What a Country! is an American sitcom

Situation comedy

A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...

 that aired in syndication from September 27, 1986 to May 23, 1987.

Synopsis

Based on the British sitcom Mind Your Language

Mind Your Language

Mind Your Language is a British comedy television series, that premiered on ITV in late 1977. Produced by LWT and directed by Stuart Allen, it is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the English as a Foreign Language class taught by Mr. Jeremy Brown, portrayed by Barry Evans,...

, the series follows the theme of an American English language teacher (played by Garrett M. Brown) trying his best to teach a group of foreigners who are trying to pass the citizenship test. The characters include Nikolai, a Russian taxi driver (Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Naumovich Pokhis , better known as Yakov Smirnoff, is a Ukrainian-born American comedian, painter and teacher. He was popular in the 1980s for comedy performances in which he used irony and word play to contrast life under the Communist regime in his native Soviet Union with life in the...

, whose catchphrase provided the show's title), Laslo (a retired Hungarian doctor), Ali (a Pakistani), Robert (the son of a deposed African king), Maria (the housekeeper working for a rich Beverly Hills family), Victor (a Hispanic in love with Maria) and Yung Hee (a shy Chinese woman). Actress Gail Strickland

Gail Strickland

Gail Strickland is an American character actress.Strickland was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Theodosia and Lynn Strickland, who owned a tire shop...

 played the character of Principal Joan Courtney. During the series' short run, Don Knotts

Don Knotts

Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...

 replaced Gail Strickland as the school's principal.

The series aired a total of 26 episodes before being canceled.

Cast

• Garrett M. Brown.....Taylor Brown
• Yakov Smirnoff
  Yakov Smirnoff
  Yakov Naumovich Pokhis , better known as Yakov Smirnoff, is a Ukrainian-born American comedian, painter and teacher. He was popular in the 1980s for comedy performances in which he used irony and word play to contrast life under the Communist regime in his native Soviet Union with life in the...
  
  .....Nikolai Rostopovich
• George Murdock
  George Murdock (actor)
  George Murdock is an American actor.Known for frequently playing judges, , he also performed the role of "Big Daddy" in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the Arizona Theater Company during the 1988...
  
  .....Laszlo Gabo
• Vijay Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj
  Vijay Amritraj is a former Indian tennis player, sports commentator and actor.Amritraj was born in Chennai, India to Maggie Dhairyam and Robert Amritraj. He and his brothers, Anand Amritraj and Ashok Amritraj, were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis...
  
  .....Ali Nadim
• Harry Waters, Jr......Robert Muboto
• Ada Maris
  Ada Maris
  Ada Maris is a Mexican-American actress. She was born Ada Marentes and has been married to actor Tony Plana since 1988. They have two children.-Career:...
  
  .....Maria Conchita Lopez
• Julian Reyes.....Victor Ortega
• Leila Hee Olsen
  Kayla Blake
  Kayla Blake is an American actress. She is also credited as Leila Lee Olsen and Elsie Sniffen. She is best known for the role of Kim on the ABC Television series Sports Night....
  
  .....Yung Hi
• Gail Strickland
  Gail Strickland
  Gail Strickland is an American character actress.Strickland was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Theodosia and Lynn Strickland, who owned a tire shop...
  
  .....Principal Joan Courtney (Episodes 1-10)
• Don Knotts
  Don Knotts
  Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
  
  .....Principal F.J. "Bud" McPherson (Episodes 11-26)

Episodes

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate
1-1	"The First Class"	September 27, 1986
1-2	"The Soul Man"	October 4, 1986
1-3	"A Busboy Named Desire"	October 11, 1986
1-4	"Don't Leave Home Without It"	October 18, 1986
1-5	"My Fair Yung Hi"	October 25, 1986
1-6	"Holiday on Ice"	November 1, 1986
1-7	"The Best Laid Plans"	November 8, 1986
1-8	"Chicken a la Prince"	November 15, 1986
1-9	"A Birthday With Class"	November 22, 1986
1-10	"Ali's Arrangement"	December 20, 1986
1-11	"Taylor Loses His Cool"	January 10, 1987
1-12	"The Road From Morocco"	January 17, 1987
1-13	"Nikolai Speaks"	January 24, 1987
1-14	"California Dreamin'"	February 7, 1987
1-15	"Moonlighting"	February 14, 1987
1-16	"Play it Again, F"	February 21, 1987
1-17	"Citizen Pain"	February 28, 1987
1-18	"Educating Inga"	March 7, 1987
1-19	"Victor at an Exhibition"	March 14, 1987
1-20	"What a Tangled Web We Weave"	March 28, 1987
1-21	"Love Finds Nikolai"	April 4, 1987
1-22	"We're in the Muboto's"	April 11, 1987
1-23	"What Are Friends For?"	May 2, 1987
1-24	"The Candidate"	May 9, 1987
1-25	"The Apartment"	May 16, 1987
1-26	"Old World Charmer"	May 23, 1987