TV Review | Trailer Park Boys: “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys”
I have to admit something. I have never sat down and watched an entire episode of Trailer Park Boys. I could never get past the casual swearing, even though the show is one of the most popular Canadian comedies going. I don’t think I would have requested a Trailer Park Boys screener if it wasn’t the final episode.
After watching “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” (Showcase: December 7, 10 ET/PT), I should have given this show a chance when it was in first run. While I still find Trailer Park Boys‘ profanity fucking gratuitous, the show isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was.
For first-time viewers, the show revolves around Julian (John Paul Tremblay), Ricky (Robb Wells) and Bubbles (Mike Smith), three Maritimers living at the Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Their shared nemesis is Jim Lahey (John Dunsworth), a former police officer and the trailer park’s supervisor/chief souse.
Lahey’s deathless enmity towards Julian and the gang stems from a 1977 Halloween prank gone horribly wrong. Lahey is flanked by shirtless bisexual assistant Randy. ”Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” focuses around Lahey’s desire to rid himself once and for all of the Boys, as well as other trailer park irritants.
The acting in “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” is a mixed bag. Mike Smith is great as Bubbles and the other two Boys are almost as good. Dunsworth is awesome as alcohol enthusiast Lahey. Trailer Park Boys doesn’t have the talent depth of The Red Green Show, but its mockumentary nature helps mask this deficiency.
Jonathan Torrens’ role as wigger J-Roc is the only acting low point, but it’s been that way since Torrens first appeared on the show. He’s always worked better as a television host, as seven seasons of Street Cents and five seasons of Jonovision demonstrate.
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” isn’t the final word on Trailer Park Boys. A feature film, the show’s second*, is forthcoming. The Ricky, Julian and Bubbles Community Service Variety Show tour existed before the finale and will hit Toronto’s Massey Hall in January 2009.
Trailer Park Boys creator Mike Clattenburg claims that this special and the film will end the series. The film’s working title is “Countdown to Liquor Day.” Without spoiling the special for longtime viewers, the countdown starts near the end of “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys.”
I hope Clattenburg isn’t using the special to shill the film, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Like Don Cherry and Red Green, no one will ever fully get rid of Trailer Park Boys. Both Bob and Doug McKenzie and The Kids in the Hall are coming back to television within two years. Look for a Trailer Park Boys comeback four years from now.
*The 1999 Trailer Park Boys film doesn’t count as Trailer Park Boys wasn’t a television show back then. Please don’t correct me on this. Oh, and fuck bologna sandwiches.
[...] TV Review – Trailer Park Boys: Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys “After watching ?Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys? (Showcase: December 7, 10 ET/PT), I should have given this show a chance when it was in first run. While I still find Trailer Park Boys? profanity fucking gratuitous, the show isn?t nearly as bad as I thought it was.” Read more. Share this post: [...]
Pingback by TV, eh? ? Trailer Park Boys finale review — December 7, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
How can anyone make a review about a 7 season show just by watching the last (bonus) episode?
Lame.
P.S J-Roc is too funny in most other episodes.
Comment by Shitwind — December 8, 2008 @ 1:50 am
I agree with Shitwind, you’ve never watched the show, how do you expect to review it? People who HAVE watched all 7 seasons + the movie/specials don’t want to read a review written by someone who’s never watched one episode. I’d make some sort of TPB reference here, but you wouldn’t get it. Review something you’ve actually watched, cause this review is sliding down a slippery shitslope, as Mr. Lahey might say! MORE TRAILER PARK BOYS!!!!!
Comment by Conky — December 8, 2008 @ 4:30 am
Don’t you have some off’s to fuck?
Comment by Shithawk — December 8, 2008 @ 6:47 am
You are a complete freakinf idiot. J. Torrens provided some of the best bits in the history of TPB, his work as a tv host was in my, and the rest of the thinking worlds, opinion below sub-par. The 2nd movie was announced the same time this special was announced.
Comment by Bob Roberts — December 8, 2008 @ 9:44 am
say good night to the bad boys was the very lastepisode of tpb and that relly pisses me off…. the movie in october 2009 should be awsome.
