Yakov Smirnoff

Read the article at comedywham.com Episode #387 2026 Moontower Comedy Festival Series   Our favorite time of year as we bring you voices from Moontower Comedy Festival before, during, and after the festival!   Legendary comedian Yakov Smirnoff talks with Valerie Lopez about Leaving the USSR in 1977 and building a legendary comedy career through sheer luck and timing. How his iconic "What a country!" persona helped humanize Russians for Americans during Cold War tensions. Earning a PhD in Psychology and studying laughter's powerful role in relationships and marriage. Performing at Moontower at 75, eyeing a "Yakov 2.0" era, and a possible Netflix documentary. Recorded April 2026 during Moontower Comedy Festival from Stephen F. Austin Lounge Follow Yakov Website - yakov.com TikTok - @yakov_smirnoff YouTube - youtube.com/@YakovSmirnoff Instagram - @yakov_smirnoff Facebook - facebook.com/Yakov.Smirnoff.Comedian X - @Yakov_Smirnoff Yakov can be seen and heard: Clean Comedy Wave Tour May 29-30, 2026 - Kenosha Comedy Club, Kenosha, Wisconsin - Tickets Yakov's Theater: Branson, Missouri The Comedy Couch Podcast Happily Ever Laughter - Comedy Special Night Court Follow @ComedyWham on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, and Tiktok   If you'd like to support our independent podcast, check out our Patreon page at: Patreon.com/comedywham  .    You can also support us on Venmo - just search for ComedyWham.