# In Soviet Russia, \_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ YOU! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602 "2005-04-10T00:10:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/1 "2005-04-10T00:10:23Z")
What the heck is the origin of this saying? Is this Billy Crystal? Yakob Smirnoff? Andrei Codrescu? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/2 "2005-04-10T00:11:11Z")
It’s how Yakov Smirnoff’s jokes went. ---
**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/3 "2005-04-10T00:56:25Z")
[Obligatory Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakov_Smirnoff) Yakov’s actual jokes were commentary on the Soviet system – “In California, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, the Party can always find you!” Later, the “Soviet Russia” jokes lost their context in the online communities (Slashdot, Fark, SDMB, etc) and became meaningless cliches, usually in articles or threads dealing with Russia: “In America, you write on message board. In Soviet Russia, messsage board writes on _you_!” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/4 "2005-04-10T12:36:32Z")
I think this goes back a little further…the 'fifties or early 'sixties. The original joke went “In the US, we watch television; in Moscow, the television watches YOU! Har har!” ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/5 "2005-04-10T19:34:00Z")
I hate to say this, but, “Cite?” I believe you 100% but I’d be interested to know the exact original source if possible. At least, now I can Google a full quote with “television watches you” as the punchline. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/6 "2005-04-10T20:22:09Z")
I always thought these gags were at least vaguely related to the old joke about how under capitalism man exploits man, but under communism it’s the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/7 "2005-04-10T20:24:16Z")
In Soviet Union, Ignorance fights you! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/8 "2005-04-10T20:35:04Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > I always thought these gags were at least vaguely related to the old joke about how under capitalism man exploits man, but under communism it’s the other way around. That’s what I thought, too. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/9 "2005-04-11T01:10:23Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > The original joke went “In the US, we watch television; in Moscow, the television watches YOU! Har har!” So, essentially, Orwell’s joke… ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/10 "2005-04-11T05:22:59Z")
In America, sooner or later you’ll own Generals. In Soviet Union, sooner or later the Generals own you! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-soviet-russia-_____-______-you/298602/11 "2005-04-11T05:27:47Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > So, essentially, Orwell’s joke… In 1984, Big Brother is watching you; on CBS… :dubious: