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Cultural References
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There are a few pop cultural references that every Russian would absolutely know. If you would like to impress a Russian or anybody from former Soviet republic you should know about them and how to use them.
1) Cheburashka.(Чебурашка) It is a furry fictional character with long floppy ears. Girls absolutely, positively dig this furry poppy eyed creature. Usage: When showing affection you can call someone Chebu, Cheburahka. Usage: " Hope our Cheburama will pass that health care reform."
 2) Shtirlitz. (Штирлиц) Fictional super hero. A mix between James Bond and Hamlet. Very popular character of jokes and puns. Usage: When facing a moral dilemma of calling in sick to extend your vacation ask what would Shtrilitz do in such situation.
 3) Kot Leopold. (Кот Леопольд) Famous for a wishful thinking phrase "Guys, let's get along " (Ребята, давайте жить дружно). He says it couple of times
during every cartoon to two pretty stubborn rats who are trying to do some
damage to him every time. Everlasting battle of good and evil with good being
victorious every time and the morality phrase at the end of the cartoon strikes a particular nerve with
Russians. So the phrase is used only sarcastically.
4) Korobochka.(Коробочка) A character from Gogol's " Dead Souls". A pathologically greedy old woman who collects everything. A Packrat.” Phonetically "Korobochka" sounds funny and petty to Russian ear. Usage: "My girlfriend is such a Korobochka she never troughs away any plastic bags from Ralphs.” In general "Dead Souls" one must read book to certify as Russian literature connoisseur, way before the passions of Dostoevsky or God forbid masochistic "War and Piece"
5) "I don't take bribes, affairs of the state are my affairs" (Я мзду не беру. Мне за державу обидно) - comes from a movie character that is facing a moral dilemma of choosing between yielding to mobsters and being the last official to represent Russia in the distant location. Usage: Say this phrase anytime a situation calls for higher ethical grounds to emphasize your superb morals. Vereshagin, the character is considered to be the Last patriot of Russia. As the part of a tradition all Russian astronauts night before the launch into the space watch the movie “The White Sun of the Desert". The song from the movie became somewhat an anthem to several generations. It is an absolutely first song that a beginner guitarist learns.
6) "This pickled fish is a fantastic garbage" (Какая гадость эта ваша заливная рыба) - you say this phrase to show extreme affection to the person you are dining with. Also can be used as ultimate rejection phrase to someone's genuine effort. Comes from Russian phenomena movie "Ironia Sud’bu" If you find a Russian who never saw it, rush to get the lottery ticket - you are on the defying all the odds streak.
7) "Don't put the noodles over my ears" - don't lie. (Не вешай лапшу на уши.) If you can't take the lies anymore, you can ask for the scoop to catch all the extra dripping noodles from your ears. 
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