Mikhail Nikolayevich Zadornov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Zadornov (Russian: Михаи́л Никола́евич Задо́рнов; born July 21, 1948 in Jūrmala, Latvian SSR, USSR) is a Soviet and Russian stand-up comedian and writer. Zadornov is particularly famous for his satirical comparisons of Russians and nationals of other countries, especially Americans. He has rescinded his visa to the United States as a protest to the American athletes' flag-waving behavior at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics.[1] Zadornov was born in an artistic family, his father Nikolai Zadornov was a notable writer from Riga. Mikhail Zadornov graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute, however, in the early 1980s he started a career as a humorist instead of an engineer.
He has also been known to make fun of any CIS (former Soviet) country seeking a friendly relationship with the west, but seems to have no hard feelings against them.
While criticizing heavily American culture and its influence on the life in modern Russia, Zadornov commended Dan Brown for getting the public interested in Israel, the Vatican, Leonardo da Vinci and art history. (That praise aside, Zadornov assessed the literary value of Brown's books as "сочинения ученика очень средней школы", which translates into something like "compositions of a student at a very mediocre middle-school"; pun intended as средний means both "middle (grade)" and "mediocre".)
Quotes
- If you have something against democracy, while democracy is in your land, — you're finished (TV concert, 1999)
- "I do not criticize America — I criticize our [Russian] way to copy the American way of life —especially its worst side." (TV concert, 2003)
- "I travel to Ukraine about three times a year now, and every time I come, I ask the guy at the train station 'What's new?' to which he always answers 'elections'. I want to buy a parrot that lives about 300 years, and officially adopt him so that at least one of my family members sees the end of the Ukrainian elections."
- "Oh the Estonians have joined NATO, I'm so scared. Will we ever have time to run for our lives if the Estonians attack us?"
- "I've said enough about Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, and oh yeah, I also talked about Ukraine.. Now let's talk about their government... the Americans."
- "The diary of Yuri Luzhkov: 8:00 AM: Make the clouds over Moscow go away. \\ 10:00 AM: Get the clouds back to make the gay parade go away."
- "In America's sports up till nowadays black people are the best runners, and white — the best shooters."
- "Negroes is not politically correct (Afro Americans is), let's name the painting "Black Square" by Malevich — Afro Square e.t.c."
- "Even some American scientists have said that mankind was born near Voronezh in Russia."
- "When a king silences the jester, the role of the jester is passed to the king."
Concerts
- 1990 — Ангажемент (Engagement)
- 1992 — В каждой Шутке есть доля Шутки (There is a little bit of joke in every joke)
- 1992 — Много шума и ничего (Much ado and nothing)
- 1996 — Нью-Йоркский концерт (New York concert)
- 1997 — Умом Россию не понять (“Russia is a thing of which the intellect cannot conceive”, a line from Fyodor Tyutchev's poem)
- 1997 — Великая страна с непредсказуемым прошлым (A great country with unpredictable past)
- 1997 — Что делать, или как нам обустроить Россию (What should we do or how do we arrange Russia)
- 1999 — Экскурсия по Москве (Tour of Moscow)
- 2000 — Лекция (с юмором) (Lecture with humour)
- 2003 — В слове МЫ сто тысяч Я… (There are hundred thousand "I"s in "We")
- 2003 — Я люблю Америку (I love America)
- 2005 — Непонятки (Misunderstandies)
- 2005 — Не дайте себе засохнуть (Don't let yourself dry out)
- 2005 — От путча до Путина (From putsch to Putin)
- 2005 — Да здравствует то, благодаря чему мы, несмотря ни на что… (Long live that thank to what we in spite of anything)
- 2005 — Не для ТВ.RU (Not_for_tv.ru )
- 2005 — Мы чьё, дурачьё? (Whose fools are we?)
- 2005 — Египетские Ночи (Egyptian Nights, Concert in Big concert hall «Oktyabr'skij» in Saint Petersburg)
- 2005 — Американская трагедия (American tragedy)
- 2005 — Мы (We)
- 2005 — Задоринки (Zadornov's stuff)
- 2005 — Фантазии (Fantasies)
- 2005 — Записки отморозка.(Rascal's notes )
- 2005 — Юмор 585 пробы (585-carat humour)
- 2006 — После нас хоть потоп (After us let even a flood be)
- 2006 — Собиратель дурошлёпства (Bufoonery collector)
- 2006 — Не забывается такое никогда (You don't just forget that)
- 2006 — Третье ухо (Third ear)
- 2006 — Так жить можно…?! (Can you live like this?)
- 2006 — Задорнова к ответу (Zadornov must answer)
- 2006 — Записки Предсказамуса (Predictamus's notes)
- 2006 — Веселее жить стало (Living has become more joyous)
- 2006 — Этот безумный мир (This mad world)
- 2007 — Записки усталого романтика (The notes of a tired dreamer)
- 2007 — Тест на интеллект (Intelligence test, forbidden for TV translation)
- 2007 — Мы все из Чи-Чи-Чи-Пи. (We all are from Chi-Chi-Chi-Pi. This is a pun on how Italians read “СССР” which is Russian for “USSR”)
- 2007 — Когда смешно, тогда не страшно (It's not scary when it's funny)
- 2007 — Подниматель пингвинов (Penguin raiser)
- 2008 — С первым смехом! (Happy first laugh!)
- 2008 — Задорный день (Zadornoffunny day )
- 2008 — Ничего себе! (Isn't that something!)
- 2008 — SMS. Гламур. О’кей OK (SMS. Glamour. Okay, OK)
- 2009 — Антикризисный концерт (Anti-crisis concers)
Books
- 1988 — Линия длиной 15 000 метров
- 1988 — Загадка голубой планеты
- 1991 — Не понимаю
- 1997 — 4-х томник
- Великая страна с непредсказуемым прошлым
- Мы все из «Чи-Чи-Чи-Пи»
- Крохотные звезды
- Задоринки
- 2003 — Вдруг откуда ни возьмись
- 2004 — Задорнов Єнд К
- 2004 — Вверх ногами
- 2005 — Этот безумный, безумный, безумный мир…
- 2006 — Я никогда не думал…
- 2007 — Не дайте себе засохнуть!!!
- 2007 — Язычник эры водолея
- 2008 — Когда смешно, тогда не страшно
- 2008 — Мелочь, а приятно!
- 2009 — Умом Россию не поДнять
- 2009 — Слава Роду
- 2010 — Пир во время чумы, или кому на Руси жить ?
- 2010 — Рассказы и афоризмы
- 2010 — Спешили два товарища
- 2010 — Я люблю Америку
Filmography
Year |
Film title |
Original title |
Role |
1991 |
Depression |
Депрессия |
bit part |
1992 |
I Want Your Husband |
Хочу вашего мужа |
Andrei (husband) |
References
External links
Persondata |
Name |
Zadornov, Mikhail |
Alternative names |
|
Short description |
Comedian |
Date of birth |
July 21, 1948 |
Place of birth |
Jūrmala, Soviet Union |
Date of death |
|
Place of death |
|