Trash Mutant Interviews (TMI): John Dunsworth
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TRASH MUTANT: Trailer Park Boys is an international hit. Both the show and the movies are huge pretty much all over the world and have really dedicated fans. It’s probably also the most popular Canadian show in decades. Do you think a show like TPB could be made anywhere other than Canada? What do you think makes the show so successful?
JOHN DUNSWORTH: Who knows what tickles the fancy? One thing is certain -TPB makes some people feel good. Why do people watch it? What makes them laugh? My latest theory coincides with something I heard on our national broadcaster - the CBC. Swearing takes away the pain. You can hold your hand in cold water longer if you swear a blue streak. Bonking yourself on the noggin hurts less if you let go with an invective. The subject of the cursing has changed over the years from sex to religion and back again (with a little shit talk thrown in), but the long and short of it is it's fun to flout polite convention and show disdain for the status quo. My answer is - Ricky and Julian and Bubbles make swearing acceptable and funny in the bargain. In another interview you mentioned that early on in the show’s life Mike Clattenburg told you “You will not be able to go anywhere in North America and not be recognized”. Is it ALWAYS good to be recognized as Jim Lahey? For the most part Mike C was right, however I'm in New York City and haven't been recognized by anyone yet. The "Haven" cast is guest appearing at ComiCon for the next few days and I'll wager there will be scores of shit-hawks who recognize Jim Lahey. We'll see. I think the percentage of Canadians who say "fuck off, Lahey" when they see me is far greater than Americans. However the number of Dicshitnarys I mail out to the US every week make me think overall there are more US fans than Canadian fans - they're just spread out more. After Season Eight and the new movie influences the zeitgeist things may change but for the nonce I'm enjoying the anonymity here in the Big Apple. Jim Lahey is the antagonist of the show, but do you ultimately consider him a bad guy? Is Lahey “misunderstood”? It may be kind to say that Lahey is misunderstood but you can say that about anyone. We are what we do and not what we profess to believe. Jim Lahey says he cares about Sunnyvale but that is like a Tea Party hardliner who says he cares about the USA. The truth is, both are addled by ideology and in Lahey's case that is exacerbated by his alcoholic induced brain cell destruction (eg George Bush junior). Are there any character traits that you share with Lahey? Anything at all? I find it difficult to relate to Jim Lahey on any level. I don't drink; have never had a "gay" relationship; never had an urge to enter law enforcement and don't feel hatred for any recalcitrant recidivist reprobates. Now that I think about it I do have one thing in common - I dress up sometimes and play different characters. You have a book called "The Dicshitnary" out, based on Lahey's many classic sayings and metaphors. Can you tell us a little about that? The Dicshitnary was an attempt to make money on the internet pure and simple. Ryan Cameron an internet guru and I thought that we could capitalize on Jim Lahey's following without infringing on the TPB copyright. I had asked the producers to allow me to market merchandise, but they were not agreeable. Wouldn't even consent to me writing a book. Ryan and I set a time table. I rose at 5:30 and worked for several hours a day for three weeks. He provided the expertise since he is a bibliophile with an extensive rare book collection and a great knowledge of print and binding. It took several months to have it printed and we sold 1000 books in no time at all. This year we printed 1500 more and every Saturday we get together to sign and ship them all over the world. Mostly to the UK and the USA. I am halfway through writing a mystery novel and hope to self-publish that as well. Any one who wants a pretty little book can order one at dicshitnary.com . 
Trailer Park Supervisor Jim Lahey (photo: Mike Tompkins)
You and Pat Roach (Trailer Park Boys' Randy) tour a lot as a duo, doing stand-up and improvisation at comedy clubs etc. Are you good friends in real life? Was the show the first place you two met? The first time I met Patrick Roach was on the set of TPB. I have spent more time with him than anyone else in my life. Hours and hours flying and driving and hanging out. We are not really close when we’re not touring or shooting. After all I'm more than 25 years older than him chronologically and 25 years younger than him emotionally. He likes to drink and I don't. Besides he lives an hour and a half away from where I reside. You also star in the show “Haven”, based on Stephen King’s “Colorado Kid” novel. Even though it’s also set in a small community, it’s a completely different kind of show than TPB, it’s a supernatural drama. How do you approach playing Dave Teagues and what’s the best thing about playing him? I love variety - my activities span the gamut from painting and sculpture to writing and teaching and being involved with a SCI FI series is another great experience. I am most happy playing the part when the action or the dialogue is interesting. Episodes 11 and 12 in season four are my favorites because I got to be involved with the action, big time. Haven films during the summer very close to where I live; its the best summer job anyone could imagine. The food's great the cast and crew are great and they treat me really well. I love it. Hope we get season 5. After a long break, there’s a lot of new Trailer Park Boys stuff on the horizon. Very exciting time to be a fan. Season 8 of the show finished filming and there’s also a new movie to look out for. What changed for Lahey since we last saw him? Can you give us a little taste of what we can expect? I have to be careful not to share the secrets, but I can say that both the movie and the series are fantastic. I enjoyed myself immensely. Lahey gets to cover new ground and the humour is fresher than ever. Can't wait till I get to see them. This summer was special, I got to direct Episode Nine as well. Running back and forth between Haven and TPB presented a challenge (some days I had to be on both sets and they are two hours apart), but its all done now and I'm breathing a sigh. How did it feel to be back in the trailer park again, with the whole crew and your co-stars when you were filming recently? It was fantastic to be back. Everyone was enthusiastic and hard working. It was like being back in Season 1. Other than the Trailer Park Boys stuff and Haven, what do you have planned next? What can we expect from John Dunsworth in the near future? The last few months were indeed busy - not only TPB and Haven but I had a continuing part in Forgive Me (a drama about a young priest in the Catholic Church). I played a prelate. As a matter of fact I was presented with a Best Actor award for my performance although there were several incredible actors in the series and in other productions made this year. As well I did a guest role on a feature length Hollywood film titled Lizzie Borden. Just getting back from NYC (Haven at Comic Con). Things are not slowing down. Between now and the end of the year I'm doing a mini tour to Newfoundland with Bobandy; a documentary that takes me to Sweden and Italy, a tour to the US with the Trailer Park boys - SANTA CLAUS GO FUCK YOURSELF and right after that starting rehearsals at The Neptune Theatre in Halifax - its a comedy and I play an old geezer. Presently I'm tying up loose ends, like putting the boat away for the winter and squeezing in time to do stone work on the beach in front of my home. You can see what I'm up to if you go to my Youtube and look at "Get a Hobby". Thank you so much for the interview! ____________________________________
Are you looking forward to the Trailer Park Boys returning? Here's some ways to keep up with both John Dunsworth and the news about the show: Visit John Dunsworth at his official website, follow him on Twitter or check out his Facebook page. To keep up with Mr. Lahey, Randy and the boys, go to Swearnet.com, follow it on the Twitters and like it on FB! 
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