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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
Summer Heights High
EMAILPRINTSERIES: HBO, Sunday 10:30p (30 minutes)
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 36 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Comedy
Created By: Chris Lilley
First Air Date: November 9, 2008
Summary
Starring Chris Lilley
Chris Lilley created and stars in this Australian comedy about high school life.
Episode Guide & More Info: More about this show at TV.com
Also On The Web: Official Show Site (Australia) Official Show Site (USA)
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment WeeklyAri Karpel
Thank you, HBO, for airing Australia's outrageous Office-like, eight-part high school mockumentary, rather than getting a lesser comedian to do an American version.
Read Full Review >Washington PostTom Shales
Lilley's script and performances are rife with recognizable personalities, neuroses and human absurdities.
Read Full Review >SalonHeather Havrilesky
The only bad thing about Summer Heights High is that it makes a lot of American comedies look pathetically unoriginal and lackluster by comparison.
Read Full Review >Wall Street JournalNancy DeWolf Smith
It is funny in the manner of "Best in Show" or "A Mighty Wind," but much more biting. Although that means there are some truly painful moments, the talent of Mr. Lilley, a brilliant mimic, is a divine salve.
Read Full Review >Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
The nonfictional veneer feels authentic, and so does Lilley's talent.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd
All in all, it's a rich work, full of detail and small moments, and grounded in reality by an utterly believable supporting cast partly drawn from the school where the series was shot.
Read Full Review >San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman
The documentary look is engaging, and Lilley's wildly over-the-top performance as three distinct characters is made all the more funny as it clashes against the reserved nature of the nonactors.
Read Full Review >TV GuideMatt Roush
A funny/sad Office-style mockumentary depicting a year in the life of an Australian public high school, this wildly talented writer-star loves making you squirm (à la Gervais) while submerging himself inside the skin of characters so diverse (à la Ullman) you can hardly believe it's the same guy.
Read Full Review >TimeJames Poniewozik
Summer Heights High is not a perfect comedy, and those offended by crossed boundaries will feel their boundaries crossed. But it's a welcome, if sometimes familiar, HBO comedy while we wait for the return of "Flight of the Conchords."
Read Full Review >New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
In the end, while its outrageous characters are often amusing, their palate of jokes runs thin.
Read Full Review >Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall
Much as I admire Lilley's ability to pull off a sort of one-man Christopher Guest movie, only one of the three Summer Heights High leads is funny on a consistent basis.
Read Full Review >The New York TimesMike Hale
It’s easy to admire Mr. Lilley’s writing and performing talent, and some jokes work anywhere. But if he’s interested in really connecting with audiences here--something HBO probably has in mind for the future--he needs to do some more research.
Read Full Review >VarietyBrian Lowry
Cultural distinctions notwithstanding (will U.S. viewers double over at a Tongan accent?), Summer Heights High seldom rises above silliness and mostly proves just plain irritating.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Angela gave it a10:
Jared W. gets it- it is so much more than comedy. Those who find this offensive aren't paying attention. It is easy to mistake this as over the top because Mr Lilley plays all the charaters, but again if you are paying attention you will see that it is painfully accurate which is what makes it so painful to watch at times. Jonah still breaks my heart and his literacy teacher is so inspiring- these characters are so real
Ella P gave it a2:
Just for the record, this series does not typify the Australian sense of humour. I'm Australian and I rarely laughed throughout this painfully uncomfortable series. It should have been better. In the US, Arrested Development tackled awkward topics with grace and wit, and consistently cracked me up throughout three highly polished and immaculately edited seasons. 30Rock also handles race- and gender-related jokes with a light hand and an upbeat attitude (and, crucially, is laugh-out-loud funny). Summer Heights High just failed to elicit a single laugh from me. I think Chris Lilley is childish and self-absorbed; his brand of humour painfully awkward and unfunny. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - plenty of witty, creative Australians wouldn't spit on Summer Heights High if it was on fire.
Ed gave it a9:
I'm Aussie so I'm biased but this is GENIUS. Jamie is the best character, don't think Americans will get the Tongan one, it's too Aussie. Classic show.
Bill N. gave it a3:
Bad Taste and juvenile is the best way I can describe this program. I know it was big in Australia, but their sense of humor makes Howard Stern look like Mort Sahl. And the way they treat handicapped and minorities is so offensive that it can't be viewed as humorous , especially in light of the changes that our new president is bringing to America.
Jared W. gave it a10:
Calling this show a "comedy" isn't completely accurate. Of course there are plenty of funny moments and lots of memorable quotes. But Chris LIlley takes us deep inside the psyches of each character to places that are not funny at all. We see the parts of these characters that are broken and vulnerable. Sometimes this evokes laughter, but just as often it evokes pity and sadness. Chris Lilley's talent is unmatched. This show is groundbreaking. Watch it. But don't expect Michael Scott.
Justin K. gave it a10:
My roommate told me to watch this show cuz it was funny. It is hilarious. Mr. G is the funniest dude in the world. Ja'mie is the dumbest (funny) thing I have ever seen, he pulls it off so well, especially with the other "young" girls. And Jonah is my idol.
Anne S. gave it a10:
This show is the BEST SHOW EVER!! If you dont think that this is funny you have absolutly NOO sense of humor.
