I was speaking to a friend today via IM this afternoon and over the course of our conversation, I blurted out the phrase, “In Mother Russia, the hobbits take YOU to Eisengaard!”
Now, funny as I thought this was, my friend did something completely unexpected. He asked me where the “mother russia” thing came from.
:eek: Why am I using inside jokes that I don’t even understand?!
So tell me, why is everything so backward in Mother Russia?
Does anyone have an idea where this phrase originates from?
It is from a 1980’s style immigrate comedian named Yakov Smirnoff. His main act was all about how great America was and turning it to the reverse in Russia with those catchphrases. He still performs in Branson, MO.
From Yakov Smirnoff, a Russian comedian who was popular in the late 80s/early 90s. That sort of inversion was a trademark of his, although all of his uses of it were to imply something sinister about life in Russia. For instance, “In Soviet Russia, TV watches you!”. It took off, people missed the subtlety, and that’s how we got where we are today.
Best. Board. EVAR.
Thanks, guys!
Another original example, “In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, the Party finds YOU!”.