I am sure some of you have noticed a poster up in New York Pizza for a show coming to HBO called Summer Heights High coming November 9. What you may not realize is that this show is Australian, and in my own opinion the greatest TV show ever made.
It aired in Australia just last fall and made quite a massive impact there. What I find most impressive about it is how controversial a lot of its subject matter is - to a degree completely unimaginable in any American mainstream media. Likewise it is one of the most realistic portrayals of high school I have ever see, even in the United States.
The show is a mocumentary created by comedic actor Chris Lilley who had previously been on the Australian sketch show Big Bite (here is a clip of him as his original character The Extreme Darren in a bit I know we all could relate to) before creating his own show called We Can Be Heroes which has been renamed The Nominees for the international market. In that show he played five characters all competing for the (real) Australian of the Year award:
Ricky Wong a Chinese physics student and aspiring actor from Melbourbe who is trying to get his all-Chinese production of his original music about the aborigines "Indigeridoo" made.
Daniel Sims a teenager from Dunt (the only fictional town) in South Australia who is donating an ear drum to his twin brother who lost his hearing in a childish accident.
Ja'mie (strange name, I know, but you'll get used to it!) King a spoiled private school girl from Syndey's North Shore who has been sponsering countless African children.
Pat Mullins a housewife from Perth with one leg one much shorter than the other whose ambition is to roll on her side (her unique, finely-tuned skill) from Perth to Uluru (Ayer's Rock).
Phil Olivetti a self-obsessed policeman from Brisbane who became a motivational speaker after rising to local fame after saving 9 children from a wild jumping castle about to hit power lines.
In Summer Heights High, Lilley reprises his roll of Ja'mie King by placing her in a swap program that places her in the titular public school in the outer suburbs for one term. Her plot focuses on her adjustment into the general public and a deeper exposure of her manipulative and superfial ways. Lilley also reprises the character of Gregg "Mr. G" Greggson, which he had first created for Big Bite. Mr. G is a flamboyant, self-obsessed drama teacher, and a failed stage actor in denial. Every other year he has had the opportunity to produce an original show which have included Downloadin', You Can't Skate, Mate!, and Tsunamarama about the 2004-2005 Tsunami set the to music of Bananarama. His plot focuses on his obsession with his theatre work and its importance over anything else going on at the school. An all-new character, Jonah Takalua makes his debut in the show as well. Jonah is a troubled 13 year old Tongan boy who dreams of becoming a breakdancer with the help pof the shcool's only all-Polynesian crew "Polyforce." He is constantly getting in trouble for writing graffiti, being a smartass, constantly swearing, and bullying other kids - especially redheads. Despite this, he becomes by far the most sympathetic character.
Lilley plays all three characters with startling perfection, so much so that it is easy at time to forget the disturbing reality of the production, especially when Ja'mie gets a younger boyfriend. Because of the show's unique splicing of formats I could describe it as something of a cross between BBC's The Office, Freaks and Geeks, and Da Ali G Show. Either way, it is not to be missed, that would be a Bummer Heights High. For more information on its US debut you can head to HBO.com
It is quite rare for Chris Lilley to not be in character, but when that happens he looks like this:
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