Yakov and Al Roker visit about Branson!

Yakov appears on the Today Show with Al Roker!

Christmas with Yakov, "What A Christmas!"

by Gary J. Groman for Branson Tourism Center, November 30th, 2009

“What a show!” It’s the celebration of Russian New Years and Christmas in one show as only Yakov can do it. The Yakov Smirnoff Christmas Show is a combination of his regular show with the addition of the celebration of the Russian New Year and Christmas. From its simple opening with Suzanne Wonderly singing the “Star Spangled Banner” and the celestial introduction of Yakov to its inspiring close, this show is a special Christmas gift of Yakov’s unique humor, great production, costuming, and dancing that is a wonderful Branson entertainment experience.

The majority of the first half of the show is composed of audience favorites from Yakov’s regular show. Yakov does a number of excellent and funny comedy routines that are built around themes and are introduced by full production numbers.

To paraphrase the words of Yakov himself, “You might not have thought about production numbers in a comedy show, but you will now.” The dancers, costuming, and music are excellent and choreographed into the show along with excellent sets. When combined with Yakov’s great comedy and his ability to relate so well with his audience the result is a unique “exciting quality entertainment experience.”

One personal highlight of the first half would be the “Russian to Redneck” segment combining great dancing along with Yakov’s humor as he transitions from a Russian to a Redneck. Another was the segment involving “President Yakov.”

The first half ends with the celebration of the Russian New Year which actually comes before the Russian religious celebration of Christmas on the actual date of January 7. And what a celebration it is, everyone participates, the audience, the Statute of Liberty and the Russian dancers. It’s an exciting and fun filled way to end the first half of the show.















The second half is all Christmas themed starting with toy soldiers, snowman, excellent dancing and a Frosty presentation of Yakov for an extremely funny stand up routine. Christmas is about giving love and Yakov about giving laughter. The two are combined as Yakov gives the audience the gift of his counsel on the sharing of love and laughter while on an entertaining tour of his Laboratory of Laughter.

There is even action on the high seas as Santa has to deal with pirates who have captured him and threaten Christmas. In a fun filled action segment Santa find the key that opens the treasure chest and saves Christmas.

The inspiring finale is filled with the spirit of Christmas. What a great ending to a wonderful Christmas entertainment experience.

Forgetting to light the dynamite!

by Brent Davis for the Benton Courier in Arkansas (Friday, 13 November 2009)

We are living in a politically correct world. It seems that we fight being labeled but at the same time use those labels when the opportunity presents itself to flail against the wind and decry victimhood. There are very few groups or people with the ability to laugh off the world and move forward.

But within our society, there remains one group of people still free to be picked upon and ridiculed and that is Southerners.

I have traveled to several other states in America as well as a handful of foreign countries and during those visits have found folks everywhere to be very kind and friendly to Southerners. One of these days I’ll tell you about my trip to Costa Rica. While flying into the jungle, the plane carrying my luggage crashed and burned at the airport. I spent the next five days wearing the same clothes. But we will save that for another time.
However, my most recent trip presented an opportunity to face down a common stereotype. I came face-to-face with the myth that Arkansans are ignorant hillbillies – in of all places but Branson, Mo.

I know what you are thinking. That’s like the pot calling the kettle black. I agree with you so let me tell you what happened and in the process make a short story, longer.

Each fall, my wife, son and I venture into the foothills of Missouri for a trip to Branson. We go there with our neighbors Tim & Sarita Davis and their son Taylor. We go to see the Christmas lights and start shopping for presents. We have been doing this for several years but in all those trips we had never set foot into one of the shows made famous by this town. This trip was different.

On Friday we decided to attend not one but two shows as bookends to shopping. The first show, Yakov Smirnoff, was at 9:00 a.m. The second was the Chinese Acrobats at 8:00 p.m. In between, Branson Landing would feel the full brunt of the Laura & Sarita “Shock & Awe” shopping tour. Since Tim could not attend this year (he had some lame excuse. Swine flu my rear) it became my job to be pack mule for the shopping tour and chauffeur for the shows. I didn’t mind. At least they let me keep the car keys.

You would think that an early morning comedy show might not be the best way to start your day. However, it was very good. Yakov Smirnoff has his own theater in Branson. He is a comic from Russia and has appeared in several motion pictures alongside actors such as Robin Williams and Tom Hanks.

We arrived at his theater and once we passed the ten feet tall talking head of Yakov, we entered the theater and found our seats. The show began and it was funny right from the start.

At one point in his show, he came out on stage to talk about America and how great it is. He said that nowhere else in the world could a Russian and Japanese (Shoji Tabuchi) have their own theaters in a town like Branson. This drew a big laugh from the crowd but there was no faulting the logic of his statement.

