RUSSIAN Reacts to Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff at Dangerfield (1984) *that was FUN*

[@DV80s]

Yakov was pretty popular in the '80s. I recalled he came out a few times in my favorite '80s TV series MacGyver. I've also seen him in some movies, like from back in the '80s in Richard Pryor's Bruster's Millions and I"m pretty sure I saw him in more recent films, but I can't recall which one.

[@Lucas6l5]

Irinia is literally the cutest thing on planet earth 😂 her facial expressions and smile is enough to brighten anyone's day, yet she is absolutely beautiful in all aspects

[@edprzydatek8398]

I believe that's the main reason guys watch her channel.

[@jargraroch3000]

@@edprzydatek8398 Yep, but that tattoo kills her beauty somewhat, but it ironically represents her personal freedom as this comedy video was predominantly about.

[@MrTech226]

Yakov has been doing good since leaving Russia. One of his early roles in TV was as Russian in a sitcom called Night Court. Yakov has been movies since he have arrived in USA. Recently, Yakov earned his doctorate in Psychology. He have taught classes at certain colleges. Since 1993, Yakov owns a theater in Branson, Missouri Yakov is now 72 years old.

[@Ryan713]

Yakov defected from the Soviet Union. He's Ukrainian and not Russian. For some reason in the '80s Americans referred to the USSR as Russia. I'm not sure why. This only added to the stereotype that Americans are terrible at geography.

[@johnmullens2857]

@@Ryan713 its because generally the Russan goverment was in charge.

[@AndreasConfirmed]

@@Ryan713 Yakov Smirnoff is not Ukrainian but Jewish. In that time usually only Jewish people were allowed to leave USSR for some reason. And USSR was based on the Russian Empire where Ukraine was nothing more than only a province, and not a nation or a state. So it's kind of understandable why people called USSR Russia. It were the communists who did a lot of stupide things, like naming provinces "Republics" in the constitution, which later lead to creation of new states after the end of USSR. Btw USA is also a union of "states", and there is a possibility in the future, should the US economy get really bad, some of the states could try to became independent. Maybe they will even start wars with each other, like Russia and Ukraine or Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's sounds really crazy, but if someone told the people of USSR what will happen in the future they would never believe it.

[@Ryan713]

@@AndreasConfirmed Look "Peters", you're taking things out of context. Whether Yakov Smirnoff is Jewish or not, no matter how rich or poor his heritage is, he was a beloved comedian in the '80s for a couple major reasons: for one he was hilarious, and for two Cold War tensions in the 1980s were very high, and the threat of nuclear war seemed imminent, especially to young people much the same way that young Americans feared terrorism in the 2000s. Yakov Smirnoff provided comic relief around an act centered on Soviet folly. At the time many Americans used "Russia" and "the Soviet Union" interchangeably, and there was a large minority of people who didn't know there was a difference between Russia and the Soviet Union perpetuating the stereotype that Americans are bad at geography. Today, you wouldn't say someone is Czechoslovakian, right? You would say they were Czech or Slovakian as the current geography dictates. Yakov Smirnoff was a great comic. His popularity waned when the times changed, but he was very popular at the time

[@schechter01]

72 years old...Jesus in a Cadillac, how time flies. I still remember Yakov Smirnoff from the late 80's. Hadn't thought about him since then, until this morning. Good lord, I'm getting old.

[@martianspy]

I remember hearing the insult "Your mother wears army/combat boots" often in the 70s and 80s. I don't think I've heard anyone use that phrase in 30 years.

[@marcusanark2541]

He's my favorite Russian comedian, also the only one I know 😂😂😂.

[@terrycarter1137]

i remember him from years ago, last i heard he has a place to do stand up in Branson,Missouri.

[@MarkAg47]

He is still doing small clubs. I just saw him do an act in Boca Raton last month.

