Summer Heights High

[Umlaut]

Saw this last night. I liked it a lot. Very funny.

I expect the character of Jonah to be the runaway favorite (deservedly so), though I do enjoy Ja'mie a great deal. Mr. G is basically Australian Corky St. Clair with a dash of Steve Coogan in Hamlet 2 (a bad movie). But, I am a theatre nerd first, so I personally never get sick of that shtick (shtich? schtick? schtichkch?).

I AM A FAN OF THIS SHOW.

[BillBrasky]

This past Sunday, Nov. 9th, HBO debuted Summer Heights High, an Australian import which has been so hilariously popular that it was not only picked up here in the States, but also in the U.K. (by the BBC) and in other parts of the world. The 8-episode "mockumentary" was created by, written by and stars Chris Lilley (who plays 3 parts in the show). And HBO is wasting no time in announcing a DVD release for the program!

The 2-disc set will arrive on February 24th. Besides the episodes, this set will include Outtakes and Deleted Scenes as extras. Video will be widescreen, audio in English, and the running time is 240 minutes. Cost is $29.98 SRP. Here's the studio description, followed by the package art:

In this hilarious series set in a real Australian high school, actor/comedian Chris Lilley stars as three different characters: a vain drama teacher, a self-absorbed boy, and a haughty female exchange student. Hysterical, absurd and frequently shocking, Summer Heights High reveals a world where small issues become huge, social groups are critical, young minds are molded, hopes are shattered and dreams are realized.

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

I too am a fan. It's a great concept for a show, and very well put together. I liked that they strove for more realism than would normally be put into faux-documentary productions. The vignettes aren't just plot devices, they play out just like a real documentary would.

[Tim F]

I would daresay that Jonah's part is the most realistic portrayal of high school I've ever seen in a TV series.

For everyone with a region-less DVD player, check out We Can Be Heroes (aka The Nominees), Chris Lilly's first mockumentary miniseries. Unless you don't like Summer Heights High. Then skip it.

[Jixby Phillips]

I saw commercials for this and very briefly thought it was real

[nadsat droog]

Holy shit this series was brilliant. Top notch writing and acting from Chris Lilley. Fans of the original Office and/or Christopher Guest will love this. I can't wait to watch the deleted scenes when the DVD comes out.

[squeek]

Originally Posted by nadsat droog

Holy shit this series was brilliant. Top notch writing and acting from Chris Lilley. Fans of the original Office and/or Christopher Guest will love this. I can't wait to watch the deleted scenes when the DVD comes out.

Agree completely. Got 4 episodes left to watch, and I can't wait.

[clerkguy24]

this is quickly becoming my favorite show on tv.

[Seafairing]

Yeah, I saw one episode the other day and it's already the best thing I've seen in a while...besides the Mighty Boosh...

[Nick C.]

My friends turned me on to this show. It's excellent.

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

Mr. G's friend/accompanist might be my favorite TV character ever.

[WayneTrain]

I only watched the first episode, but I didn't like it. The style of humor is great, but I'm just tired of it right now. Should I forge through my pain?

[(Mul)Doomstone]

Every week, my wife and I have been watching, and by the end I would think, "This show rules. Why haven't I seen a thread about it on AST yet?" Then I would go back to dusting off my Radio Birdman albums.

I knew ya'll were ahead of the game!

Really awesome show - pretty mind-blowing.

[daveunfun]

I was about to start a threat about this show until I found this one buried. So let's bring it up again.

Just burned through four episodes while home sick, love it. Definitely similar to 'The Office' in awkward/inappropriate situations, but it's got really great parts all of its own. Johah is my favorite, there's just something about how he shouts "fuck you, motherfucker".

DON'T GIVE IT AWAY, I still have four episodes to go, but I would really like for the three main characters to interact in some way. Perhaps it won't happen and that's part of the charm, but I think it would be interesting if Ja'mie talked to Jonah or something. Maybe it's building up to that.

[BillBrasky]

Originally Posted by daveunfun

I was about to start a threat about this show until I found this one buried. So let's bring it up again.

Just burned through four episodes while home sick, love it. Definitely similar to 'The Office' in awkward/inappropriate situations, but it's got really great parts all of its own. Johah is my favorite, they're just something about how he shouts "fuck you, motherfucker".

DON'T GIVE IT AWAY, I still have four episodes to go, but I would really like for the three main characters to interact in some way. Perhaps it won't happen and that's part of the charm, but I think it would be interesting if Ja'mie talked to Jonah or something. Maybe it's building up to that.

One thing that bothered me a little about this show is that in reality, Ja'mie definitely would have been auditioning to be in Mr. G's play, to play Annabelle Dickson, the girl who died of a drug overdose.

I guess Chris Lilley figured it would stretch credibility to act against himself in the same scene, but it just seems weird that the characters never meet each other. (Unless they do in the last episode, which I doubt).

For anyone who's seen "We Can Be Heroes", do the characters meet in that show? I would think they kind of have to if they are competing against each other for Australian of the Year. I'm going to try to see if I can find that show somewhere after I'm done with SHH.

[nadsat droog]

Originally Posted by BillBrasky

For anyone who's seen "We Can Be Heroes", do the characters meet in that show? I would think they kind of have to if they are competing against each other for Australian of the Year. I'm going to try to see if I can find that show somewhere after I'm done with SHH.

They're all in the same place during the last episode, and one of the young male characters even notices Ja'mie (who is also in this show) from across the room, but they never appear on screen together. The six people Lilley plays are not the only ones up for the award, they're just the ones the "documentary" chose to focus on. It's not as good as SHH, but it has its moments.

[Cankerblossom]

I sped through this series in 2 days and I'm absolutely in love with it. I would agree with Tim F. that Jonah is one of the most accurate depictions of a high school student on television, and I'd say the same for Ja'mie. All 3 characters are played absolutely perfectly by Lilley. I was surprised when I got a little choked up during the last episode, when Jonah Spoiler below (highlight to read)

was dragged out of Gumnut College

The final montage during the last episode is one of my favorite endings to a comedy series.

Has anyone seen We Can Be Heroes, Chris Lilley's first mockumentary series?

[Ethan]

Glad this thread got bumped.

This show is fabulous. As much as I love Gervais as David Brent, I think Lilley is far more talented and versatile actor. Gervais seems to only be able to do the self-absorbed asshole character.

I really enjoyed this bit of extended footage from the first episode:

[daveunfun]

Originally Posted by BillBrasky

One thing that bothered me a little about this show is that in reality, Jamie' definitely would have been auditioning to be in Mr. G's play, to play Annabelle Dickson, the girl who died of a drug overdose.

I guess Chris Lilley figured it would stretch credibility to act against himself in the same scene, but it just seems weird that the characters never meet each other. (Unless they do in the last episode, which I doubt).

I thought the same thing, Ja'mie should've been going for the lead in the play. But the more I think about two of the characters together, it seems like Lilley could get "cheap laughs" that way, so I kind of admire his restraint.

Ok, I can't read this thread anymore, there may be spoilers.

[Babs]

I am now deeply in love with this show. A friend gave me all the episodes and I watched them in two days. I wasn't sure how much I liked it at first, i wasn't laughing much but the more I watched the better it became. He really has a knack for these characters..it's so easy to forget it's actually him sometimes.

The character of Jonah is easily my favorite. A friend who grew up in a school with many Polynesian kids said he is so spot on.

I watched it with a few friends who work at a high school who were dying at an actual realistic portrayal. Funny how that comes from a man in his 30s. Brilliant.

And I can't get the songs from the musical out of my head...

She's a naughty girl with a...bad habit