Summer Heights High: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 60 Ratings

See All

8.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.7	Your Score
8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 60 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Silk

Now Playing: Silk

Season Details & Credits

HBO | ABC1 | Season Premiere Date: September 5, 2007

Starring: Chris Lilley

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

Creator: Chris Lilley

Genre(s): Comedy, Music

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Episode 8
Air Date: unknown
tbd
S1:E7. Episode 7
Air Date: unknown
tbd
S1:E6. Episode 6
Air Date: unknown

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

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. Read full review

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. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

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

TV Guide Magazine 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. Read full review

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. Read full review

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." Read full review

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. Read full review

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS

User Score

Write a Review

8.7

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

User Reviews

ScottB.

Nov 11, 2008

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Judddy

Apr 22, 2011

An exceptionally funny and clever Australian comedy series by master comedian Chris Lilley.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

NathanE.

Nov 19, 2008

Most American won't get Aussy humor. I studied there and truly think this a gem.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AnneS.

Jan 5, 2009

This show is the BEST SHOW EVER!! If you dont think that this is funny you have absolutly NOO sense of humor.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Angela

Jan 2, 2010

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 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… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BJN.

Jan 1, 2009

Very funny a welcome addition I now look forward to more of while waiting for Little Britain USA to return.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EllaP

Sep 17, 2009

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

67

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 5, 2007
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 5, 2007
Season 1

67
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 5, 2007
- tbd
  S1:E8. Episode 8
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E7. Episode 7
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E6. Episode 6
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E4. Episode 4
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E3. Episode 3
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E2. Episode 2
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: unknown