When the Krokodil staffers visited the USA in 1989, one of the people they saw at UCLA at the humor conference was George Carlin. Carlin was the featured American speaker. I don't think the Krokodil folks knew who he was. Anyway, I was nervously sitting in the audience, waiting to meet Mr. Florentiev and the other Russians (and an Estonian). After the conference was over (with me still sitting humbly in the audience) they all met out in the lobby. When Mr. Florentiev found out who I was (after a false start to be described later) he shouted out for all the Krokodil staffers to gather around me, leaving George Carlin in their wake. Apparently my writings were very popular in Russia (I heard that the Politburo folks read them so it was nice to know Gorby read my stuff). The strange thing is that George Carlin was part of the crowd that gathered around me as I launched into some funny stories (having quickly shed the timidity I felt earlier). The best part of the evening was talking to Leonid Florentiev and the other Krokodil staffers (plus the Estonian from his own humor magazine). Carlin came over and talked to me as well, probably wondering what the hell was going on. Also on hand was Robert Easton, the comedy actor who does great hillbilly accents (I discussed "The Loved One" with him since it is one of my favorite movies). Another humorist was there as well. It was the guy who was the cousin of a former senator from Oklahoma. Can one of you Okies out there help me in recalling his name?
Anyway, there was much MUCH more to that incredible evening and my experiences with Krokodil.
Yes, it sure did go to my head but I was quickly brought back to earth the next time I had to deal with American editors whose normal mode was to treat me like dirt.
P.S. I would love to get in touch with George Carlin (great guy) to see what he remembers from that incredible evening.