Trailer Park Boys

Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian mockumentary television series created by Mike Clattenburg. A continuation of Clattenburg's 1999 film of the same title, the show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The series premiered on Showcase on April 22, 2001, and originally ran for seven seasons before concluding with a one-hour special on December 7, 2008.[1] The series has spawned three other films to date: The Movie, released on October 6, 2006; Countdown to Liquor Day, released on September 25, 2009; and Don't Legalize It, released on April 18, 2014.

This article is about the television series. For movies based on the series, see Trailer Park Boys § Films and specials.
Trailer Park Boys
Genre
Created byMike Clattenburg
Starring
Voices ofMike Smith
Theme music composerBlain Morris
Composers
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons13
No. of episodes112 (+10 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Gary Howsam
  • Erica Benson
  • Norm Bolen
  • Rachel Fulford
  • Laura Michalchyshyn
Producers
  • Mike Clattenburg
  • Barrie Dunn
  • Michael Volpe
  • Jonathan Walker
  • Mike Smith
  • John Paul Tremblay
  • Robb Wells
Cinematography
  • Adamm Liley
  • David Albiston
  • Mike Clattenburg
Editors
  • Jeremy Harty
  • Irving Thatcher
  • Sarah Byrne
  • Caley MacLennan
  • Mike Clattenburg
Camera setupMultiple-camera
Running timeapprox. 23 minutes (S1–S7)
23–32 minutes (S8–S12)
30–47 minutes (specials)
Production companies
  • Trailer Park Productions (2001–2008)
  • Topsail Entertainment (2001–2008)
  • Showcase Television (2001–2008)
  • Sunnyvale Productions (2014–present)
  • Swearnet Pictures (2014–present)
Distributor
Release
Original network
Picture format
Audio format
Original releaseOriginal series
April 22, 2001 (2001-04-22) –
December 7, 2008 (2008-12-07)
Revival
September 5, 2014 (2014-09-05) –
present
External links
Website

In 2013, Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, and Mike Smith, the actors who respectively portrayed Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles, purchased the rights to the show from the original producers and created their own internet streaming network, "Swearnet". From March 2014, Swearnet co-produced the first new episodes of the show with the American streaming service Netflix, beginning with the eighth season on September 5, 2014, as well as several specials and mini-series. An animated spinoff series premiered on March 31, 2019.[2]

In October 2019, Smith revealed that filming had begun on another season.[3] Later announced in December 2020 to be titled Trailer Park Boys: Jail, the season premiered on Swearnet on January 1, 2021. A second Christmas special was also announced, featuring unseen footage of John Dunsworth before his death in October 2017.[4]

History

In 1998, director Mike Clattenburg wrote and directed a short film titled One Last Shot, which was shot in black-and-white. The film followed the exploits of two friends, Rob (Robb Wells) and Gary William or GW (John Paul Tremblay), although it is not based in the same setting as Trailer Park Boys. It was the first time Robb, John Paul and John Dunsworth worked together. In the 1999 feature film Trailer Park Boys, the character Julian states to the camera that he wanted his life to be documented after receiving a telephone psychic's prediction that he would die soon. He hoped that the film would deter others from the life of crime he had chosen.

The feature film was shown at the Atlantic Film Festival in 1999, and it caught the attention of producer Barrie Dunn, who saw the potential for a TV series. Clattenburg and Dunn, along with Wells and Tremblay, worked on a proposal for a 13-episode season of the show and traveled to Toronto to pitch the show to The Comedy Network. After being turned down, they suddenly decided to pitch the show to Showcase before returning home to Nova Scotia.

They found that the network was receptive and sent them back with a commitment to a first season, with the provision that a second experienced producer (which ended up being Michael Volpe) be brought on board to assist the team. The first six 30-minute episodes were then written and filmed. Some modifications were made to the characters and storyline for the series, and more humor was added to the series in comparison to the film.

The biggest change from film to series was the addition of Mike Smith's "Bubbles" character, who was originally developed for the earlier short film The Cart Boy, a film that Smith, Wells, Tremblay, and Clattenburg worked on together in 1995. Smith's character soon grew from a recurring character to one of the show's primary protagonists (although in the earlier film, "Bubbles" was the name of Smith's character's cat). Trailer Park Boys resided with Showcase for its first seven seasons.[5] Beginning with the eighth season, the series was released through Netflix.

Early seasons were shot in various trailer parks in Nova Scotia, but the crew was not welcome to film again due to complaints from residents. Space was purchased and a functional trailer park set was built in Dartmouth for later seasons, giving the staff more freedom than at previous locations. When the series returned from hiatus beginning with Season 8, it was shot at Bible Hill Estates Trailer Park in Truro, Nova Scotia, with every subsequent episode being filmed at that location. After the 12th season, they ceased filming at the location and removed all sets and props from Bible Hill Estates, which still exists as an operating land lease community.

