Scott Tady: Yakov Smirnoff discusses Zelienople shows he's filming; and Mushcup returns

At the peak of his powers, David Letterman did a Top 10 list about things that will change with the fall of the Soviet empire, with the No. 1 answer being "Yakov Smirnoff will be out of work."

"I thought that was kind of funny, but six months later I wasn't laughing when none of my contracts in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City were renewed," said Smirnoff, who headlines two shows this weekend in Zelienople.

Indeed, Smirnoff's initial novelty − as the sweet, lovable comic who escaped from Russia's Iron Curtain and recast himself as a liberty-loving American − is what made him a popular TV and film star, working alongside Hollywood A-listers Robin Williams, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.

"Because the Soviet Union was such a threat with people literally scared of nuclear war − and because they associated the Russians with Brezhnev or Khruschev saying 'We will bury you,' − and here comes Yakov, and he's an innocent, fish-out-of-water, likeable guy, he gave America what it needed," Smirnoff said. "It needed an aspirin or Advil from the headache of the Soviet Union. I was the Advil."

When the Cold War ceased with the Soviet Union's collapse, Ukrainian native Smirnoff lost pop-cultural relevance.

Maybe the ongoing Ukrainian-Soviet Union war has rekindled interest; perhaps more significant is what Smirnoff recognizes as a "clean comedy wave" sweeping the nation, but for whatever reasons, Smirnoff has found himself back in a wider-spanning comedic spotlight.

And that brings him to The Strand Theater in downtown Zelienople, for shows at 4 and 7 p.m. June 22. Tickets cost $48 at thestrandtheater.org with limited VIP meet-and-greet packages for $69.

Smirnoff rescheduled the shows from a few weeks ago when he came down with laryngitis on a flight home from Europe.

"In 50 years of comedy, it's the first time I ever canceled a show like that, so I was kind of embarrassed," he said.

Smirnoff describes his shows as an "exciting journey" with "stories that are funny" following the timeline of his career. From fleeing the Soviet Union in 1977, to working as a waiter in the Catskills, where customers convinced him that his jokes were worthy of comedy clubs, it's been a fascinating career trajectory. Smirnoff shined as a guest comic on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show," catapulting him to a recurring role on NBC's sitcom "Night Court," then 1985 movies "Moscow on The Hudson" opposite Robin Williams and "Brewster's Millions" with Richard Pryor.

His charm as a wide-eyed and pleasant American immigrant made audiences smile, hallmarked by his U.S.-cherishing catch phrase, "What a Country!"

But when the Soviet Union collapsed, the metaphoric aspirin of Smirnoff got pushed way to the back of the comedic cupboard

"I tell that in my show, that I started to look for a place where they did not know that the Soviet Union collapsed. I ended up in Branson, Missouri," Smirnoff says with a laugh. "They still don't know, and I'm still not telling."

When his career took off in the 1980s, "I think the whole country was united in recognizing the Soviet Union was the evil empire. The bad guy. Today, I'm not sure where we are in that way," Smirnoff said, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war is a complicated, global matter best left for a lengthier discussion.

He's focused at the moment on making people laugh, ready to ride what he believes is a major wave of public interest in clean comedy − the kind he performs − and is heard in the standup routines of arena headliners like Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan and Sebastian Maniscalco.

"Just like the headache of the Soviet Union, I think we have sophisticated American younger families who have a headache from Netflix kind-of filthy comedy. That's a pendulum that's swung really far for the last 30 years, and I have a hunch right now there's a new wave," Smirnoff said. "And I'm excited about coming to Zelienople − I know it's just a little theater, but it's almost comedy-club sized, and I'm looking forward to doing those two shows on the 22nd of June to test film it as kind of a prototype for a clean comedy special for Netflix. They need to see it to go, 'Oh, this fits that model,' which I think it does."

With cameras rolling, the divorced and happily remarried Smirnoff will poke fun at relationships in his Zelie shows.

"Like my wife wanted a cat, and I did not want a cat, so we compromised, and we got a cat," he said. "Everybody can relate to stuff like that."

Of course he'll utter a "What a Country!" or two.

He says, "If I didn't do that, it would be like the Village People not singing 'YMCA.'"

Mushcup gets back at it

Mushcup gets back to action Aug. 17, with a show at Mario's 410 Grille in Bridgewater.

Kings of the Beaver Valley alt-rock scene in the early 2000s, Mushcup will play its first show since September, this time celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's self-titled album.

Scuttlebutt says Mushcup may debut a few new songs that night, too.

Tickets cost $10 at InnerGroove Records in Monaca, or $13 at the door.

Rust Valley Revival starts the show at 8 p.m.

Shanksville fundraiser in North Hills

Nationally known Billy Joel tribute band Turnstiles plays a July 14 show in Richland Township to raise maintenance money for the Remember Me Rose Garden in Shanksville, Pa., honoring the 9/1 heroes of Flight 93.

The concert takes place at the Corbiwood Stage with Pittsburgh pop singer-songwriter Joey Wodarek opening.

Tickets cost $25 online at tickettomato.com/event/8554, or $32 at the door.

Ukraine soldiers' concerts

"From the Ukrainian Frontline with Thanks," a music tour expressing gratitude to America for its support of Ukraine in its war with Russia, comes to Pittsburgh June 24-27.

The musicians are current Ukraine soldiers, who as a result of injuries they sustained, have taken on this new assignment through music, according to concert publicist Brian Tedeschi, president of The Tedeschi Group.

They play a cross-section of styles, from Ukrainian folk songs to Metallica to Louis Armstrong.

The Pittsburgh shows:

● 7 p.m. June 24: Steamworks Creative, 4967 William Flinn Highway, Hampton Township.

● 11:30 a.m. June 25: Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh.

● 7 p.m. June 25: Moondogs, Blawnox, with Billy The Kid.

● 6:30 p.m. June 26: Ukraine American Club, Carnegie; then 7 p.m. Starlite Lounge, Blawnox.

● 11:30 a.m. June 27: Market Square, Pittsburgh.

7 p.m. Pittsburgh Shrine Center, Cheswick, with the Jimmy Adler Band.

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This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: What a column! Yakov Smirnoff discusses Zelienople shows