[@camilletimlin4509]

I have had a couple experiences with Yakov. I grew up in Branson, Missouri, where he’s had a theater for years. Yakov spoke at my high school, and it was a nice experience. I’m kind of surprised he came, being a tiny school in the country. We had a graduating class of less than 100. The second experience was really unfortunate. My boyfriend and I were standing in line, for the presidential vote. This was years ago, somewhere around 2004 ish. The line was hours long, it was hot and exhausting. We finally got close enough to see the staff and voting booths. We noticed a very elderly couple, really struggling to continue standing and the wife visibly Ill. My boyfriend waved down staff and asked if they could pull the couple to the front, because they clearly couldn’t handle much more. They made them ask every single person in front of them if it was ok 🙄 (about 25 people) they finally get them through… a couple minutes later we hear a commotion from the far side of the room. Here comes Yakov, in his Armani suit, with security guards. They make their way through the 100s of people waiting in line. They whisper something to the staff, they vote and leave. To say the people in line were not amused, would be an understatement. There was definitely verbal disagreement and cursing. My boyfriend yelled something about, why the sick elderly couple had to ask permission after already waiting hours. Why the heck did Yakov get to just cut the whole line? We have seen him around town several other times as well. He’s always wearing his designer suits and driving his Ferrari. Branson is definitely a weird place. It gives knock off Vegas/Nashville. It’s where minor celebrities go to die 🫤 You get this small group of people that get to feel special and famous, in this run down tourist town. If anyone ever finds themselves there for vacation, the stuff worth seeing is outside city limits. Silver dollar city is the most incredible theme parks, with one of the coolest cave tours. Talking rock caverns is another great one. You can’t go wrong renting jet skis on table rock lake.

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

So basically it’s everything that Simpsons episode says it is. 😂 Also, sucks to hear he’s a huge asshole.

[@oobrocks]

Irina: do Rodney Dangerfield, 1 of America’s greatest comedians in history…he made a couple of good films too 🎉. Ps: I think New Freedom was a pads company

[@CoastalNomad]

Great Reaction...... "What a Country!!"........ Yakov was a guest on several TV Shows at the time.....

[@terrylandess6072]

I remember this from when it aired - this show had a LOT of acts that found work afterwards. I even have it stored digitally. Great clip.

[@MikeB-in1nd]

He was popular and really fun in the 80’s

[@donlebo6824]

"I love America!" "Here, you can always find a party!" In Russia, the party finds you!"

[@StephenAndrew777]

New freedom was a type of Kotex sanitary pad or tampon in the 80s, I believe.

[@robertstecher]

I grew up in Cleveland. Many comedians and comedy writers in TV in the 1950's through 1990's came from Cleveland. It is a bit of an American joke. in the 1960's the river was so polluted that it caught on fire... true.

[@jaycee330]

Hey, at least it's not Detroit.

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

They had no water to put out the fire. Local firemen "improvised". 😂

[@milesjergens9088]

I'm in Ohio. All good, except more snow today. Love your reactions, by the way! You always make me smile, thank you!

[@SurvivorBri]

You need to get yourself a girl, dude lol.

[@_Common_Logic_]

@@SurvivorBri Irina asked about Ohio in the video. You replied to a guy who didn't even ask... The real take here is that you need to get yourself a guy. 😉

[@RepresentativePress]

I always associate Yakov Smirnoff with the *Russian reversal joke* , he didn't do one in his video. An example of such a joke is: “In America, you watch TV. In Soviet Russia, TV watches you!” Often people just make fun of that joke format and say dumb things. There was a Family Guy episode where Peter Griffin shows his neighbor his car's navigation system and shows how you can select different options such as 'Spanish' and you hear Spanish words, he then selects ' Yakov Smirnoff ' and you hear Yakov Smirnoff saying “... In Soviet Russia, car drives you.”

[@3DJapan]

Yes I'm surprised he didn't do the Russian Reversal here.

[@jaycee330]

8:06 He owns his own theatre in Branston, Missouri. He doing very well. What a country!

[@KellyJK07]

I saw him 20 years ago..good guy

[@pauldutcher9105]

I remember him so well. He was all over the place for a while. Then he was in Moscow on the Hudson. He wasn't just funny but lovable

[@pauldutcher9105]

I wonder what you'd think of blazing saddles or Monty pythons holy grail.

[@jaycee330]

6:37 "New Freedom" was a Tampax (or maybe Kotex) brand of sanitary napkins (menstrual pads) back in the 1980s. "Stay Free" is another brand of pads (still sold today)

[@obryan240]

I remember him from Night Court. Pretty funny guy.

[@jamesmorozov5594]

I'm a Morozov born and raised in America and this man's comedy is so funny! I love Yakov Smirnoff. He had a small roll on the tv show Night Court.