On September 1, 2014, Netflix announced that season 8 of Trailer Park Boys would be available on September 5. Season 9 of Trailer Park Boys was made available on March 27, 2015.[6] On June 1, 2015, Swearnet officially announced that the production of Season 10 was underway.[7] On March 28, 2016, Netflix released season 10 of the Trailer Park Boys. It consisted of 10 episodes and includes appearances from several well-known stars such as Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Kimmel, Doug Benson and Tom Arnold. Two episodes were directed by Bobby Farrelly. On April 2, 2016, and on April 20, 2016, Lucy DeCoutere and Jonathan Torrens announced they were leaving the show. On May 30, 2016, filming and production began for Season 11 of Trailer Park Boys. On July 5, 2016, filming for Season 11 was completed and editing began. On February 22, it was announced that Season 11 would air March 31, 2017. On March 31, 2017, Season 11 aired. On June 19, 2017, it was announced that filming of the twelfth season is officially underway. On October 16, 2017, John Dunsworth died at the age of 71, with Season 12 marking his final appearance on the show. Season 12, the final season produced as part of the Netflix deal was made available on March 30, 2018.

On October 16, 2017, actor John Dunsworth, who played Jim Lahey, died after a short illness.[8] Filming for the twelfth season had begun in June 2017 and concluded in August, marking his final appearance on the show.[9][10] The final episode of Season 12 featured a tribute to Dunsworth.

Premise

Setting and characters
Main article: List of Trailer Park Boys characters

Episodes revolve around Sunnyvale Trailer Park residents Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles trying to make money through petty crimes while avoiding the police. Their schemes are complicated by the interference of the park's vindictive alcoholic supervisor Jim Lahey and his assistant and romantic partner, Randy. Ricky and Julian's incompetence is rivaled by Lahey's drunken ineptitude. Throughout the series, Ricky, Julian and Bubbles end up in and out of jail, with most of their schemes collapsing into failure. Later seasons adopted a cyclical formula: each season finale featured the boys' schemes succeeding, and their future looking optimistic, while the next season's premiere would show them explaining how everything had gone wrong in the interim. Fans learned to expect that seasons would somehow end with some or all of the main characters going to jail.

Each character has his or her own trademark mannerism or trait. Julian often takes a leadership role and devises schemes, all while holding a Cuba Libre on the rocks in his hand. Ricky believes himself to be dumb, and his speech is often laced with malapropisms that fans call "Rickyisms"; he lives in a dilapidated 1975 Chrysler New Yorker (nicknamed "the Shitmobile"), and grows marijuana. Bubbles wears spectacles that magnify his eyes to an unusual extent, drives a go-kart, and lives in a shed with many cats; he is the least likely to face any repercussions for the trio's illegal activities. Alcoholic trailer park supervisor and ex-cop Jim Lahey usually attempts to derail the Boys' schemes, and nearly always shoehorns the word "shit" into his cautionary metaphors that fans call "Shitisms." Randy is Lahey's assistant and lover; he never wears a shirt unless he absolutely has to and is often taunted for his large gut and addiction to cheeseburgers.

There are also a number of minor characters. Ricky's wheelchair-bound father Ray is a former trucker and self-declared Calvinist, who is secretly committing disability fraud, in addition to being an alcoholic and gambling addict. Barbara is the trailer park owner and Lahey's ex-wife. Cory and Trevor are hapless best friends who assist and idolize Ricky and Julian, often unaware that they will serve as scapegoats when Ricky and Julian's plans inevitably go awry; Jacob later replaces Trevor after his disappearance from Sunnyvale. Lucy is the mother of Ricky's daughter Trinity, while Sarah, a friend, moved in with Lucy after Ricky's first imprisonment. J-Roc is a white aspiring rapper who genuinely thinks he is black; he is rarely seen without his friend Tyrone, who actually is black.

Production

Format

The series is shot in a mockumentary style (including the use of long takes), featuring handheld camera work. Characters often speak directly to crew members, who frequently become involved in the plot. In one episode, a crewman is shot; in another, one is tased by Jim Lahey. The show is loosely scripted, with much of the dialogue ad-libbed from basic plot points. These aspects are intended to evoke a sense of realism. The trio have stated that many of the show's most popular moments were not in the script. To support the "lore" that the show is nonfiction, many of the actors (particularly Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith, John Dunsworth and Patrick Roach) often make public appearances in character.

