The broham part I swiped from a very funny skit on "SNL", starring Horatio Sanz.
He and his cast-mate played Turkish swingers-kind of like the roles Steve Martin and Dan Ackroyd played years before-who hosted their own TV chat show.
The phrase "Do not dub me shapka" comes from Everything is Illuminating.
It's probably one of the most amusing, touching novels that's come out in recent memory, even if the conclusion is kind of depressing.
Oh, I should have known. My Russian is a little rusty as an English descendent, never having been to Russia. (shaking head in disbelief, and rolling eyes).