A microcosm of Austin Weird: Behind the scenes of 'The Trailer Park Show'

"The Trailer Park Show" gang for the Christmas 2015 episode. Pictured (left to right) are James "Slow Pokey" Ritter, Legislative Director for Rep. Gilbert Pena Mikael Garcia, Travis GOP Outreach Director Michael Lee, and Austin LULAC leader Gavino Fernandez.

Is it a political round table for conservative issues? A public television free-for-all? Maybe a showcase for locals to maunder about the day's news?

"It's all those things and more," according to the host of a longtime fixture of Austin cable access.

Not unlike many shows on a public access TV channel, "The Trailer Park Show" is an unusual spectacle. During the recording of the show's annual Christmas Episode, a taping room at the Channel Austin studios on Northwestern Avenue featured a dose of the usual political commentary panel and Texas House Legislative Director Mikael Garcia and Travis GOP Outreach Director Michael Lee, as well as some special guests: the Black and Tan Comedy Tour doing an impressive improv routine, an abbreviated set (thanks to a blown amplified fuse) from a band featuring local guitarist Fritz Funderburgh kicking out some Blues-Rock tunes to rival any show in town that evening in the Live Music Capital, and anyone from the audience the host could rope in at the last minute.

And all done live. In other words, a microcosm of what keeps Austin Weird, as well as a picture of the by-the-bootstraps activism that marks the Austin conservative movement.


Now in its 19th year, host James "Slow Pokey" Ritter ("Pokey" in shorthand) and producer-wife Chris "Ma" Ritter have become staples at the East Austin television studio, where they found an outlet for frustrations Pokey had with mainstream media coverage. The very name of the show, Pokey said, owes its origins to a local Austin television personality (he wouldn't share his name) who referred to the crew as "trailer trash" for daring to engage in a little unpolished citizen journalism.

"The idea for the show was to demonstrate how the news reported current events in a biased manner, by using video we recorded -- for example, footage of press conferences -- and comparing that with the 10 o'clock local news. We would show how biased the news could be," Pokey, a former (and proud) dump truck owner/operator and East Austin fixture said. "The show then evolved, and included interviews and such with local activists, politicians and other interesting people."

Despite its reputation for quirk (the usual background image for the show features trailer homes stacked on top of one another) the show has hosted numerous Reps and Senators from both parties, Austin police chiefs, county sheriffs, and county elections coordinators. Basically, anyone who's anyone in Austin political life is likely to have graced the stage with Pokey and the gang -- or will at least be asked.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) once used footage of opponent Dr. Donna Campbell (now a Texas Senator) to try and make a case that she was willy-nilly opposed public education. Ritter said Campbell was expressing her desire to see the National Education Agency bureaucracy dissolved -- a Texas Republican platform plank.

The Ritters hope a series of debates ahead of the 2016 Primary will enhance the public dialogue (see list below).

A favorite show, Pokey recalled, was an episode that featured "all the top cops ... in one hour, all in the same show." The 2012 episode featured Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton, Austin Police Association President Wayne Vincent and Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo with Ritter and co-host Gavino Fernandez, a local LULAC officer (and an unashamed Democrat).

But it's not all law and order for the Trailer Park gang. Another episode defended Liberty Republican Ronald Gjemre, aka. "Ronnie Reeferseed." As his name implies, he is a local legalized marijuana activist and regular commenter at City Council meetings, notorious for his elongated, breathy introductions at the mic. When he was barred from the chamber by then-mayor Lee Leffingwell, "the Trailer Park Show" gave he and one-time mayoral candidate Clay Dafoe a chance to make the case that they were being officially censored.

"We think it is important to try to keep the community aware of issues and introducing to them to the candidates running for office -- putting a face to the name and actually getting to know what they stand for," Pokey said.

The Ritters insist the show is for everyone, of all walks of life, and all political views. Though the show's direction is right-leaning, Pokey said it's the engagement with his ideological opponents that keeps him going. "We've never hesitated to take on the Ds," he added.

Having a motivating hobby is more important for Pokey than ever before. He was diagnosed with COPD and now requires oxygen 24/7 -- a trip from the parking lot and up the stairs at the studio can take the breath out of him for a few minutes. Ma Ritter, known for her random walk-ins to the set during the show's discussion, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She is currently in treatment for the third time. She continues to fight her cancer, and has been able to help her friends and co-workers with the same diagnosis, by telling them what to expect as their treatments begin.

"... Now as we drift into our later years, do we sit on the porch and watch the rest of life's parade? Or do we participate a little longer and see just what else we may accomplish?" Pokey said. "With the show, we have the opportunity to do a lot more then just tend a garden.

El Jefe

"... It's a lot of work," he continued. "If I had Aladdin's Lamp, I'd probably ask for money. Maybe more volunteers. We have a great crew now, but on any given Monday we can find yourself short a hand or two."

The fee for producing a series is $35, and the producer's fee is $120 -- which isn't much, thanks to city tax dollars that support the studio. But on the Ritters' fixed income, the costs can add up quickly, especially when feeding studio guests and crew.

Check.

Set-up and take-down is often handled by volunteers and show guests, and the staff at Channel Austin. A cameraman, "El Jefe" la Huera, has been a friend of the show over the years -- having accompanied the Ritters to Mexico on several trips.

Though a strong community has surrounded the show, the Ritters envision two or three more seasons before hanging it up.

"That someone with similar ideas would pick up where we would leave off would be desirable," Pokey said. "Austin Public Access is a resource that I would like to see local Republicans use more of. The cost for training is reasonable. Then you can take professional grade equipment out to film your event or do a live series like we do."

WATCH
"The Trailer Park Show" airs every Monday night at 7 p.m. on Austin Public Access Channel 10, and online at https://www.austinpublicaccess.org/watch/streaming10

Pokey has many of his favorite episodes downloaded on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/TrailerParkRights/videos

UPCOMING EPISODES
Jan. 4 -- Mike Lee and the Travis GOP African American Advisory Council
Jan. 25 -- Commissioner Pct. 3 incumbent Gerald Daugherty and opponent Jason Nassour
Feb. 8 -- State Rep. (HD 47) incumbent Paul Workman vs. challenger Jay Wiley Debate

DONATE 
Go to http://www.trailerparkshow.com and scroll down the right side to the "donate" button.

GET INVOLVED
Pokey would also like to encourage others to take advantage of the opportunities provided at Austin Public Access. "Check them out, they make it easy to do. Making your own TV show is fun and educational," he said.
https://www.austinpublicaccess.org
http://austinfree.net

The Trailer Park Gang watches the Black and Tan Comedy Tour during the Christmas 2015 episode airing. Black and Tan are regulars at Michael Cargill's Central Texas Gun Works, which now doubles as a comedy show venue. (Who says Austin isn't weird, anymore?)