Cast
Character Actor Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Julian John Paul Tremblay Main
Ricky Robb Wells Main
Bubbles Mike Smith Main
Jim Lahey John Dunsworth Main
Randy Patrick Roach Main
Sarah Sarah E. Dunsworth Main
Tyrone Tyrone Parsons Main
Barbara Lahey Shelley Thompson Main Main
Cory Cory Bowles Main Main
J-Roc Jonathan Torrens Main
Lucy Lucy DeCoutere Main
Trinity Jeanna Harrison Main Main
Jacob Collins Jacob Rolfe Recurring Main
George Green George Green Recurring Main Recurring Main
Ray Barrie Dunn Main
Trevor Michael Jackson Main
Sam Losco Sam Tarasco Recurring Main Recurring Recurring Main Recurring
Cyrus Bernard Robichaud Recurring Recurring Main Main Recurring
Don/Donna Leigh MacInnis Main Recurring
Detective Ted Johnston Jim Swansburg Recurring Recurring Recurring Main Recurring
Philadelphia "Phil" Collins Richard Collins Recurring Main
Detroit Velvet Smooth Garry James Recurring Main
Treena Lahey Elliot Page Main
Marguerite Murphy Marguerite McNeil Recurring Main
Levi Ardon Bess Main
Desiree Sandi Ross Main

Episodes
Main article: List of Trailer Park Boys episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
16April 22, 2001 (2001-04-22)May 27, 2001 (2001-05-27)Showcase
27June 23, 2002 (2002-06-23)August 4, 2002 (2002-08-04)
38April 20, 2003 (2003-04-20)June 8, 2003 (2003-06-08)
48April 11, 2004 (2004-04-11)May 30, 2004 (2004-05-30)
510April 17, 2005 (2005-04-17)June 19, 2005 (2005-06-19)
66April 16, 2006 (2006-04-16)May 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)
710April 8, 2007 (2007-04-08)June 10, 2007 (2007-06-10)
810September 5, 2014 (2014-09-05)Netflix
910March 27, 2015 (2015-03-27)
1010March 25, 2016 (2016-03-25)
1110March 31, 2017 (2017-03-31)
1210March 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
136January 1, 2021 (2021-01-01)presentSwearnet.com

Films and specials

Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Main article: Trailer Park Boys: The Movie

A movie based on the television series (and the second film in the franchise to be produced overall), titled Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (also known as The Big Dirty) was released on October 6, 2006, and distributed by Alliance Atlantis. Ivan Reitman produced the movie, Mike Clattenburg directed it, and Clattenburg and Robb Wells co-wrote it. It was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Motion Picture, but did not win.

Countdown to Liquor Day
Main article: Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day

The second film based on the series, Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, was released in Canada on September 25, 2009.[11] The movie serves as a continuation to the show's original seven season run.

Don't Legalize It
Main article: Trailer Park Boys: Don't Legalize It

In May 2012, Mike Clattenburg announced on his Twitter page that a third film was in development.[12] Principal photography was scheduled to begin in October 2012, but was pushed back to March 2013;[13] filming began on March 17, 2013.[14] On April 20, 2013, the production moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where filming took place at Parliament Hill during the 4/20 weekend.[15][16] Entertainment One announced that the third and final film, titled Trailer Park Boys 3: Don't Legalize It, would be released in Canada on April 18, 2014.[17]

The plot centers around Ricky's concerns that if the Canadian government legalized and controlled marijuana sale, it would put his grow-op out of business.[18]

Live in Fuckin' Dublin

A new 80-minute special titled Trailer Park Boys: Live In Fuckin' Dublin debuted on June 1, 2014, exclusively on Netflix.[19] Footage from the trio's May 9, 2013, performance at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, the Ricky, Julian and Bubbles Community Service Variety Show, was collected for a concert film. The live show contains an introduction and epilogue shot in the format of a Trailer Park Boys episode, with the premise that the boys are arrested in Dublin and forced to serve community service by staging a puppet show discouraging drug and alcohol use. Some elements from the television series return in Live in Fuckin' Dublin, such as Alex Lifeson's (from the band Rush) feud with Ricky, Ricky's inadvertently gluing objects to his nose, and Conky's many resurrections. The film was released on June 1, 2014. The season 8 episode "Community Service and a Boner Made with Love" contains a similar premise.

DVD releases

Entertainment One (formerly Alliance Home Entertainment) has released all twelve seasons of Trailer Park Boys on DVD in Region 1. The Say Goodnight to The Bad Guys special was also released on Blu-ray.