Comment by brady — December 8, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
j-torrens bad acting. Go fuck yourself, know what im s-s-s-s-s-sayin. You havent watched a full episode?? How the fuck do you expect to get the running jokes. I have two home made fuck offs right here!!!!
Comment by shitapillar — December 9, 2008 @ 1:44 am
your retarded, dont review a final show unless you watch the show you smug bastard. j rock will mess you up haha
Comment by Alex Cassidy — December 9, 2008 @ 2:27 am
Dog played himself from the start gnomesayin!!
Comment by Killer Rabbit — December 11, 2008 @ 1:39 am
Too bad you missed the whole series. Buy the DVD set and enjoy. Only then will you get by the gratuitus swearing and realsie its merely a conversation style, not meant as mean spirited. If you wanna see J to the R Oh CEE at his best view the episode he got caught jerking in his mother’s trailer. This guy is a good actor.
Comment by Tom — December 11, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Hey, pick me up some of those Jalap ano chips!
Comment by Ricky — December 11, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
they where stupid to stop makin it i wan’t more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fuck off and go home ass chin
Comment by fireyshitstorm — December 14, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
knock knock cameron
FUCK OFF
You’re a fuckin retard, “fuck balogna sandwiches”? This shows how much a dumb piece of shit you are. Do you know who the fuck Conky is? Do you know about jumping the cheeseburger? Bumblecocksuckers? No you fuckin don’t! So you can stop trying to build a career as a critic because you CANT REVIEW SEVEN FUCKIN SEASONS BY WATCHING THE LAST EPISODE
go fuck yourself
Comment by shithawk — January 8, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
I am not reviewing seven seasons of Trailer Park Boys, just the finale. I don’t understand why people think I’m judging the entirety of the show’s run by reviewing the finale.
I had seen bits and pieces of the show before, but my angle was that of a non-fan who finally realized that TPB wasn’t shit. That’s it.
Comment by Cameron Archer — January 9, 2009 @ 1:11 am
I’m really pissed off that TPB is gone. Now there is absofuckinglutely NOTHING worth a shit to watch on TV. And you say Bob and Doug MacKenzie are coming back to the tube………..great….geezers makin’ back bacon jokes…………I can’t fucking wait. What’s next? Maybe they dig up Lorne Greene,
Dan Blocker, and that Little Joe dude and start filming “Bonanza” again.
Comment by Samsquatsch — January 29, 2009 @ 10:53 am
bonanza FUCKING ROCKS YO! i watch that shizer every mo’nin while i smoke a bowl…good times. and after that gunsmoke comes on and i smoke another bowl. then i go watch the tpb’s till i fall back to sleep. anyway its awesome to hear tpb’s r coming out with new movie in october!!! i had no idea. after…i believe seven seasons and all the succsess its really awesome to see they haven’t changed their approach to what they do. As the brothas and a few honks wud say…they keep it real. i feel a bit embarrassed to say that ive never heard of “say goodnite to the bad guys” of course i do illegaly download every thing on my comp. and acurate titles r sumthin i have to sacrifice to keep on stealing.
Comment by shit lepord — January 30, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
The only thing funnier than TPB would be to watch Cameron Archer on his deathbed dying of AIDS.
Comment by Thomas Edison — January 31, 2009 @ 5:03 am
the fabulous acting, writing and editing of trailer park boys always comes as a surprise to those who are either put off by the profanity or thrilled by its references to drug use. people who are in those categories (prudes and juvenile delinquents) just don’t get how awesome this series is. the plot revolves around three ex-cons who create a caring and supportive family for themselves in the most unlikely place, sunnyvale trailer park. there is much that is subtle and profound in this series, as well as a lot of extremely funny moments. it is always true to itself and the characters. it has sophisticated acceptance of race and sexual orientation. the boys just do what they need to do to get by. because of their limited backgrounds and resources that just happens to mostly be growing and selling dope or ripping off shopping carts, meat, coin or drugs. despite this, the boys have real character and are not anti-social or sociopaths (ok maybe ricky is a sociopath). the characterization of bubbles is particularly brilliant, odd and quirky. i have never seen anyone quite like him anywhere else.
please. i encourage you to watch the series thru the seven seasons, if that isn’t possible, at least watch “the Christmas Special (aka dear santa go fuck yourself). it has beautifual and surreal visuals. then rewatch Say Goodnight. those two movies really bookend the whole series. (also watch the conky episode just for fun.)
as for all the idiot morons who have responded to your comments in a less than kind manner, specially you, “thom edison” go fuck yourselves.
