I think it’s safe to say that Netflix was everyone’s drug of choice during the Spring of 2020. Well, that year I found The Trailer Park Boys. I’ve seen the films, the Christmas specials, the animated series, and of course the main series. I’ve laughed my ass off countless times to the many Rickyisms throughout the series (I regularly say “get two birds stoned at once), the insanity of the boys doing things like drug deals with former Skid Row vocalist (and Vegas local) Sebastian Bach, the kidnapping of Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, and of course the drunken antics of Trailer Park Supervisor Jim Lahey and the Robin to his Batman, Randy.
I’m not sure what it is about this show that stole my heart, but it is one of the few where I started following the various cast members to keep up on side projects and the continued little internet series that TPB puts out. About a year ago, I saw Randy actor Pat Roach post about his Cheeseburger Picnic Tour hitting parts of Canada and thought to myself, “Damn! I wish that would come here!” So, when it was announced that Roach would be coming to the states and making a Vegas stop, I audibly squealed and was like “Oh my fuck I’ve gotta go to this!” Never did I think I’d get the opportunity to interview Roach himself! So, of course I was nervous and stoked to get the opportunity.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago. I took my lunch break later than usual at my day gig and my phone rang with a Nova Scotia area code.
The Interview.
ZR: So, first off I have to say that I love the show, and I love Randy’s character, as I am sure many do. But you’ve been playing Randy now for a couple of decades so I’m curious, what is it about Randy that you love so much to keep bringing him out to the world?
Roach: I just think that Randy has a unique look on life. He tries to be a positive person in a place where there’s vulgar language. He tries to rise above with things like “frig off” instead of the F word. He likes the simpler things in life like your own BBQ, getting high and mowing your lawn, and he’s big on community.
ZR: Is there much of a difference between Randy and Pat?
Roach: People say Pat Roach is a nice guy. Maybe I am. I’m from a small community on the East Coast and in a smaller area everyone loves their lifestyle. I think Randy likes to do a good job, and I do too. He likes to impress Mr. Lahey and make Sunnyvale nice. Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles get in the way and cause a ruckus. In real life, I wear shirts. Randy is allergic and, on this tour, he will be shining from sunscreen or perspiration. Randy sweats more than Pat, but we do both sweat and share good senses of humor. Life can get stressful with work and health. So, you gotta have a bit of silliness. There’s nothing like a Cheeseburger Picnic to have laughs before we go about our regular lives and make enough money to put bread and butter on the table and pay rent.
ZR: How do you continue to evolve your comedy? I know for a long time you and John Dunsworth did comedy together, so how was the transition to having to kind of go from a duo to a solo?
Roach: John was trained in theatre and film, and he was a big teacher to all of us on the show. A lot of us were new to the career and we did a lot of those shows together. I had a very good teacher and was lucky. I didn’t realize it, but I was soaking his knowledge. As long as your show has a good introduction, variety, and a good closing, people tend to like it. I didn’t think I’d ever do it without my pal, but about 6 months after he passed, a lot of people were requesting Randy. So, I put this together. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Mr. Lahey’s encouragement and teachings. He used to say I was the funniest man in the world, but I didn’t believe it. It was a great compliment, and I have to remember it sometimes. I am grateful to him for all those years and now I am doing the shows. The live shows are so fun because you have the immediate reaction and applause, and on set you don’t have that. So, I enjoy doing the live shows, and we’ve done them as an ensemble cast, but this is more 1:1 with good old Randers, and it is nice that I was able to learn from John how to be able to be on stage alone and carry out a show and entertain the folks. It feels good.
ZR: What has been your favorite moment, either on your comedy tour or doing things with TPB?
Roach: There are so many. It’s been a true treat. Where we live it is cold, so we film in the Summer. Since I don’t wear a shirt as Randy, it’s nice to get a good tan and the residents are great. We’ve been in real parks and our own set so seeing old friends and working together to make a good product, it’s always something to look forward to. Most recently we’ve produced a new show called The Trades up in Canada. Season 2 just premiered, and it has Rob Wells (Ricky) playing a guy and had me be a guest this year. So, it’s fun to continue to act with all your friends. The live shows it’s all about the audience and cheers and laughter. I do miss John Dunsworth doing hand stands on stage, and he didn’t even drink in real life! A straight up cold Coca-Cola was his drink. So, rehearsing our lines and seeing him act was so much fun.
