soviet russia

What a country!

20 years in Branson.. no wonder he wants to get out and tour.

In Branson, Missouri, vodka filters you!

I don't know man. Seems to me that in Branson, Смирнов has found the right milieu for his "comedy". He and Jeff Dunham back the house, I'm sure.

Pack, not back.

I always kind of wondered what the hell he's had to do for a routine after the Soviet breakup. That really screwed over his entire act.

What about Bronson, Missouri? (new window)

He makes $8 million a year doing his schtick. And that was 10 years ago I think i heard that.

rprygro: What about Bronson, Missouri? (new window)

No dice.

/it was engineered as a family destination
//dis ain't over

In related news, Yakov Smirnoff has been working for the last twenrty years.

C'mon guys, let's break that most unjust of filters!

In Soviet Atlanta, Fark censors you!

ertznay: In related news, Yakov Smirnoff has been working for the last twenrty years.

(thinks back) I've been to Branson a few times, but all of them over 20 years ago. And the town had growing pains back then; the local utilities couldn't keep up with demand.

Dammit.

My family actually has a time share in Branson which we've used to get pretty good timeshare weeks elsewhere. One year, they forgot to reserve something so we actually had to spend a week in Branson or let it go to waste.

If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

Ebbelwoi: If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

amindtat: Ebbelwoi: If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

Branson more or less got its start because of Silver Dollar City, an amusement park just outside it, that was and probably still is Six Flags with a Hillbilly theme. Very 1880ish. The town got a few more parks, music acts started moving there from Nashville.. and there we are.

How is one on a tour if they play the same venue for 20 straight years?

amindtat: Ebbelwoi: If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

It's pretty much like the tourist area around Niagara Falls, except there is a man made lake and a cave instead of a waterfall.

amindtat: Ebbelwoi: If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

True that.

We were staying on the lake west of Branson, and needed certain items from the CVS (it was 8.5 months before our wedding). As we drove through town at 4:30, the line at the Olive Garden was out to the street. Horrifying. We stayed in a B&B near there over Thanksgiving and I shiat you not, someone had taken an old book, wrapped it in ribbons and put dried flowers on top. Because that's what you do with books.

On the other hand, Table Rock Lake is awesome and beautiful, and if you avoid Branson, a damn good time.

My ex is from Forsyth, just up the mountain from Branson. So I'm getting a kick out of these replies

amindtat: Ebbelwoi: If the Devil has a personal version of Hell for everyone, Branson, MO will be mine.

I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

Are you sure they're not running it at the 100 Acre Wood in Salem, MO? Because that's actually quite a good race track, and nowhere near Branson. Rolla, MO, which is basically a cross between redneck shiat-kickers and supernerdy engineering students is right up the road. Fort Leonard Wood isn't too far away, either, so plenty of the usual classy establishments that hang around outside military bases. Plus, St. James is up the road in the other direction, which is about the southernmost tip of Missouri wine country.

I don't know if you were seriously considering it or not, but the 100 AW^ is pretty damn awesome. About 100 miles west of St. Louis on I-44 to get to Rolla, then another half an hour or so south on Hwy 72 to get to Salem.

amindtat:
I went to this year's BMW MOA rally in Bloomsburg PA and at the registration tables they were handing out tourist information for next year's rally. It's in Branson, and after a few minutes of reviewing the literature I came to the conclusion Branson must be a hybrid of Hee-Haw and Hell. Hell-Haw perhaps.

Branson is obnoxious. Its traffic, fast food franchises, theaters, discount shopping, and amusements are of no interest to me. But Table Rock Lake is excellent, and all the Midwest's best roads for motorcycling are within 50-100 miles of Branson.

Go to the rally, but try to avoid Branson.

I think it's because Russia is turning totalitarian again, and Yakov can go back on the road with a ton of new material about Putin.

I just hope that Yakov doesn't drink tea.

phyrkrakr: Are you sure they're not running it at the 100 Acre Wood in Salem, MO?

Checking the BMW MOA website, it says the rally is actually being held at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, MO which according to Google Maps is 3 hours North of Branson. So why they were handing out tourist information for Branson is a little perplexing. Maybe whenever there is a big event in MO, the State Tourism Board likes to promote their #1 attraction. But from a distance perspective, it would be kind of like telling this year's Bloomsburg attendees "hey, while you're in the neighborhood, stop by and see the attractions in NYC."

amindtat:
Checking the BMW MOA website, it says the rally is actually being held at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, MO which according to Google Maps is 3 hours North of Branson. So why they were handing out tourist information for Branson is a little perplexing. Maybe whenever there is a big event in MO, the State Tourism Board likes to promote their #1 attraction. But from a distance perspective, it would be kind of like telling this year's Bloomsburg attendees "hey, while you're in the neighborhood, stop by and see the attractions in NYC."

Yeah, they actually do that a lot. It's like there's only about five different recreational brochures in Missouri, so they all end up at every tourist trap in the state. I've seen Branson flyers in Hannibal, MO, which is 100+ miles north of St. Louis on the Mississippi river, and in Kirksville, which is on the border with Iowa.

Also, pity, because Sedalia kind of sucks. Just a fairly stereotypical town in the middle of flat, featureless farm land, as opposed to 100AW which is down in Deliverance country in the Ozark hills. But Whiteman AFB isn't too far away from Sedalia, so maybe the B-2s will fly over.

Branson it's like Vegas - if it were run by Ned Flanders,

Smirnoff said he's "very grateful" for the career he's had in Branson.

"Whatta country" x 20 years = $160,000,000.

Who wouldn't be grateful pulling down 8 mil a year doing the same cliche for 20 years?

nucular bum: rprygro: What about Bronson, Missouri? (new window)

No dice.

/it was engineered as a family destination
//dis ain't over

Came for simpsons. Too bad that video doesn't play on iPhone :(


/loves that bit

Ozark country. Freaky place. Beautiful, but I never went out after dark.

He seriously has one of the most patriotic shows I've ever seen.

The other day I got a tourism/telemarketing call from Branson and it was the nicest call I've gotten in a while. The lady was so polite and sweet. Kind of made me want to visit.

I fly into Springfield MO (40 mi or so north of Branson) once or twice a year (in-laws live about 100 mi east of Branson, 110 mi SE of Springfield). The airport is pretty much covered with signs for Branson attractions. Smirnoff is not, but a good stretch, the oddest of them.

MoronLessOff: He seriously has one of the most patriotic shows I've ever seen.

well, the man escaped thw USSR and made a very good life for himself in the west, he is very grateful for all the opportunities that have been afforded him.

My mother, a German immigrant is also pretty damn patriotic. she does not call herself a German anymore. straight up calls herself an American.

He painted this thing that was displayed at Ground zero:

johnnyq: I fly into Springfield MO (40 mi or so north of Branson) once or twice a year (in-laws live about 100 mi east of Branson, 110 mi SE of Springfield). The airport is pretty much covered with signs for Branson attractions. Smirnoff is not, but a good stretch, the oddest of them.



/for starters

zez: /for starters

The Shoji Tabuchi (new window) ads (sorry too late and lazy to find a picture, but enjoy the link) are the ones that always get me. Something just seems slightly off about them. Who knows, maybe it's a great show, but the airport ads are just, well, off for some reason.