Yakov Smirnoff returns to Branson for 23rd season
One of Branson's longtime favorite performers, Yakov Smirnoff, has returned to the Ozarks for a 23rd season.
The Russian-born comedian will be trying out jokes on Branson audiences for a sitcom pilot he's developing. He's offering a special deal for locals who come to his show, "Dinner with Yakov," which runs through Oct. 31, and "Christmas Dinner with Yakov," which runs through Dec. 7. Shows are 4:30-6:30 p.m. every day except Mondays.
The regular ticket price is $45/person for dinner and show.
"I would like to say, 'thank you,' to our local supporters by offering a local appreciation rate of $20 per person good for the entire season," Smirnoff said. "The counties we would love to include are Stone, Taney, Ozark, Douglas, Christian, and Greene."
Present proof of residency upon picking up tickets to receive this special price.
These past several months, Smirnoff has been in Hollywood working with Marcy Carsey, television producer best known for her work with Tom Werner producing shows like "The Cosby Show," "Rosanne, and "That '70s Show," to name a few.
"She is very supportive of this project that basically started here (in Branson) as the 'Happily Ever After Show,' " Smirnoff said. "Inadvertently, Branson became my laboratory of laughter. It gave me a chance to develop all this material and take it to Hollywood."
The planned sitcom is somewhat autobiographical of Smirnoff's life. The main character, Yakov, is a brilliant professor of psychology with a knack for reaching students (Smirnoff taught a course at Missouri State University called "Living Happily Ever Laughter!"), but finds challenges in his own romantic relationship at home.
According to Smirnoff, timing for a new sitcom couldn't be be better because reality television shows have run their course.
"They are looking for shows, like Seinfeld, Roseanne — looking for those classic examples. Most are driven by the stand-up comedian," he said. "That is why I think the climate is very fertile right now. Everybody has got tired of reality TV and saying, 'Is there anything intelligent out there instead of Honey Boo Boo?' "
Visit Yakov.com.