Trailer Park Boys - The Cult Hit Mockumentary Comedy Series

The Origins and Background of Trailer Park Boys

Trailer Park Boys is a popular Canadian mockumentary comedy series created by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park near Halifax, Nova Scotia. First premiering in 2001, the show became known for its unapologetic crass humor and absurd storylines centering around petty crime, drug use, odd jobs, and life in the trailer park.

How Trailer Park Boys Got Started

Mike Clattenburg, along with co-stars Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay, initially created a black and white short film called One Last Shot in 1998 which acted as an early precursor to Trailer Park Boys. The short followed the exploits of two criminals named Ricky and Julian, establishing the foundation for the full-fledged series to come. Encouraged by the success of the short, they decided to develop it into a full series.

The Main Characters

The show revolves around three longtime friends and petty criminals:

• Julian (John Paul Tremblay) - the levelheaded schemer of the group
• Ricky (Robb Wells) - the eccentric and unhinged troublemaker
• Bubbles (Mike Smith) - Julian and Ricky's mild-mannered best friend

These three comprise the main trio at the center of the zany schemes and antics that happen around Sunnyvale. They frequently try to make money through illegal means like growing and selling weed or robbing stores, usually without much success.

Signature Elements and Style of Trailer Park Boys

Mockumentary Format

Trailer Park Boys pioneered the mockumentary format for sitcoms, giving itself the aesthetic of a documentary crew actively following the characters and happenings in Sunnyvale. This allows the show to come across as more intimate, raw, and candid than typical sitcoms. It also enables more improvisation and looseness with the performances.

Surreal and Absurdist Humor

The show's comedic style is over-the-top, chaotic, irreverent, and outlandish, similar to cartoons. Bizarre schemes, intense bouts of rage from characters like Ricky, and loose narrative logic all contribute to the absurdist humor Trailer Park Boys pulled off so well.

Focus on Petty Crime

Given the backgrounds of the characters, storylines often revolve around half-baked plans for petty crime like robbing convenience stores, selling stolen barbecues, or growing marijuana. The plots emphasize a gritty, down-and-out lifestyle filled with doing illegal mischief, but anchors it in over-the-top comedy.

Impact and Legacy

Cult Following

Trailer Park Boys eventually built up a massive cult following, especially in Canada and the United States. This led to sold-out live comedy shows across North America as well as vast merchandising.

Numerous Specials and Revivals

The original run lasted from 2001 to 2007, but due to continued fan interest, the series spawned an array of specials, short-run revival seasons, movies, animated series, and spinoffs. Counting various sequels and revivals, new episodes have continued airing all the way through 2020, showing its enduring niche popularity.

Influence on Comedy

Trailer Park Boys has left a mark through its unique mockumentary format focused on strange, raunchy humor. Its shaky-camera, verite aesthetic that captured naturalistic performances served as a possible influence on later hits like The Office and Parks and Recreation. The idiosyncratic characters also struck a chord through their unapologetic behavior and speech.

FAQs

How many seasons of Trailer Park Boys are there?

There are 12 total seasons of Trailer Park Boys across various iterations of the show. The original run spanned from 2001 to 2007. After a few specials and short-run returns, season 8 premiered on Netflix in 2014. Season 12, titled Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series, premiered in 2019.

What city is Trailer Park Boys set in?

Trailer Park Boys takes place in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park, which is said to be located near Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada.

Is Trailer Park Boys scripted or improvised?

While storylines and scenarios are outlined in advance, Trailer Park Boys utilizes improvised dialogue from the actors. This helps add to its mockumentary aesthetic of following an eccentric cast of characters leading chaotic lives.

Where can I watch Trailer Park Boys online?

In the United States, Trailer Park Boys is currently available to watch on Netflix and Prime Video. The series has streamed exclusively through Netflix since 2014 when the streaming giant revived the franchise after several years off the air following the original run.