Ivan the Terrible (TV series)

"Life's getting better, Spring coming soon, Nine feet of snow and it's only June! The State gives us jobs, but look at our luck -- Papa's a headwaiter, and Mama drives a truck! Sing, comrades! Dance, comrades! Laugh and be gay! Living in Moscow (Beautiful Moscow) ''Gets better every day!"

- from the theme song

Ivan the Terrible was an American sitcom that aired on CBS for five episodes between August and September 1976.

The series parodied both life in the Soviet Union, as well as American attitudes toward the USSR during the height of the Cold War. Set in then-contemporary Moscow, the sitcom starred Lou Jacobi as a Russian hotel waiter named Ivan Petrovsky, and focused on the day-to-day misadventures of Ivan's family plus their Cuban exchange student boarder Raoul, all of whom live in a cramped, one-bedroom apartment. (The one bedroom being occupied by the family's extremely vicious and feral Russian wolfhound, "Rasputin", who was frequently heard barking and growling, but never seen.)

Also appearing in this series were Christopher Hewett, Phil Leeds, Alan Cauldwell and, in her TV series debut, Nana Visitor (billed under her birth name, Nana Tucker) as Svetlana. Harvey Korman appeared as a Soviet bureaucrat in an uncredited cameo at the close of each episode.

The executive producer of this series was Alan King.

The series received praise from Russian emigres for how true-to-life it was, as Ivan and his family dealt in a comedic way with the daily realities of living in the Soviet Union. This may be one reason for its very short run -- only those who had actually lived in the USSR got all the jokes.

Not to be confused with the the first Tsar of Russia, or any of the films or other works about him.


 * The Cameo: Harvey Korman's uncredited Once Per Episode appearance.


 * Cigar Chomper: Raoul, in explicit imitation of Fidel Castro.


 * Cold War: 1976 is actually during the era of détente, but it still flavors a lot of the humor.


 * Glorious Mother Russia: Hilariously accurate, according to those who knew.


 * Have a Gay Old Time: At play with the line "Laugh and be gay!" from the theme song.


 * He Who Must Not Be Seen: Rasputin, the family's Russian wolfhound, was always kept in a room off-screen and never let out; the only evidence of his existence was his furious barking at key moments.


 * Laugh Track: Averted; it was filmed in front of a live studio audience.

"(SFX: Furious barks and growls) Guest: What is that? Ivan: That's Rasputin. Guest: Rasputin? Ivan: (whispering) The Mad Dog of Russia."
 * Named After Somebody Famous: The Petrovskys' dog, Rasputin.


 * Nice Hat: Some almost-mandatory Soviet-era headgear, as seen in the page image.  Not to mention Che Guevara-lookalike Raoul's beret.


 * Once Per Episode/End-of-Episode Silliness: Harvey Korman's end-of-episode appearances as a Soviet official.


 * Refuge in Audacity: Took the realities of life in 1976 Moscow and cranked them Up to Eleven for humor value.


 * Russian Fashion: Just look at the page image.  Ushankas, greatcoats... you name it.


 * Russian Guy Suffers Most: Ivan, full stop.


 * Short Runners: Five episodes, broadcast once in 1976.


 * Too Good to Last: Those who recall it at all recall it with great fondness.


 * Unintentional Period Piece: History Marches On, after all.

... but unless copies of the episodes are somehow unearthed, it's unlikely it'll get any more.