challenge.

One day on CBC’s 90 Minutes Live, host Peter Gzowski, a legend in his own right, had comedian David Steinberg and Pierre Berton on as guests.

During one segment, Berton was showing off the Cuisinart, a kitchen appliance that would chop and dice items for recipes.

While slicing up some potatoes, Berton tried to stop the blade and, for some reason, used his hand to do it.

The result?

Two of his fingers were sliced wide open.

Always the professional, he said:

“Now, you see, that is what you shouldn’t do. Is there a doctor in the house?”

Berton continued with the demonstration of the device’s ability to cut potatoes but Gzowski became nervous at the amount of blood that was pouring out of Berton’s gingers.

Comedian Steinberg, seeing the blood said:

“I think I’ll pass on eating those potatoes, thanks.”

It was a good attempt to keep things light, after he suggested that Berton get someone to look at his wound backstage.

Gzowski quickly went to commercial.

The next night, Berton was back on the show, this time with his fingers heavily bandaged.

He then went on to show the device once more, this time without cutting any fingers open.