Заседание продолжается, господа присяжные заседатели!

The Russians seem to love their heroes flamboyant, witty, sneaky, wreaking havoc and living well above their means. Listening to "Twelve Chairs" by Ilf and Petrov I keep getting a "Carlson who lives on the Roof" feeling. Aren't Carlson and Ostap Bender one and the same?