TV Review: Trailer Park Boys, Drunk, High, And Unemployed–Live In Austin

By Tyler Hodg

Photo credit: http://blog.swearnet.com/

The Trailer Park Boys are a national treasure. While the trio doesn’t represent Canada as a whole, there is just something so Canadian about the show’s approach. Park resident J-Rock even built a car spoiler out of hockey sticks, for maple syrup’s sake.

Yet, somehow, the appeal of Trailer Park Boys extends globally. Following their onstage Netflix specials in Dublin and Minneapolis, the boys have traveled to Texas for a brand-new theater production titled Trailer Park Boys: Drunk, High, and Unemployed–Live In Austin.

Like the previous specials, Live in Austin opens with the boys back at the trailer park in episode-like style. Bubbles catches wind that actor Verne Troyer is searching for the next great ninja movie star and dreams up a demo reel to send in. Met with a negative reaction from best friends Ricky and Julian, he becomes discouraged, adding to the list of heartbreaking Bubble scenes over the years. The boys are heading down to Austin for a theatrical show that Julian booked, so Bubbles decides to shoot a new demo reel live on stage.

The Trailer Park Boys theatrical shows are nothing new. Since 2009, the gang, including Randy and Mr. Lahey, have toured extensively. But when compared to the television show or movies, there’s an awkwardness in seeing the characters on stage.

Despite the setting, Live in Austin should live up to fans’ standards with its dumb, yet loveable dialogue. There are some really great moments in the special, like Julian selling cheeseburgers on stage to the audience, and an argument over whether Bubbles is singing like his terroristic puppet Conky or Geddy Lee, that make it a worthy addition to the ever-growing catalogue.

As we all know, you can take the boys out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer park out of the boys. Nothing involving Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles has been gut-wrenchingly terrible, and their latest special is no different. Live in Austin is comfortable and safe, but embodies enough re-watch value to hold fans over until the upcoming tenth season.