[@KOnagaGaming]

Ur so cute ,u looks similar to Her Gaming... lots of love from India nagaland..

[@thomastimlin1724]

You would really like the old movie "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming?" from 1965. Russian submarine accidentally lands on American shore. It's a very funny comedy with a nice ending.

[@marcpower4167]

Just did some googling about Yakov, found this on wikipedia: "The Fall of Communism starting in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought an end to Smirnoff's widespread popularity, although he continued to perform. In 1993, he began performing year round at his own theater in Branson, Missouri. He occasionally still performs limited dates at his theater in Branson while touring worldwide. Smirnoff earned a master's degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and a doctorate in psychology and global leadership from Pepperdine University in 2019. He has also taught a course titled "The Business of Laughter" at Missouri State University and at Drury University." So to answer your question, sounds like yes he still does comedy.

[@thethegreenmachine]

If he went to Pepperdine, he definitely wasn't hurting for money.

[@josephscally6270]

Yes, he is still performing.

[@jtcash2005]

"Freedom" and "Stayfree" are brandnames for female hygiene products or tampons.

[@conancimmerian9829]

Freedom? Ina box?! What a country!

[@rheath329]

Still need to check out Rodney Carrington,, Show them to me! Funniest comedian in America right now! Live from the Majestic in Dallas TX.

[@rofyle]

He is retired now. He was very popular in the 80s. His career took a dive though, after the Soviet Union collapsed. He had to rebuild his entire routine on something different than Soviet Union. He is doing well in retirement today though. Is married, has children.

[@bigsteve6200]

Yakovs best known for his joke...... You don't join the Party, the Party joins YOU !!!.

[@DV80s]

Some of his jokes would only work if you were old-enough at the time to watch commercials of the time on TV. Like the American Express, the commercials always ended with "don't leave home without it." We were really a TV audience back then, so memorable commercials were often quoted or misquoted as a joke and most people would get the jokes because the big three TV networks had big audiences back then.

[@ernestitoe]

Pidgin English is what people speak who not only don't know very much of the language, but who speak it with the grammar of their native language. Native speakers of African languages, and of southeast Asian languages, speak pidgins that are almost incomprehensible to English-speaking people. In some places, there are publications in the pidgin of a particular region. Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004) was born Jacob Cohen. His on-stage persona was as a man who no one respects, and he always complains about it. Yakov Smirnoff made a commercial for Miller Lite beer. He said he loves America because "you can always find a party. In Russia, Party always finds you." Smirnoff is not his real name. He chose it because Americans know it as a brand of vodka. His given name is Yakov Naumovich Pokhis (Яков Наумович Похис). He had a part in the 1984 movie Moscow on the Hudson, which I recommend. It's about the experience of being an immigrant in New York City. Robin Williams plays the lead role, and speaks only Russian for the first 20 minutes or so of the movie. I would be interested to know how he did, from the point of view of a native speaker. New Freedom is a brand of sanitary pads.

[@reesebn38]

I would like to recommend a movie, if you like Robin Williams, called "Moscow on the Hudson"(1984). About a Russian musician (Williams) who defects while on a trip to New York. It not a crazy comedy, even though there are funny parts, it's more of a human story about a Russian from the communism days adjust to life in America. Robin Williams as usual is excellent in the movie. The first half hour is life in Russia all spoken in Russian. I wonder what you would think of Robin Williams speaking Russian straight for a half hour and how good is his accent is.

[@robertstecher]

"New Freedom" is/was a pad for women's periods. You are so lovely and charming! Keep up the videos.

[@mikeet69]

Irina another great reaction. Glad you checked Yakov out, even if his bit is a little outdated. Others have told you about him and Wikipedia has a good deal of information about him including he was born in Odessa, Ukraine when it was a part of the USSR (CCCP) and moved with his family to the USA in 1977. I think you could relate to some of the same circumstances and challenges he faced except back in those days most Americans knew little about Russia or Russians due to the USSR being a closed country. Obviously things are a little different now. I do hope you do not face any bad reactions either to your accent or where you are from. Hopefully you will be able to visit your family and friends back home soon. Keep your chin up and keep making your videos when you can. They do not just help you to learn English, but help educate people what a beautiful young Russian woman is like living in the USA. Хорошо. Спасибо большое.

