From the hollowed hills of Kentucky to the horrors of Hurricane Katrina – from the beaches of Brooklyn to the bayous of Cajun country – the inquisitive Russians searched for the soul of America. Concurrently, they shared slices of Siberian and Post-Soviet life through reports they played on the TV wall to crowds of Americans who gathered around the bus, eager to exchange ideas and experiences.

DCTV co-founder and 15-time Emmy® Award winner, Jon Alpert, who produced the tour, remarked: “This is how modern media can be a tool to build communication and understanding between cultures.  We often learn about ourselves as a people by what we show to visitors.  There are moments of astonishing revelation, in which what I think is the real heart and soul of America, is shared with our guests.”

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING marks the continued collaboration between Link TV the CyberCar and DCTV. In 2002, DCTV’s CyberCar was utilized for MAIN STREET USA, a tour that visited 10 American towns and cities showing reports on Afghanistan, Ground Zero, and Iraq, while gathering the feelings of Americans on the anniversary of September 11th.  

It was hoped that THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING would be the first of many collaborations between the American and Russian peoples.  Millions of Russians have already viewed the reports that the Russian reporters made.  But on April 18th of this year the Russian police raided the office of Internews Moscow and shut the organization down.

The free exchange and the free press this program celebrates, are under attack and could be eliminated.

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING will be broadcast this Sunday, July 8th at 9:30pm EST on Link TV (channel 375 on DIRECTV  and channel 9410 on DISH Network) re-broadcast July 9th-12th (check local listings).

This is the film Borat might have made if he was a real reporter – and not a poser.  It’s not without its funny moments – like when Max Voronin gets arrested for stealing a bag of potato chips or meets his first alligator.  

But the spirit of the United States is the real star.  The wisdom of Pat Summitt – champion basketball coach – the poetic verses of Tab Benoit – singer/songwriter – the searing words of the survivors of the 9th Ward in New Orleans – give the Russians insight into America. As Ksenia Cherepanova concludes at the end of her voyage, “I used to think that Americans were stupid. But now I’m not sure. Because how could stupid people build such a great country?”