He went on to describe what it was like living so close to the border with Arkansas. Here is where the mudslinging started. He said that there has long been a running feud between folks in Missouri and folks in Arkansas. He did some research and found out how it all got started. It seems that a long time ago, a man from Arkansas stood along the border between the two states and hurled a stick at a man from Missouri on the other side. The man from Missouri picked it up and threw it back at him. Next came a rock thrown at Missouri which was then picked up and thrown back at Arkansas. One thing led to another and pretty soon a stick of dynamite was thrown from the man in Arkansas. In retaliation, the man from Missouri picked up the stick of dynamite, lit it, and threw it back at Arkansas. After a brief moment of silence, the crowd erupted in laughter at the seemingly lack of intelligence of the man from Arkansas in the joke.

A little later on in his show, Yakov did a skit in which he was the president and was taking questions from the audience as if he were in a press conference. After answering the question about how he planned to lower the price of gasoline (to which he replied, “sell it by the quart”) I raised my hand. I didn’t know at the time that the other questioners had been planted in the audience.

The assistant came to me with the microphone and I stood to ask this question: “I listened to your remarks earlier and I have one question for you. Do you really think people from Arkansas are stupid?” At this point, I handed the microphone to the assistant and stood there, all 6 feet and 6 inches of me in my red Arkansas sweatshirt for all to see. The crowd said, “ooohhhhh”.

Then, as the audience quieted, Yakov responded “Did you just now get the joke?” The audience erupted in laughter. I stood speechless then sat down.

It seems I had forgotten to light the dynamite.

Brent Davis is a lifelong resident of Benton and Saline County. The Courier has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. He is a graduate of Benton High School. His column typically appears on Fridays.

Yakov Keeps Us Laughing - On stage and on the page.

by Linda Burlingame

I gave Yakov’s Smirnoff for the Soul as a Christmas gift and read again some of the funniest and most touching passages. The book is like Yakov’s show, at once funny, and then it turns on a dime and tugs at your heartstrings. The book is a great “read” and I recommend it.

I recommend his show, too … hilariously funny,great production numbers, and poignant tales of his life in Russia and heartwarming stories of his life in America.

The show is great fun. I loved the snazzy, tophatted angels in Yakov’s Creation number, and he has interesting conversations with God! Yakov keeps things current with news briefs; and “President Yakov” is beyond funny. Yakov’s great lines draw laughter, then a second
surge of laughter when he adds, “I bet you never thought of it like that!” He finishes with, “I bet you will now!” Even his trademark, infectious laugh causes waves of laughter.

Yakov is funny just doing standup. “Only in America does the pizza arrive faster than the
ambulance.” His account of coming to America is touching, and laced with humor. When he adds
production qualities like “Secret Service” personnel and their scooters, Russian dancers, swashbucklers, a “Lady Liberty” that comes to life, a rocky mountain (Smirnoff on the rocks!) … It’s certainly “added value!”

The Russian dancers are astounding, from their high-energy native dances to a high-kicking
hoedown. Yakov gets in on all the action, even singing the song he wrote, From Red to Redneck. He also tells us that moving to Branson from Los Angeles was harder than from Russia to the United States! His English is very good. He tells us he learned from Shoji, who learned from Mel Tillis.

It wasn’t easy coming to America. Yakov and his parents were fired from their jobs when they applied for visas to go to the US. His dad was an inventor, and for the next two years, “We lived on what my dad could make from his inventions.”

When he was in Los Angeles he did his time at the Comedy Store, along with comedians David
Letterman, Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld. I’m glad he “saw the light” and came to Branson!

During the Christmas show it’s more great fun, with the Grinch and soldiers; and the snowman had everyone roaring with laughter. An evil plot to capture Santa Claus is thwarted. However, Yakov’s comments and stories about what we can do during the Christmas season … well, you just have to see it.

It was probably the most moving and meaningful Christmas show I saw.

Yakov always seems to have a new project or event. In 2006 he received a Masters Degree in
Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He teaches classes and hosts seminars.

He did a teleconference with an astronaut on the International Space Station, of course, joking about the Russians on board eating “American freeze-dried barbecue ribs!”
Yakov still enjoys painting. His beloved “Lady Liberty” is one of his favorite subjects, as are his two children. Yakov enjoys traveling with them and they all love time on the lake here in Branson.

Yakov’s perceptions, observations and insights into relationships, often those between men and women, are funny yet wise. Finding happiness inside ourselves and realizing laughter really is the best medicine is what we can learn from this great entertainer.
In the show Yakov remarks that if you move to

Italy, “you can’t become an Italian.” If you move to France, you can’t become “a Frenchman.” But when you move to the United States, “you can become an American.” Yakov is proud to be an American, and when I see his show, I’m always a little prouder, too.

Don’t miss this great show. Find out more about it (and the book!) at Yakov.com.