the show made it seem like they are just cold blooded killers. that is not true. they also like vodka. haha

I think most of us realize that the actions of a few are not representative of the country as a whole. This group of guys were cold blooded killers. They never said all of the Ukraine was heartless.

Half the time they referred to them as Russians or as speaking Russian. Similar but different languages -- I guess the scriptwriters didn't know any better.

Another excellent episode of BN.

BTW, the plural of "Ukrainian" should have no apostrophe.

Since Mike wasn't going up against the Ukrainian School Teacher's Union but members of their mob I kind of expected the cold blooded killer part. That didn't mean I came away from the show with the impression all Ukrainians are cold blooded killers.

I love JackDempsey, but don't you guys know he likes to jerk our chains?

it is rather a mix of Polish, Russian and Ukrainian. Believe me, I know it;) Peter J. Lucas (Chechlik) is a Polish actor. It was great to hear mother tongue in BN It is a shame that actors and actress from east Europe always play bad characters or prostitutes. I think they have a lot more to show.

P.S Vodka is fantastic

oh dear, I'm Irish, but I LOVE vodka...do you think (gasp) I might have a lil eastern European blood in my lineage? teeheehee...

All Europe loves vodka;) There is some many Poles in Ireland so everything is possible
I love irish cream;)

Good vodka is a beautiful thing!

So, if there was ever a group who could say that, it's my people, the Italians. I mean, come on, when's the last time you saw say, an Italian dentist on TV .

And since the topic seemed to deteriorate (or upgrade) to vodka...has anybody tried the AK-47 guy's brand? Kalishnakov...Did hooked on phonics work for that one? Anyway, who doesn't love vodka? Level is THE best. And smirnoff black cherry with sprite. Wow, I sound like I need a 12 step program or something.

Sorry, but if you're mixing vodka with Sprite, you don't really love vodka. You like black-cherry flavored Sprite. I prefer Grey Goose: soooooo smooth. Of course, Grey Goose is French, lol!

I wasn't going to chime in on this but since we've shifted from Ukranians to vodka...count me in! I too am Irish, but love vodka...and Grey Goose. Man that stuff is good. No offense to the Russians but somehow the French figured out how to make Vodka! I was/still am an Absolut girl when I can't afford the good stuff (Grey Goose), and the only "flavored" vodka I will drink is Absolut Citron. Not even GG citroen will do it for me. And, I drink my vodka with club soda. Ahhhh, smooth and dry! Enjoy safely everyone!

And on the Ukranian note...I think they called them Russians more than anything else...and of course it's only those militant mercenary types. I live in Chicago where we have probably the most diverse of defined neighborhoods in the country. There's Ukranian Village, for example, and there are no men in military garb swarming a swamp there in search of anyone! It's a fun up and coming spot!

I think Chechik was Ukrainian, but he himself told Michael he had joined with Russians and Belorussians to form a syndicate. He called it the American Dream. This was when he was talking to Michael on the radio.
We seem to have identical taste buds: my preferred mixer is club soda and I also like Absolut Citron! I can't seem to get tonic water. I think it's because I took a big gulp of my mom's gin and tonic as a child, thinking it was a Sprite...bad memory, lol! And I'm not a gin person, either. And, I'll echo your message: enjoy safely, whatever your adult beverage may be!

Chicago is such a cool city! How neat that you have so many "neighborhoods". I imagine there's a festival going on in the city every weekend. Yum!

Where are you from exactly? My next post will make clear why I'm curious.

I think lots of folks here know that I'm Russian. I usually just say Russian because in the mid 70's when I was born it was USSR..Russia and not what it is today... The Ukraine. I was born in a port city named Odessa but came to the states as a wee baby. What's really funny is that when Ukrainian's are portrayed on TV are usually a prostitute or a gangster or some KGB guy/gal whatnot. I've always found that funny.

