He is known for his love of kitties, his signature Coke-bottle glasses, and basically has the biggest heart of anyone you know. From his very first appearance, Bubbles became one of the show’s best and funniest characters. He also serves as the voice of reason for his friends Ricky and Julian.
As one of the show’s main protagonists, he is responsible for making Trailer Park Boys into the hit series that it is today. Unless you are a true die-hard fan, there are somethings about Bubbles that you probably did not know about.
Here are 10 things that you never knew about Bubbles.
He does not know his last name
A recurring theme throughout the series is that most of the main cast are never addressed by their full names. In Bubbles' case, it seems that his legal name is just Bubbles. In the episode "Conky," after Julian and Ricky take Bubbles to the hospital, Julian says to a nurse that his name is just Bubbles. Similarly, in the "Workin’ Man," Bubbles gives officer George Green a fake license that only features his first name. In a 2009 interview with CBC Q, Bubbles confirms that while his last name does exist, he is unaware of what it is. The only thing he does know is that it probably starts with an 'R.'
He suffers from Alektorophobia
After Bubbles temporarily adopted a mountain lion named Steve French, you would think that he has nerves of steel. While he may not be afraid to tangle with a mountain lion, there is one animal that completely terrifies him. In "Where the F*** is Oscar Goldman?", he reveals that he suffers from Alektorophobia.
In other words, he is afraid of chickens. As a child, he fell into a chicken coop while he and some friends were running away from a farmer, and was pecked mercilessly. He was so embarrassed by his phobia, that even his best friends Ricky and Julian did not know about it.
He inherited a school bus from his parents
Since he was abandoned by his parents, Bubbles has lived most of his life in a shed. However, in the film Don’t Legalize It, Bubbles ends up homeless. His luck quickly changes after he receives a letter from a lawyer containing a will from his deceased parents who left him a residence in Kingston.
In a classic Trailer Park Boys twist, their house turns out to be an old school bus. By the end of the film, Bubbles has the bus transported to the Sunnyvale Trailer Park to serve as his new home. While his parents may have left him behind, it is reassuring to know that they were still thinking about him before they died.
He used to have a girlfriend
When it comes to women, Bubbles does not have as much experience compared to Ricky and Julian. Even so, this does not mean that he's never been with a woman. In Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, Bubbles falls for an employee at a local animal shelter named Jenny who helps to save his kitties from being put down.
He asks her out at the end of the film, and they start dating. While filming a season nine on-set video titled "Ask me F***ing Anything," Bubbles reveals what happened between him and Jenny. Unfortunately, it is implied that despite their positive relationship, she started seeing another man.
His dad was a hockey player
Not much is known about Bubbles' parents. It is implied that they left him when he was just five years old. One of the few things he does remember about his dad is that he was a hockey player. During an interview on Hockey Night in Canada, he talks about his love of hockey and reveals that his dad was a hockey player nicknamed "The Hammer." His father was known for always getting drunk before a big game, as well as for constantly fighting other players. Although he was never any good at fighting, he was still very popular with the crowd.
He helped raise money to support a fan
One of the best things about Bubbles is that he is extremely loyal and always has his friends' backs. This loyalty extends to his fans as well. A couple of months ago, he went the extra mile to help a fan of the show that had been suffering for over a decade from intense chronic pain caused by a severe case of cluster headaches. When Mike Smith, who plays Bubbles, heard of what this fan was going through, he stepped in to help. He started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for medical treatments and even asked other fans as Bubbles to offer their support. The fan was very grateful, stating that Smith/Bubbles' kindness helped save his life.
He had a bar named after him
As the popularity of Trailer Park Boys increased over the years, so to did the potentially lucrative business opportunities. In 2006, Smith opened a bar named Bubbles Mansion in downtown Halifax. The bar came complete with a Bubbles theme and plenty of memorabilia from the show, like shopping carts, pictures of Bubbles with cats, as well as a trailer used as a walk-in freezer.
The bar was also famous for serving $1 drinks. Unfortunately, the bar’s popularity declined after the city banned the sale of cheap drinks. As a result, the bar was forced to increase the price from $1 to $2.50. The bar eventually closed down in 2010.
He’s completed astronaut training
Since he was a child, Bubbles has always wanted to become an astronaut. In the episode “Orlando 1” from Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park: USA, Bubbles finally gets the opportunity to live his dream. As part of the boys' first task, they head to NASA to complete astronaut training. All three of them passed their tests and got to meet Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. Not only did Bubbles get to fly a spaceship in a simulator, but he also witnessed a real-life rocket launch. While he may not become an astronaut on account of his terrible eyesight, it is heartwarming to see him finally fulfill his lifelong dream.
He’s worked with other music artists
Before he became Bubbles, Smith was a professional guitarist who played for the Canadian rock band Sandbox. His love for music is also reflected by Bubbles throughout the series. He has even made some appearances in the works of other music artists.
He makes a couple of cameos in the music video for "Legal" by Canadian artist Snow, as well as appears in the music video for "The Darkest One" by The Tragically Hip, along with Ricky, Julian, and Gord Downie. In the Out of the Park: USA episode "Memphis," he also records the song "Who’s Got Your Belly," featuring Alex Lifeson from Rush as the lead guitarist.
He would not exist without his glasses
Trailer Park Boys just would not be the same without the signature trio of Bubbles, Julian and Ricky. However, there was a time before the show aired, when Bubbles almost did not exist. Originally, Smith was hired to work the audio for the first Trailer Park Boy film.
At the time, his girlfriend had purchased his iconic glasses at an estate sale and series creator Mike Clattenburg ended up liking how he looked with them. Originally, Showcase had some doubts about including Bubbles. Thankfully, he ended up becoming one of the show’s central characters. Without him, Trailer Park Boys would not have been as successful as it is today.