ZR: Tell me a bit about The Roach Approach. I was reading up a bit on it and I have to say the description of “is shit constantly fucking you up?” made me laugh so hard. Is that something you kind of blend in to your comedy routine as well?
Roach: We did a movie years ago called Swearnet where we all play ourselves. I played Swearman. So, that version of Pat is more of a drunk who yells and screams. So, I am crass as Swearman. He’s after his own desires and doesn’t want to work so hard. I did a show with Mike Smith and together we would talk about the news and weird stories and Twitter Tuesdays and take calls from fans. That show is still on Swearnet, which is the app the boys own and put up different series. There’s also a series called Randy’s Reach where I opened up a burger place in a trailer. The new show is where Ricky and I cook together. People can’t get enough of the Roach cuz he doesn’t give a shit. His favorite word is cunt, and we are all cunts, and being a cunt isn’t a bad thing. I believe he makes things up on the spot to get what he wants. A lot of bacon was eaten and everyone loves bacon. There may be more someday.
ZR: You’re about to kick off the tour with like 25 stops, which is wild. When was your last US tour, and is there anywhere you’re really looking forward to on this run?
Roach: I get on the road about every year about early Spring which is when people are looking for a bit of fun. Once we get into Summer there’s vacation where you’ve got music festivals and camp. TPB has the best fan base and we are so lucky they are loving and care and I miss John Dunsworth, and he loved people do. People loved Mr. Lahey. I just circle around. You don’t want to go to one area too frequently or you saturate your market. So, I haven’t been to CA and NV in a long time and we are making our circle back with our American fans.
ZR: Anything special planned for your stop here in Vegas?
Roach: I’ve never done a show in Vegas, so this is very exciting for me. We might even have a night off around that time and may try to check out a show. We may have to try our hand at a little gambling. Cheeseburgers are expensive though so I may have to play with a 5 cheeseburger limit and if I win 10 I will hold on to 5. Years ago, when I was a kid, we traveled all over and did the Hoover Dam and all across California and drove across America. It is a beautiful country.
ZR: What do you want people to know going into the Cheeseburger Picnic?
I just want people to know if they need to get away from life for a bit and have a laugh, have a drinky poo unless you are driving, come out to Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic. I know it’s usually for TPB fans, but I have met so many folks who haven’t seen the show. So, to hear they love the live show without knowing the shenanigans makes me really happy. I am really looking forward to coming out there and hopefully I bring some of the sun from Sunnyvale.
While Vegas gets a ton of sun, and I am really looking forward to some sun from Sunnyvale. Pat Roach will be bringing Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic to The Space here in Vegas on Tuesday, April 8th. We absolutely cannot wait to see the show, and I have to say thank you again to Pat for taking the time to chat with me about his career, Randy, the late great John Dunsworth, and the rest of the Trailer Park Boys crew!
You can get your tickets for the Vegas show or any of the other shows in your area here! The tour just kicked off, so make sure to get your tickets before you miss out! To quote Randy himself, “A man’s gotta eat!”
Tour Dates:
3/28 – Redding, CA
3/29 – Sacramento, CA
3/30 – Chino, CA
4/1 – San Jose, CA
4/2 – Fresno, CA
4/3 – Irvine, CA
4/4 – Oakland, CA
4/5 – Bakersfield, CA
4/6 – Ontario, CA
4/8 – Las Vegas, NV
4/9 – San Diego, CA
4/10 – Oxnard, CA
4/28 – Toledo, OH
4/29 – South Bend, IN
4/30 – Grand Rapids, MI
5/1 – Detroit, MI
5/2 – Bay City, MI
5/3 – Traverse City, MI
5/5 – Marquette, MI
5/6 – Iron Mountain, MI
5/7 – Madison, WI
5/8 – Milwuakee, WI
5/9 – La Crosse, WI
5/10 – Des Moines, IA
5/11 – Kansas City, MO
PHOTO CREDIT: All photos ©Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic – Used with Permission