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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Nothing says 'family TV' like hallucinogens

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 11/13/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

SHOWCASE has given the green light to six episodes of The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour (working title), brought to you by none other than the former Trailer Park Boys.

The show is written by and will star Mike Smith (Bubbles), Robb Wells (Ricky) and JP Tremblay (Julian).

The premise is a little convoluted, so stay with us here. It includes three grown men working on a children's show in the sleepy town of Port Cockerton (of course) called The Happy Funtime Hour. But they don't stray that far from their drunk and cursing former selves.

The guitarist from the rock band Rush, Alex Lifeson, shows up as a scientist to teach children about nutrition, but somehow creates an addictive hallucinogen from local berries. The cast then unknowingly ingests the drug and begins to believe they are the characters they are portraying on the show -- including deranged pirates, playboys from a 1980s television show and a group of not-very-super superheroes. There is also the added problem of a dysfunctional crime family that runs Port Cockerton, and a dangerous cult somewhere in there.

And then the series promises to turn all this into a Monty Python-esque sketch show.

"The series is definitely a departure from our previous work, but with bold characters and a storyline that pushes the envelope, Drunk and on Drugs still has a huge dose of our trademark humour that I think our fans expect from us," Wells said in a statement.

"I think the new series will appeal to a very broad audience. It's definitely not like anything that's ever been on Canadian television before," added Tremblay.

The three also serve as executive producers on the series alongside Louis Thomas. Ron Murphy has been tapped as director and the producer is Paul Pope.

The half-hour comedy series is slated to air on Showcase in 2010.

-- Canwest News Service

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 13, 2009 D2

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