What a Country! | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Developed by | Martin Rips Joseph Staretski |
Written by |
Frank Mula Martin Rips Leonard Ripps Mike Scully Joseph Staretski |
Directed by |
Peter Baldwin Robert Claver Linda Day Dolores Ferraro Russ Petranto |
Starring |
Garrett M. Brown Yakov Smirnoff George Murdock Vijay Amritraj Harry Waters, Jr. Ada Maris Julian Reyes Leila Hee Olsen Gail Strickland Gregory Sierra |
Theme music composer | Richard DeBenedictis |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Martin Rips Joseph Staretski |
Producer(s) |
Wendy Blair Eric Cohen Leonard Ripps |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company(s) | Ripstar Productions Primetime Entertainment Tribune Entertainment Viacom Productions |
Distributor | CBS Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | Syndicated |
Original release | September 27, 1986 | – May 23, 1987
Chronology | |
Related shows | Mind Your Language |
What a Country! is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from September 27, 1986 to May 23, 1987. It was based on the 1977-1979 British sitcom Mind Your Language. The series was intended as somewhat of a showcase for Yakov Smirnoff, whose catchphrase provided the show's title.
What a Country! is set in a class of recent immigrants to the United States who are trying to pass the citizenship test. Their teacher, Taylor Brown (played by Garrett M. Brown) is an American English language teacher, while the students include Nikolai (a Russian taxi driver), Laszlo (a retired Hungarian doctor), Ali (a Pakistani), Robert (the son of a deposed African king), Maria (a housekeeper working for a rich Beverly Hills family), Victor (a Hispanic in love with Maria), Yung Hi (a shy Japanese woman) and Sheikh El Hamid (an Arabian sheikh). Gail Strickland initially played the character of Principal Joan Courtney, though she was replaced by Don Knotts during the series' run.
The series aired a total of 26 episodes before being canceled.