WakenPayne Okay, I'm going to be a tad more reasonable than the last review I wrote for this show. Chris Liley does have a talent for imitating stereotypes as clearly seen in this show. I first started watching this in High School during my English Class's free time, I hated it at the time even more-so because I can escape from my schooling life to go into a reflection of unlikeable characters' schooling lives.The premise of the show is to take three cardboard cut out stereotypes, one being a 13 year old boy named Jonah who likes Rap, break dancing, insulting teachers and blaming all the negative things in his life on everyone around him. There's a 17 year old high school girl named Ja'mie who is snobby, racist, prejudice, materialistic, vain and like Jonah, blames everybody else for all the negative things in her life. Then there's the drama teacher named Mr G. He is controlling, whiny, sees himself as some kind of messiah and like the other 2 characters blames everybody else for all the negative things in his life.The biggest problem I have with the show is (what a shock!) none of the characters are likable. But if we see unlikeable characters then the best thing to do would be to put them in constant misery right? Liley does that only half of the time. The other half is tasteless shock humour or offensive humour. There's even one episode where Ja'mie wants to fund the formal dance and tricks everyone into thinking it's an AIDS charity drive... Really? You had to do that? I personally don't find stuff like that funny, it's annoying to me and offensive to the people who suffer from this problem.Pretty much all the show is jam packed with humour like that. These unlikeable characters make life for everyone around them miserable and when the consequence of that happens they find a way to say it's their fault. I know some people like this kind of humour and if you like that, then that's fine. I personally don't. I can see some talent behind Chris Liley, I really do. I just don't find over-exaggerated stereotypes of people doing horrible things then blame the consequences on everybody else funny.

Beanie72 Thank you Australia and Chris Lilley for creating the funniest show on television!!!!!!I saw Summer Heights High on HBO, here in the states and I thought "This looks dumb". Dumbest thought ever. This is the funniest show. The realism, the quirkiness, the pure genius of Lilley! It honestly feels like a real documentary- only freaking hilarious. I cannot even pick a favorite character, they are all so hilariously brilliant in their own way! And I love how Lilley used non-actors because it just made the sense of realism even greater. But the characters themselves are relatable! Everyone knows a Ja'mie, a Mr G, and a Jonah. Maybe they are exaggerated but we all know them. If your like me and your not sure whether to watch it....WATCH IT! You will NOT regret it, that is unless your sense of humor is unfortunate.

killblue I don't understand why this is being hailed as "The Next Office": this show is disgustingly terrible. The premise, though intuitive, features three characters, two of which are just downright unpleasant and unenjoyable. Jonah is downright unenjoyable and unfunny. The character is just plain stupid and juvenile. Ja'mie is a bit predictable but still brings a few cheap (forgive the irony) laughs to the show. She is a mockery of characters like Cordelia ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and the cast of "The Hills." The drama teacher, Mr G, is the only bright part of the show. He is coarse, cold, and hilarious. This show has a lot of potential. Axing Jonah and replacing (or just generally removing them and making Mr G the central focus) is a great way to turn a mediocre comedy into a absolutely enjoyable and downright hilarious comedic adventure.

Claudia McCarey When I've heard about this when it first appeared,I was thinking it was going to be as pathetic and dumb like 'Neighbours' on TV(if you're a foreinger who hasn't seen the TV show Neighbours,don't watch it anyway, it's very horrible),but when I got Summer Heights High on DVD,I was completely wrong,it was excellent.Reasons why: 1.The main characters,Jonah,a delinquent break dancing problem child, Mr.Gee,an ego-driven gay Drama teacher with delusional showbiz dreams,and Ja'mie,a high-class bitchy private school girl on a student exchange were VERY clever,witty and laugh-out-loud funny.Non of their talents in the show have declined,they were just perfect.2.The humour.Greatly hilarious.The jokes never got old,they were modern.I definitely recommend this show to anyone who loves Australian comedy and something realistic.