The show functioned as an "encyclopedia of the variety genre," blending Petrosyan's monologues with archival and modern performances by legendary and emerging comedians. Key Facts and Highlights
: Every episode began with a quote by Pierre Beaumarchais: "I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep" .
The program originally debuted on (formerly Ostankino) before moving to Rossiya-1 . While it enjoyed high ratings for years, it also faced criticism from modern audiences and professional rivals. Notably, a long-standing tension existed between Smekhopanorama and the KVN teams, who accused the show of recycling their jokes—a conflict that contributed to its eventual departure from Channel One. The End of the Era
The show functioned as an "encyclopedia of the variety genre," blending Petrosyan's monologues with archival and modern performances by legendary and emerging comedians. Key Facts and Highlights
: Every episode began with a quote by Pierre Beaumarchais: "I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep" . The show functioned as an "encyclopedia of the
The program originally debuted on (formerly Ostankino) before moving to Rossiya-1 . While it enjoyed high ratings for years, it also faced criticism from modern audiences and professional rivals. Notably, a long-standing tension existed between Smekhopanorama and the KVN teams, who accused the show of recycling their jokes—a conflict that contributed to its eventual departure from Channel One. The End of the Era The show functioned as an "encyclopedia of the
