What a Country!

What a Country! is an American sitcom starring Garrett M. Brown and Yakov Smirnoff that aired in first-run syndication from September 27, 1986, to May 23, 1987. The series is based on the British sitcom Mind Your Language and was intended as a showcase for Ukrainian-American comedian Yakov Smirnoff, whose catchphrase provided the show's title.

Synopsis
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 a part-time substitute teacher looking for a high school soccer coaching job, while the students are:


 * 1) Nikolai (a Russian-Soviet taxi driver),
 * 2) Laszlo (a retired Hungarian doctor),
 * 3) Ali (a Pakistani),
 * 4) Robert (the son of a deposed African king),
 * 5) Maria (a housekeeper working for a rich Beverly Hills family),
 * 6) Victor (a Hispanic in love with Maria), and
 * 7) Yung Hi (a shy Chinese woman).

Gail Strickland initially played the character of Principal Joan Courtney, though she was replaced by Don Knotts during the series' run.

Cast

 * Garrett M. Brown as Taylor Brown
 * Yakov Smirnoff as Nikolai Rostopovich
 * George Murdock as Laszlo Gabo
 * Vijay Amritraj as Ali Nadim
 * Harry Waters, Jr. as Robert Muboto
 * Ada Maris as Maria Conchita Lopez
 * Julian Reyes as Victor Ortega
 * Leila Hee Olsen as Yung Hi
 * Gail Strickland as Principal Joan Courtney (episodes 1–10)
 * Don Knotts as Principal F.J. "Bud" McPherson (episodes 11–26)