NEW YORK – Colin Hanks goes for laughs each week on the CBS comedy “Life in Pieces,” but his next project is one of terror, survival and hope.

Hanks, 38, is the director of a documentary on the American band Eagles of Death Metal. A terror attack in 2015 during the band’s concert in Paris killed 89 people. “Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends)” is set to air on HBO in February.

“The doc space is one that I really enjoy. It’s fun, it’s a really creative outlet for me,” Hanks said in a recent interview. He directed a film about music retailer Tower Records and has made a number of online short documentaries.

“Life in Pieces,” now in its second season (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. Eastern), follows a large family. Hanks plays Greg, who’s starting a family.

The actor, who has two daughters, says he can relate to his character’s life. “I think as a parent you’re constantly just going, ‘Great, we haven’t lost the kid. This is important,’” he said with a laugh.

“There are some days when you just go, ‘OK, could’ve done better at the parenting thing today.’ That’s just all part of it. You just realize it’s an ever-growing process and you’re just constantly playing catch-up.”

Hanks jokes that he’s constantly amazed that he’s responsible for two lives. But the idea of owning houseplants makes him nervous because it’s “too much of a commitment.”

He says being a father makes him appreciate his parents. (His father is two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks.)

“Pretty much as soon as you have kids you call up your parents and you just go, ‘Sorry. Really sorry about all that.’ And they go, ‘Yeah.’ And you find out that that’s a club as old as the illuminati.”

Online:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/life-in-pieces/