[@BILLYMORGAN1971]

Holy sanitary wipes batman...I haven't seen him in years. He's the original Borat. Same comedy style. Borat bit his freedom box.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

I miss your news streams you used to do. Oh yeah, good video. 👍

[@manbat]

Yakov was great back in the day.

[@danelicker317]

You probably don't know, but the tagline for American Express back then was "Don't leave home without it." So his joke about Russian Express was " Don't leave home."

[@ronaldproctor9454]

Hi there Irinia when you asked what new freedom was ...back in the 70s and 80s it was a brand of tampons now they are called freedom it is funny but you asking that got my memory going since I was a teenager back then and not trying to brag but I have a very good memory and I remembered what that brand was and considering that I am a man and therefore do not use that item but my very first job was working in a grocery store stocking the shelves and I recalled from a 40 year old memory of stocking that in the women's section of the personal care dept. Y'know it is funny what you can recall at times just wait one day you see what I am talking about 20, 30 or 40 years from now you will remember something that you did after somebody says something or something that you see makes you remember something that did not seem significant at the time.

[@RussianReactionReviews]

thank you for the information and great comment, ty for watching with me

[@joeyt.]

Yakov starred with Robin Williams in the movie 'Moscow on the Hudson' the year before this show, you should do a reaction to it. Also may I suggest you might do a reaction to the award winning movie starring Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) 'Eastern Promises'. He plays a Russian Mobster full of Tattoos and speaks quite a bit of Russian in the film. thanks joe

[@justiceleagueteam8716]

Yakov is funny i like him

[@MannyBrum]

You should also react to Rodney Dangerfield.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

My favorite of his: "I got out of Russia in a very unusual way.....alive."

[@jjhonecker7644]

ОН СОВЕТСКОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА!! ХОРОШЕЕ ВРЕМЯ, РЕБЕНОК, ХОРОШЕЕ ВИДЕО

[@V7avalon]

My first time hearing him, I thought he was good. Your mama wears army boots 😂

[@revtoyota]

He is still performing as far as I know.

[@bobbykaralfa]

yakov smirnoff isnt russian he's from ukraine. he went with "being from russia" as part of his act. but in reality he is from ukraine. but he was a funny guy either way

[@mikerudolph2419]

He is funny 😂

[@isaiahleza3299]

You would love the song blue eyes crying in the rain by Willie Nelson 🙂

[@62impalaconvert]

3:28 The expression is "sweep it under the rug", meaning don't talk about it because we don't want people to know the truth.

[@elijuarez7921]

I ❤ Russian women.

[@mehmeh1999]

Tanpon box had freedom written across the box.

[@Tune-O-matic]

New Freedom was the name of a sanitary napkin (kotex) back then..

[@JohnDoe-qf1ur]

Im from the north east, Ohio. (more north than E.Palestine) everything is well. weather is cold ! the spill does exist and it is severe!!!

[@daveo4002]

OMG that is so eighties.

[@ka2rwp]

New freedom is a delivery service like a Fed Ex and a UPS.

[@giveupnow000]

super maxi :)

[@jjhonecker7644]

ОЧЕНЬ ЛЮБЛЮ, ТЫ ВЫГЛЯДИШЬ ЗАМЕЧАТЕЛЬНО, ДЕТКА@@! 😘

[@yugioht42]

Yakov is known for in Russia jokes using American concepts and twisting it around to whatever finds you or kills you. And technically yakov is Ukrainian although it was Soviet when he was there. Currently he’s managing his own theatre in Branson where young comedians are getting their start but occasionally does a show or two. Mostly doing paperwork now as he is quite old. Sometimes he drives Russia jokes home by wearing a heavily modified old Russian military uniform with the fluffy hat and goofing off a bit on stage but he knows what he’s doing.

[@shirleycarr5387]

He's so funny.

[@timothyleavy7246]

"pidjin" English was a mixture of languages so people in East Asia could talk to Americans s long time ago. 😅😅😅.

[@CapAnson12345]

6:25 What's sad is that's really no longer true in the 40 years since he said that. But.. it was at the time.

