Crappy American sitcoms becoming crappy Russian sitcoms

In a story that suggests that American-style capitalism may end up damaging Russia as much as communism, the Russian version of the wacky '80s sitcom Perfect Strangers is a big hit in the comedy-starved nation. Originally airing on ABC from 1986 to 1993, Perfect Strangers was about a pair of cousins—nervous Larry (Mark Linn-Baker) and funny foreigner Balki (Bronson Pinchot)—living together in Chicago. The Russian version, which is called Brat'ya po-raznomu (a much funnier title than Perfect Strangers, actually) is about "two guys, one with a Moscow psychology, the other with a provincial outlook," actor Anton Eldarov told The Hollywood Reporter. "Two 'grotesque' types — exactly the same ethos as the U.S. series." Warner Bros. International Television, which produces Brat'ya po-raznomu, is planning Russian versions of other crappy U.S. sitcoms such as Suddenly Susan, Step by Step and Full House. Quick: What's the Russian translation for "How rude?"