What I love about BN is that when they get have foreign languages spoken they can genuinely speak the language and all of the Russian spoken was pitch perfect to me. As for refering to the language as Russian and men as Ukrainian... that isn't wrong or unusual. Personally we call ourselves Russian and the language we speak we refer to as Russian because unless you were born there in the last 15 years, most folks considered themselves Russian and learned the Russian language. None of the Ukrainians I know actually speak what is considered Ukrainian. Pre the wall coming down the largest Russian Special forces, their equal to Delta Force were recruited from what is now known at The Ukraine.

And for as much as Absolute isn't a Russian made vodka, it has pretty well been adopted as such, so in my family that is what's drunk.. and drunk often.. and regularly.

Oh yes, let me just say that hearing Jeffrey Donovan speak Russian is always such a treat. He sounded dead on to me. I just wish there was more.

Ha! Yes, there are neighborhood festivals every weekend all summer long. It's like the city's population multiplies in the summer; everyone who has been hibernating all winter comes outside! I live in a distinctly Polish neighborhood; there's a huge German neighborhood, Scandinavian, Italian, China town, Irish on the south side, Indian (with great food!), etc.

And evelina, thanks for the insight on the language. I too love me a Michael Westen speaking a foreign language. Hot hot hot! I'm glad to hear that it was so authentic. Thanks!

Very interesting discussion, one and all! I've learned a lot along the way, thank you for the info.

I love how Burn Notice powers that be pay such loving attention to the show - that they get the language right; that the lead actor knows how to speak Russian (I too am hoping for more cover IDs/Michael Westen scenes involving the Russian language - it's a beautiful language). Little details like this really *do* make all the difference - it's much appreciated!

As for the portrayal of Ukrainians - indeed it does seem that in TV land, all Ukrainians are in the mafia, are terrorists or war criminals, or are prostitutes being sent abroad as mail order brides. It's peculiar...I have no idea why this is the case. Everything I've heard about the Ukraine, is that it's an absolutely lovely country with fantastic farming communities and cultured cities (notably Kiev). I would love to visit there someday.

Also, like my fellow BN fans I too love vodka. My absolute favorite vodka was always Grey Goose...and then I tried Ketel One on my birthday. And now I have to say they're both tied for top spot. Ketel One has a taste that blends beautifully with olives. So if you like vodka martinis, give Ketel One a shot! The worst vodka I've ever had was Rainn (an organic vodka). I almost felt sick to my stomach after drinking this. It's a sweet vodka...very peculiar taste. And finally - like others, I also like Absolut - it's a great vodka that's reasonably priced.

Also, I recently tried a pomegranate infused vodka - I will need to get the brand name from a friend of mine, but wow, was it yummy.

Well, I like Vodka and am part Polish and Russian as well as Native American and Mexican. But everyone thinks I am either Russian, Italian, Swedish or Irish (mainly when my hair was auburn). I have seen many shows where they dipict every different ethnicity the way they think they are. Some are offensive at times but others are hysterical. It all depends on the writing and situation. BTW, I can't speak any of the languages, I talk like a gringa. But I can understand Spanish to a degree. El Faro in the Village is good for Spanish food and of course The Russian Tea Room which was revamped after being sold and reopened off the famed 57th street, And I have a few Russian tennis players who love Caviar Russe off Madison Avenue.

Vodka doesnt mix with my stomach very well. Whenever I drink, its mostly rum, or whiskey. I'll drink as much rum or whiskey as you can throw in front of me, but as soon as I take even the smallest sip of vodka, my stomach turns inside out.

But, that means more for you guys!

and I love burn notice, just throwing that out there.

Jeff Donovan must have read this thread and went out drinking and got a DUI this weekend. I wonder if he was drinking vodka. Slava Ukraini

I'll be glad to mix up a mojito or a whisky sour for you, McLovin. Some of us are in the bar car on the Crazy Train, waiting for Thursday night! We don't want anyone getting sick, so we'll eliminate the vodka supply for you.

Yes melybelle! No worries, Mclovin, the bar car on the Crazy Train accomodates all tastes! Plenty of rum and whiskey for you, plenty of vodka for us, and a stop on Thursday night at USA!!

Maybe the producers of the show will make a Burn Notice Vodka. It is a catchy name for a Vodka. Sam would be a great spokesman.They can make it in the Ukraine.