The best of trailer parks in pop culture

Although not always viewed as the most glamorous of abodes, trailers have made appearances in pop culture before The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Here are some notable instances of trailers in music and film, including several suggested by the Trailer Park cast.

King of the Road (1964), song by Roger Miller. Miller's often-covered country classic opens: "Trailers for sale or rent."

Trailerhood (2010), song by Toby Keith. The country hit paints an idyllic portrait of the "little piece of paradise out here in the woods," but "grab a six-pack and lawn chair, there's a tornado coming."

Raising Arizona (1987), film. In one of the Coen brothers' first movies, all heck breaks loose when trailer park denizens H.I. (Nicolas Cage) and Ed (Holly Hunter) steal a baby.

WKRP in Cincinnati (1979), TV show. In the episode "Tornado," Johnny Fever (Howard Hessman) reveals that his paralyzing fear of the storms stems from a childhood experience enduring a tornado in a mobile home. "I think God must really hate mobile homes," he says.

My Name Is Earl (2005-09), TV show. Many of the high jinks of the early seasons of the NBC comedy were set in the trailer park where Joy (hilarious Jaime Pressly) and Darnell (Eddie Steeples) lived.

Something to Be Said (About Airstreams) (2010), song by Shelby Lynne. The tune from Lynne's album Tears, Lies and Alibis is an homage to living on the road in one of the iconic silver trailers.

Queen of My Double Wide Trailer (1993), song by Sammy Kershaw. Just because it's modest living doesn't mean your man can't treat you like royalty, particularly if he's a smooth-singing country crooner.

Bartender Song (Sittin' at a Bar) (2008), song by Rehab. "She stole my heart in the trailer park," our protagonist sings after being unceremoniously evicted.

Murder Tonight in the Trailer Park (1988), song by Cowboy Junkies. On the album Black Eyed Man, the Canadian indie band sings about what happens after "Mrs. Annabelle Evans (was) found with her throat cut after dark."

Lose Yourself (2002), song by Eminem. The Detroit hip-hopper famous for his hardscrabble upbringing raps, "Mom, I love you, but this trailer's got to go, I cannot grow old in Salem's lot."

Trailer Park Boys (2001-08), TV show. Trailer parks aren't just found in the American South. Turns out they're also in Nova Scotia, where this cult Canadian comedy is set.

This story was originally published July 12, 2012 at 8:09 AM with the headline "The best of trailer parks in pop culture."