When TruTV first introduced Lizard Lick Towing in its pseudo-reality-show All Worked Up, the Lizard Lick segments were the most entertaining, least idiotic (at the time), and had the most likable characters.
Once the popularity of the repossession service reached critical mass, a spin-off show titled as the repo company’s name was created by TruTV, starring the same charismatic and oddly lovable characters, mainly Ron Shirley and his wife Amy. However, each season the show gets worse — the repos getting sillier, the vehicle’s owners getting dumber and more violent, and the situations drummed up by the show’s writers getting more inane each week.
Caught up in the “reality” of the show and refuse to believe the show is scripted? You are not alone. Like the unexplainable phenomena that is wrestling, most ardent viewers appear to believe the self-proclaimed reality show is just that — reality. Yet the only thing real about the show is that Ron and Amy Shirley do own the repo company (with a Wendell, NC address) which Ron built up over 20 years. Bobby, Ron’s long-time friend on the show, has only been onboard for three years; his joining the company a result of needing to pay off his own vehicle repossessed by Lizard Lick.
“man I was so sd to see the last show and was like no Ron would not do that to us and Im glad I was right thanks Ron for keeping it real” — a blog comment written by fan “Glen Dix”, his misspellings and lack of punctuation left intact.
The town of Lizard Lick, North Carolina isn’t even a real town. It’s an unincorporated community about 20 miles from the state capital. According to the Chicago Tribune, “Lizard Lick almost died the way a lot of small towns die. Its connection to the outside world, U.S. Hwy. 64, was replaced by a more modern bypass, cutting the crossroad-community’s steady traffic flow to an irregular trickle.”
While not a state-recognized municipality, the area has had a self-proclaimed mayor since 1975. Charles Wood won the “election” in a landslide victory, garnering 1,500 of the town’s resident’s 40 votes, a result of the creative democratic process that allowed anyone who lived in or simply passed through the town to vote for their favorite candidate. Ron’s mayoral bid and subsequent loss to Sam Davis in the show is in a similar vein of hooey.
We still watch the show when there’s nothing left on the DVR, but Lizard Lick is less a program about three Southern comrades running a questionably reputable repo business and increasingly more like three C-list actors putting on a show about a redneck repo business gone wild — with the occasional Hallelujah thrown in for good measure, blanketed by myriad backwater expressions you’ve never before heard:
- “It’s hotter than two hamsters farting in a wool sock.”
- “He’s as slick as a three-legged dog trying to cover crap on an ice-covered pond.”
- “She could suck the feathers off a duck with that mouth.”
- “You’re as useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle.”
- “I’d rather be chewing the bûtthølë off a skunk.”
- “He’s slower than Stephen Hawking in a blizzard.”
Screen Credits
Further proof of the scripted nature of the show, several of the secondary characters are now unmasked:
- Mayor Sam Davis is played by Jeff Kidd who omits the show from his primary SAG resume but adds it to his non-union resume.
- The jeweler who accused Bobby of stealing was played by Christy Pierce; she appears to have only one resume.
- While unimportant to the plot, Leah Alexandra Caruana lists her role as a bystander on Lizard Lick on her resume. As does Ethan Williford for his role as an extra.
- Other non-union extras include Nick Burroughs, Camile Lesage, Chelsea Reeves, and Joseph Cox — all listed on 800casting.com (login or good Google skills required).
- Actor/entertainer Patrick Moize lists Lizard Lick Towing on his Linked-In profile.
I could care less if it’s real or fake. It was entertaining. The people were real to me and felt like neighbors. I miss it and want to know when it is coming back on. Get rid of the Walking Dead. Thank God it and Twilight are not real.
I want to show it to come back on it was a funny show you know everything’s fine pairs of those really not but if it’s not coming up on somebody please send me pictures of Amy naked
The show is fun, either enjoy it or do not watch it.This is not worthy of foolish conspiracy nonsense.Hope i get to watch more.Take care, from Cardiff-Wales-UK.
When is the “LICK” coming back? I miss it so much. I loved Rons’ sayings and the shirts he wore. I liked that it didn’t have cussing. It was a show that kids could watch. Come on TRU TV, let’s get the Lizard Lick back in our lives.
Here in sub Saharan Africa we enjoy the show big time, being scripted or not who cares we love it , i love Ron s T-shirts ,i want to order mine too can someone tell me how I can get them.
Totally caught up in the whole show. The characters were awesome. Then I learned about the “dirt church” and wondered why all the lies to the community? Why fake a show for money when you are a “preacher”? A preacher who came from “dirt” only to spread dirt in a reality tv show that is fake? Lost all respect for the show and all of the characters involved. Glad it is gone.
How can you be upset and call him a liar? He’s no more a liar than any other actor. That’s what they do. Surely you knew the show wasn’t actually real.
Agree! Look here…he might actually be an ordained minister. ANYBODY can be ordained if you can pass the little online test and submit like two forms. That’s all it takes in 2015 to lead an entire congregation. His “dirt church” is the same as what the old school folks called a “pop up church” or a “store front church.” I’m not saying they’re all wrong, but I think ppl are too lazy to do what the Bible says so they church shop until they find one that tells them what they want to hear. There is an ENORMOUS difference between a PREACHER, such as Ron Shirley, and a PASTOR, meaning a seminary degreed person (should be a man bc the Bible states women should not lead the church, but things change). I want somebody who references the gospel, not another Joel Osteen who rambles on and on with ZERO biblical reference in his banter to thousands of ppl every Sunday and millions on tv. Sick!
i feel bad. I totally understand. I apologize for responding late. You are right. I gave the benefit of the doubt to Ron cause he proffessed to be a preacher. hA HA. I WAS AND IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE BOBBYS FRIEND. Actually since he was 7 years old. That is the truth or I aint Krazy Dave.. Learn the truth at BobbyBrantley.com or email firehair3@aol.com
I lost respect for folks that proclaim to be preachers. Like the good book says beware the false prophets
I really do miss Ron,Shirley and Bobby. You’ll made me laugh and brighten the day. Please come back to TV
I loved this show, and it made my week for as long as it was on. It brought my father and l closer together. I wish they would bring it back! It never should have been cancelled. There was no resolution, and that is horrible for the fans. Please bring it back!
this is unreailieble because no one knows why it went off
I wish it was some way Lizard Lick could come back on fake or not. I loved the show
It’s called entertainment people get a grip i myself am gonna miss the show i thought it was very entertaining & silly it took my mind off of the real BS in this world thanks ron & amy wish u the best
Lizard Lick was entertaining. My 80 year old mother keeps asking me when it is coming back on, she loves the show and is going to be disappointed that it not on any more. She loved those saying Ron would say. They will be missed by us. LOVE YA LIZARD LICK.