DVD Name Episodes Release date
The Complete First and Second Seasons 13 May 27, 2003[20]
The Complete Third Season 8 April 6, 2004[21]
The Complete Fourth Season 8 April 12, 2005[22]
Christmas Special 1 November 15, 2005[23]
The Complete Fifth Season 10 May 9, 2006[24]
The Complete Sixth Season 6 May 8, 2007[25]
The Complete Seventh Season 10 May 6, 2008[26]
Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys 1 December 7, 2010[27]
The Complete Eighth Season 10 December 9, 2014[28]
The Complete Ninth Season 10 June 2, 2015[29]
The Complete Tenth Season 10 October 4, 2016[30]
The Complete Eleventh Season 10 April 3, 2018[31]
The Complete Twelfth Season 10 April 2, 2019[32]
The Complete Series 55 June 16, 2009[33]
The Complete Collection 55 October 11, 2011[34]
Dressed All Over (The Complete Collection) 55 eps., 2 specials and 2 films November 5, 2013[35]

Reception

The show became very successful in many countries. The show's lead trio formerly toured with Our Lady Peace, with whom Bubbles sings his trademark song "Liquor and Whores".[36] On January 13, 2017, Trailer Park Boys and Bubbles finally released "Liquor & Whores" as an EDM track produced by Canadian Multi-Platinum producer, Marc Mysterio on Sony Music.[37][38] The Trailer Park Boys have also appeared in music videos with The Tragically Hip, while Bubbles has appeared with George Canyon and Snow, and they have been presenters at numerous award shows – always in character. Several famous artists appear on the show, such as Alex Lifeson from Rush in "Closer to the Heart," singer Rita MacNeil in the season four finale "Working Man," Brian Vollmer from Helix, Sebastian Bach from Skid Row, and the late singer-songwriter Denny Doherty of The Mamas and the Papas in the season seven finale "A Shitriver Runs Through It".

The show is a great success for the cable network Showcase, where it is the network's highest-rated Canadian series. It airs in Australia on The Comedy Channel, in the United Kingdom and Spain on Paramount Comedy, in the Republic of Ireland on 3e, in Iceland on SkjárEinn, in New Zealand on TV 2, in Israel on Xtra Hot, in the Netherlands on Comedy Central Netherlands, in Denmark on DR2, in Portugal on SIC Radical, in Germany on Comedy Central Germany, in Finland on Nelonen, in Bulgaria on Nova Television, and in Poland on Comedy Central Polska. In the United States, BBC America formerly aired a censored version of the show, but it is no longer part of their lineup. On February 5, 2009, satellite provider DirecTV began airing the series in the United States on its channel The 101 Network, uncensored, at the rate of two episodes per week. DirecTV aired the entire seven-season run of Trailer Park Boys, plus both specials.[39] All episodes aired on DirecTV are in 16:9 widescreen format (although not in High Definition resolution), as opposed to the standard definition 4:3 aspect DVD releases of the first five seasons. It is also available on Netflix.[40]

Actors John Dunsworth, John Paul Tremblay, and Robb Wells can be seen in the 2002 movie Virginia's Run starring Gabriel Byrne and Joanne Whalley. John Dunsworth plays a local cop while John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells play active and verbal townsmen similar to their Trailer Park Boys characters. Actors are credited as the cop for John Dunsworth, J.P. for John Paul Tremblay (credits as J.P. Tremblay), and Robb Wells as Rob. The movie was filmed in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

References
  1. Stacey Abbott (March 10, 2010). The Cult TV Book. I.B.Tauris. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-1-84885-026-2. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  2. "Spring Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series: 2019 Edition". Deadline. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  3. "Tomorrow morning. Filming begins. @trailerparkboysofficial @SWEARNET #SCF #SunnyvaleCorrectionalFacility".
  4. "r/trailerparkboys - The boys are back in January 1st 2021". reddit. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
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  6. Trailer Park Boys: Season 9, retrieved 2019-06-26
  7. "Filming begins on Trailer Park Boys Season 10!! – SwearBlog". SwearBlog. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
  8. CBC News (October 16, 2017), "'John Dunsworth, beloved actor best known as Mr. Lahey, has died'", CBC News, retrieved October 16, 2017
  9. "Trailer Park Boys back in Truro to film new season – Truro Daily News". www.trurodaily.com.
  10. "See the Trailer Park Boys live on stage at Hoyt Sherman".
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  15. McKibbon, Sean. "Trailer Park Boys invade Ottawa and 4/20 | Metro". Metro News. Free News Group, Inc. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
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  35. "The Trailer Park Boys: Dressed All Over (The Complete Collection)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  36. ""Liquor And Whores" Bubbles and Guns n Roses live Halifax NS". YouTube. November 21, 2006.
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  40. "Trailer Park Boys, Netflix".
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