Comment by t'mara — February 4, 2009 @ 3:17 am
J.T. is one of the best under-used actors on TPB. J-roc’s character brings many great moments to the show. “I hear cola fizz and cheeseburgers digesting, but you know what I don’t hear… a heart motherfucka” Cameron Archer you should be ashamed of yourself. Granted it takes most people a couple episodes to get used to the show. Your review is, to say the least, lacking in every way. Do yourself a favor and watch some more episodes before you judge J to the R O C. Cases in point, “Microphone assassin”, “The Bible Pimp”, and “The bare pimp project”. That or stick to reality TV show reviews.
Comment by BoBandy — April 15, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
THIS is why the internet fails so often.
Ignorant douchebags with a scrape of Grade 5 get to write reviews. Sadly, the credibility of this site just got shit upon from giant hawks.
OK, I’m droping the references.
SERIOUSLY YOU DOUCHEBAG????? Did you just start a review by saying you never watched ONE EPISODE, much less the LAST ONE? Who the fuck are you, and wy on earth would you even get your greasy, half eaten cheeseburger eatin peanut M&M fingers on that keyboard? You always typin in your gutsedo?
Sirry, J-roc has more acting skills in his worst outtake than you have in your best review, you know what I’m sa–y-y-y-in????
You read the last page of the last Harry Potter book and write a review about how you just don’t get that scary dude or something. Probably more your audience.
The shit hawks are coming. Oh yes they are.
Comment by FAIL — June 10, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
Hey t’mara….
knock knock….
go fuck yourself.
Comment by GET OVER YOURSELF — June 10, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
Dear Fuck Giraffe,
May the eternally vigilant shithawks of Halifax encircle your trailer, peck your useless eyes out, stuff arsecorns in your less than average ears until you slide down the endless slippery shitslope into the pit where all the other ‘critics’ fuck off to. I think it’s near Fuckofftyville in case you want to get there yourshitself. Have you nothing else to do but mindlessly critique the thing you know naught of?
Abd btw, the actor who portrays J-Roc has mad skills both in front of the camera and on the mike.
SO suck it, and suck it hard with love from me in New Fucking Jersey, Capt. Fucktwit.
Peace
Comment by DJshitA — June 18, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Oh yea and I fully concur with Get Over Yerself: T’mara, I too cordially invite you to get busy with your assfull of off’s to fuck, how dare you try to censor us with your righteous bullshit….take good care now,
Peace
Comment by DJshitA — June 18, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
OK one more fucking thing from this salty bitch goddess from down under the border of the Nicer Country, Fail: you fucking rock my shithouse, man, and if ever you are in New Fucking Jersey stateside, I would love to take you out for a KOD special, some beer and for afters, share a big, kind fatty Mcfat one with you! knock me up when you get a chance @ dj3aaa@gmail.com
-all you other greasy bitches can take a ferry to the great hairy ball island….gutsedo, I am still howling……thanks for the oblique ab workout.
Comment by DJshitA — June 18, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
why is this shitbrick reviewing tpb , doesnt like the swearing go fuck yaself .go bk watch the whole lot like me then make a review,the shit hawks are coming 4 you ,now friigg off an watch a show more suited to u like friends or sum shite .ya prick no wat im sayynnnnnnnnnnnn
Comment by charvey — September 14, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
i use to love tpb but they are getting so old now i wish they would stop already.
Comment by nash — October 25, 2010 @ 7:10 pm
Trailor park boys is the best show i watched all there shit and never laughed so hard in my life. used rickys lines to get my ass out of trouble from the cops 1 time and it worked like a charm. they should teach his shit in schools for eduacital purpposes
Comment by Zak — March 11, 2011 @ 8:28 pm