"Zucchini" 13 chairs ": how the program became the most popular on Soviet TV, and why Andrei Mironov could not host it

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In the 1960-1970s. the most popular and most beloved among the audience was TV show "Zucchini" 13 chairs " … For 15 years, she managed to stay among the best humorous programs on Soviet TV. Perhaps this success was partly due to the fact that her admirer was Leonid Brezhnev. The actors of the Satire Theater, who played in the "Zucchini", became known throughout the Union under the names of their on-screen characters: Mrs Monica, Pan Director, Mrs Katarina, Pan Professor etc. But not everyone was fortunate enough to stay there for a long time - Andrei Mironov withstood only two transmissions.

In January 1966, the first TV show "Good Evening" was shown on the screens, and then no one could have imagined that she would be able to retain popularity for 15 years, albeit under a different name. The first presenter was the actor Alexander Belyavsky, who is also called the author of the idea for the new program. He then returned from a Polish tour and offered to film jokes from Polish humorous magazines, which he brought with him.

Nobody counted on a multi-part project, they filmed only two issues. But then the editorial office received so many letters from the audience that it was decided to shoot the continuation of the program. The previous name did not correspond to its format, and the editors announced a competition for the best idea. Among the options were "Cafe" Smile "," Cellar "," Korchma "," Club of eccentrics "and others. Victory was awarded to the author of the name" Zucchini "13 chairs".

The authors drew ideas from Polish, Hungarian, Yugoslav and Czech humor magazines. Later, the miniatures were written by hundreds of authors, among whom were E. Uspensky, A. Arkanov, G. Gorin and others. Apart from jokes, foreign songs sounded in the program, which the actors sang to a phonogram. Zoya Zelinskaya - Mrs. Teresa - later admitted: “For television it was a godsend, but for us it was a real torment. Because it was very difficult to learn Czech, Hungarian, Polish without understanding what you are singing about. Men, especially Spartak Mishulin, indulged in tricks so that it was imperceptible that they did not fall into the phonogram. Spartak could not learn Hungarian and Czech songs in any way, so during the shooting he either lowered his head down or covered his mouth with something."

The opinion of the public then was very significant, and the requests of the audience were listened to. So, when Andrei Mironov replaced Belyavsky as the presenter, the audience bombarded the editorial office with letters demanding to replace the presenter, since he "suppresses the rest of the participants with his temperament, and we want to watch everyone." Therefore, Mironov conducted only two programs, and was replaced by Mikhail Derzhavin, who had been broadcasting a TV show for 14 years.

Each issue was prepared for about a month and aired live. At first, the program was black and white, and after moving to Ostankino it became colored and began to appear on the record. All jokes were heavily censored, as well as the appearance of the characters. Once Natalia Selezneva (Mrs. Katarina) was fined for the fact that she appeared on the screen in a too short skirt in one of the episodes of the program.

Despite its incredible popularity with viewers, the program would not have existed for 15 years if Brezhnev himself had not been its ardent admirer. Both critics and the management of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company were dissatisfied with this program and would have closed it much earlier if Brezhnev had not personally been interested in the fate of Zabachka on the air. To the chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting, he said: "Do what you want, but leave me the Zucchini and football."

The heroes of Zucchini were so popular that the audience called the actors by their on-screen names. The chief director of the Theater of Satire V. Pluchek was dissatisfied with this: the audience disrupted serious performances with thunderous ovations to the “Panamas and Pannas” as soon as they appeared on the stage. Women imitated their favorite heroines, trying to dress in the same way and do the same hairstyles. Olga Aroseva, who played Mrs. Monica, was very popular.

Zucchini was closed in 1980, after the aggravation of the political situation in Poland. The broadcast with the "pans" was considered politically incorrect. For 15 years, 133 episodes were aired, about 38 thousand letters were sent to the program. For Soviet audiences, "Zucchini" was an island of carelessness and even a kind of window to Europe, allowing them to see chic outfits and hear foreign music.

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