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Summer Heights High
SERIES: HBO, Sunday 10:30p (30 minutes)


9.3

based on 13 reviews
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based on 21 votes
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Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Starring Chris Lilley

Chris Lilley created and stars in this Australian comedy about high school life.

GENRE(S):	Comedy
CREATED BY:	Chris Lilley
FIRST AIR DATE:	November 9, 2008

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 Weekly Ari 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.

Washington Post Tom Shales

Lilley's script and performances are rife with recognizable personalities, neuroses and human absurdities.

Salon Heather 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.

Wall Street Journal Nancy 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.

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

The nonfictional veneer feels authentic, and so does Lilley's talent.

Los Angeles Times Robert 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.

San Francisco Chronicle Tim 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.

TV Guide Matt 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.

Time James 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."

New York Daily News David Hinckley

In the end, while its outrageous characters are often amusing, their palate of jokes runs thin.

Newark Star-Ledger Alan 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.

The New York Times Mike 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.

Variety Brian 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.

The average user rating for this tv show is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Nathan E. gave it a10:
Most American won't get Aussy humor. I studied there and truly think this a gem.

Frank W. gave it a9:
Great show, perfectly NON PC, with plenty of inhouse jokes. Every Aussie GETS A KICK FROM THIS SHOW OF SUBTEXT!

Stu V. gave it a10:
I'm sorry, this was a huge program in Australia. I knew that before it came to BBC3 in the UK. So I was cautious. But it was a terrific program, believable in ways the original The Office could only dream of. And since then received due recognition in the UK (DVD release got 5 stars in Empire and Total Film). Yet American critics don't get it. Shameful.

Chris D. gave it a10:
You have to understand Australian humor to totally get this. This is just an amazing mocumentary. Chris Lilley's is such an amazing observer and actor.

Eric S. gave it a3:
the bully character was amusing, however a MAN, who is OLD playing a GIRL who is YOUNG is on par with fat suit humor (looking in your direction little Britain). not funny. and the gay drama teacher has been done already in waiting for guffman. i can't wait for monty python America.

Scott B. gave it a10:
at last someone who doesn't care about being PC truly biting funny comedy, its realistic and so clever it finishes so well too, almost a little like the final of Blackadder Goes Forth

Summer Heights High SERIES: HBO, Sunday 10:30p (30 minutes)

Summer Heights High
SERIES: HBO, Sunday 10:30p (30 minutes)