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.