[@jaycee330]

4:04 You looked confused. Smirnoff is a brand of vodka in the USA, so he saw an advertisement for it, and... I imagine some of the jokes will be lost, since you were born after the USSR breakup.

[@RussianReactionReviews]

thank you for that

[@adrian4565]

Like it!

[@jamesmccullough1395]

I love your channel. Where in the U.S. do you live now and why did your family move?

[@shawn6669]

You didn't respond when he mentioned Russian Express "Don't leave home". This is a riff on the commercial for American Express back in the day who's motto was "Don't leave home without it"...get it? Anyway, just thought I'd pass that on since i'm old. :) cheers!

[@shawn6669]

Also "New Freedom" was a maxi pad.

[@YManCyberDude]

My cat got burf almost 2 years ago now . . .

[@billrab1890]

When he said that you have freedom in the United States and can say whatever you want and you made a face and gesture to imply not so much, I just have to say that in 1984, the year this was performed, the year that I turned 19 we had the great president Ronald Reagan and we absolutely had freedom in the USA. You could say whatever you wanted. If you offended someone they either called you an idiot and walked away and got over it or they punched you in the mouth and if a comedian was offensive we laughed and didn't take ourselves to seriously. There certainly weren't mobs of angry idiots protesting and trying to ruin someone's career over jokes. So yes ,in 1984 the United States of America that I grew up in and loved was a free country.

[@yodaz101]

YES.. yakov is still very much around... He was a refusenik.... He has a show in Nashville and missouri.. he still appears in. Movies.... Pidgin English is a shortened version of english, that is almost like talking to child. Very basic English taught to pacific Islanders...which is a weird dialect...sounds like shortened vocabulary...

[@bri_____]

You should check out 'yuri bezmenov. Warning to America'

[@wilgarcia1]

lol classic =)

[@jasonregister4895]

Also check out Bob Nelson

[@bobbyquinting3918]

Me and my cat liked this!😼

[@RussianReactionReviews]

thank you both ❤️

[@keithponchillia421]

I live on the west side of the state of Ohio , just north of Dayton. All is well here.

[@AndreOliveira-im3pm]

React jane zhang dust my shoulders off 💜

[@henrytjernlund]

Nikki Glaser is a fun woman comedian.

[@henrytjernlund]

Iliza Shlesinger is another.

[@metalmayhem3622]

"Broom under the carpet" = "Brushed under the rug" Really close!

[@kennethturner8290]

'New Freedom' would be a feminine hygiene product.

[@thethegreenmachine]

I saw this show. Everything I still remember about it is good. A lot of these jokes are too old for people your age. The Freedom in a box he's talking about is a feminine product. I guess they don't make it anymore.

[@jamesseidel2813]

I'm from Ohio

[@daleowen2606]

I didn't even know someone from the USSR could leave if it wasn't for spy purposes

[@mrupright]

It was difficult, but you could do it. I had a chemistry professor whose husband, also a chemist, emigrated from Russia. They went back to visit family and were watched closely (and quite obviously) the entire time.

[@jaycee330]

If you were Jewish (as Yakov is) you stood a better chance of getting out.

[@3DJapan]

New Freedom was a brand of feminine products... For your monthly visitor.

[@Daniel-i9w7o]

Do you know Gina Gerson? She's from Siberia.

[@RussianReactionReviews]

not sure

[@Charles-js3ri]

Cute act.

[@nabil3181]

reacktion alip bata from indonesia ❤hura

[@ericg6151]

You are gorgeous

[@RiverRat81]

Live in Buckeye lake ohio!

[@realBkay]

Love u honey bun.

[@4yules]

new freedom was maxi pad product for women

[@awaf12]

I am in ohio Ye we barely heard of anything Everything is normal

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

New Freedome were menstrual pads.

[@tomcummings711]

Women sanitary napkins !

[@ItsMe-cz1pi]

There was much more freedom in the 80s.

[@medgamer977]

React to A V E N G E D S E V E N F O L D N O B O D Y

[@ChataCovers]

new freedom was probably tampons

[@bobvargo1872]

New freedom is a brand of tampons

[@RussianReactionReviews]

lol

[@kevinbennett2239]

Freedom maxi pads..... for woman

[@RussianReactionReviews]

lol

[@Matt_03]

I'm in Bethel Ohio . The train crash was blown way out of preposition.