Angry Boys

Summer Heights High is one of my favourite Australian comedies, written by and starring Chris Lilley.

But the newest kid on Chris Lilley's block is Angry Boys and, having watched the first episode (released this week), it is fair to say it will challenge Summer Heights High for top spot in my favourites.

Some of the characters from We Can Be Heroes - one of Chris Lilley's first series, prior to Summer Heights High - feature in Angry Boys, including Daniel and Nathan who are 17 year-old twin boys. Lilley plays both twins, one of which is deaf. Their past-times include doing 'mainies', (where you drive up and down the main street of town), taking profile pictures of themselves, and tormenting their mum's new boyfriend's dog.

Chris Lilley also plays a juvenile detention centre justice warden called Gran, who has been working in the centre for over 20 years. She is unbelievably politically incorrect, but it shouldn't be taken seriously - it's all tongue in cheek. For example, she separates the soccer team into 'darkies' and 'whities', and makes 'punked' jokes like "go grab your gear, we've just found out you're getting an early release." She even makes the child walk to the front gates of the prison, asking him "where can your mother be?" before exclaiming "Gotcha!". Gran likes to make superhero pyjamas for the boys, including Superman, Batman and Mr Incredible, as well as the zebra from Madagascar, all with doona covers to match.

It's one of those shows some people might take too seriously, but it's easy to see that Chris Lilley means no harm with his humour and that it is intended to make you laugh, rather than to offend.

I look forward to seeing the rest of the series as it is released over the coming months.

Unusually though, the Sydney Morning Herald didn't give Angry Boys a great review. You can read their review here.

It will be interesting to see whether the audience ratings reflect a positive response to Chris Lilley's latest show.