The Samsonadzes
Encyclopedia
The Samsonadzes is a Georgia
n animated
television
sitcom
created and produced by Shalva Ramishvili. It first aired in Georgia in November 2009. It almost immediately became a "hit", "taking Georgia by storm" and "sho[oting] to the number two spot among the most-popular shows on one of Georgia's main TV channels". It has been described as "bearing more than a passing resemblance" to the United States
animated television sitcom The Simpsons
.
The Samsonadzes are "a yellow-skinned cartoon family, consisting of a dopey husband" (Gela Samsonadze, who works in a bank) "and his lavishly coiffed wife, who live in a made-up city with their children", Shorena and Gia. They also have a parrot, Koke. Their home city has been noted for its apparent resemblance to Tbilisi
.
Ramishvili has stated that the series aimed to be "relevant to Georgian reality and touch on social issues that will resonate with a Georgian audience", while its chief scriptwriter, Zviad Bliadze, explained: "We just took an average family and made a parody of the common traits, like laziness or love of alcohol."
The series has attracted some attention by featuring Russia
n leaders in a negative light, in a context of tense Georgia–Russia relations
. Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin
appears in one episode, sending a spy into Georgia. Ramishvili described this criticism of the Russian government as "simply our civil liberty and duty". The Independent
, however, has remarked that there are "no plans to introduce the controversial Georgian President
, Mikheil Saakashvili
" into the programme, and Russia Today
has noted that the series' creators "make lots of fun of Russian politicians, while forgetting their own."
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n animated
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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...
created and produced by Shalva Ramishvili. It first aired in Georgia in November 2009. It almost immediately became a "hit", "taking Georgia by storm" and "sho[oting] to the number two spot among the most-popular shows on one of Georgia's main TV channels". It has been described as "bearing more than a passing resemblance" to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animated television sitcom The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
The Samsonadzes are "a yellow-skinned cartoon family, consisting of a dopey husband" (Gela Samsonadze, who works in a bank) "and his lavishly coiffed wife, who live in a made-up city with their children", Shorena and Gia. They also have a parrot, Koke. Their home city has been noted for its apparent resemblance to Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
.
Ramishvili has stated that the series aimed to be "relevant to Georgian reality and touch on social issues that will resonate with a Georgian audience", while its chief scriptwriter, Zviad Bliadze, explained: "We just took an average family and made a parody of the common traits, like laziness or love of alcohol."
The series has attracted some attention by featuring Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n leaders in a negative light, in a context of tense Georgia–Russia relations
Georgia–Russia relations
Georgia–Russia relations are the relations between Georgia and Russia and between the Georgian and Russian people in particular, lasting from the 18th century....
. Russian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Russia
The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation The use of the term "Prime Minister" is strictly informal and is not allowed for by the Russian Constitution and other laws....
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
appears in one episode, sending a spy into Georgia. Ramishvili described this criticism of the Russian government as "simply our civil liberty and duty". The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, however, has remarked that there are "no plans to introduce the controversial Georgian President
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
, Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
" into the programme, and Russia Today
Russia Today
Russia Today may refer to:* Russia Today, an English language 24-hour television news channel from Russia. It was launched in 2005 and is not related to an online news service of the similar name operated by EIN News...
has noted that the series' creators "make lots of fun of Russian politicians, while forgetting their own."
Episodes
Season 1- 0. rogor sheqmna samsonadzeebi (How to Create a Samsonadzes)
- 1. samsaxuri bankshi 1tetris gamo ar daagvianot (Work on Bank For 1 Money)
- 2. droxa ar gaiyida (Please get me away Cow)
- 3. brdzola kinoze: qeto da kote (Battle for Movie: Qeto and Kote)
- 4. matyuara shen, shen martla matyuara, mcxvenia (You're the Evil)
- 5. ormagi gela (Double Gela)
- 6. 3054 G2S1
- 7. dodos vakacia (Dodo's Vacation)
- 8. es dzarcvaa! (That's Evil-Team)
- 9. gela asrulebs ocnebebs (Gelatown's First Land of Santa's Surprise)
- 10. boroti samsonadzeebis ojaxi (Evil Samsonadzeebi's Family)
- 11. Simpsonebi samsonadzeebshi (Simpsons on My Family)
- 12, 13. ra aris bedoba nawili 1 da 2
- 14. bevri fuli ojaxshi (Most Money in Family)
- 15. fantastikuri dzala ojaxshi (Most Power on Family)
- 16. diktatoruli yinuli (Dictatoring Ice)
- 17. lavas miwa (Hot-Lava-Land)
- 18. boroti daqali dodos (Evil Dodo's Girlfriend)