ABC’s Angry Boys rates under half debut audience

Angry boys is particularly weak

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I watched the first episode of Angry Boys, but didn’t bother after that. There’s no doubt Chris Lilley is a talented writer and actor – but I’m tired of him playing all the roles. Also tired of every character being completely deluded – it’d be nice if at least one of them was less unhinged.

I think he’s at risk of becoming a one-trick pony, and I wonder if that’s why people have switched off?

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Yeah I agree Breety and Fiona, Angry Boys wasn’t at all like Two and Half Men like I was hoping.

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Summer Heights High was sheer comedy genius.

Angry Boys is no Summer Heights High.

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I watched angry boys once, no wait it was the other show he had on where he played all these characters. dont know what the fuss is about this show, it is lousy to put it mildly. not funny, not anything.

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There are too many characters and the story arch is too erratic, which causes a scattergun effect. I don’t think viewers gain enough continuity to want to tune in week after week. S’Mouse is also the worst character he has ever done – Lilley shows a major lack of insight in the way he’s portrayed that character and it’s made me lose respect for him and his comedy. It’s a shame – he did such an amazing job with Jonah, as some kind of comparison. But I think S’mouse unravels his previous good work and I will be amazed if it’s well received in the USA.

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@Tony Richardson; Angry Boys isn’t supposed to be on the same level as Summer Heights High. It is much more of a social commentary.

I think it’s actually getting better now that the characters are starting to develop.

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Angry Boys was better last night, probably because there was no S.Mouse. Gran is amazing and her revelation was so sad! I agree it’s not as good as his other shows but it’s still good.

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This is a shame, because the series is really just hitting its straps. Some of the characterisation over the last two episodes has been remarkable — particularly Gran and the Sims twins. Their emotional lives are emerging from behind the caricature of the earlier episodes, from between the wisecracks and catchphrases. My recommendation is to give it a second chance via iView.

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I agree with The Professor, spot on with the comment that the show is now hitting its straps in the last couple of weeks.

This series has more depth to the characters rather than just going for all out laughs, and unfortunately for Chris Lilley, he wasn’t able to compress the story enough and quickly enough in the first couple of weeks to satisfy today’s “fast food comedy” generation, that want laughs from the opening credits to the end, so people turned off and didn’t come back.

No problem, watch 2 and a Half men, The Big Bang, How I met your Mother, even repeats of Seinfeld. All very funny shows, which I watch from time to time as well, but they are sitcoms, Angry Boys isn’t a sitcom. Summer Heights High was closer to being a sitcom than this is.

Agree that S.Mouse isn’t probably his best character, (nor the Japanese mother), but still so bad that it’s funny, and if it makes me laugh, I’m happy. Sure he may have some errors in accuracy of what a black rapper should be about, but in Star Wars you can hear the lasers and explosions in space battles, when space is actually a vacuum and sound can’t travel. Do I enjoy Star Wars any less? No, it’s entertainment.

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Last night was much better. The gay skater and S.Mouse are dragging it down and you notice it’s better when they aren’t involved.

The twins have been dragging since launch but last night they finally showed a little bit of depth (which you’d expect given the characters first emerged 6 years ago)

Gran is a great character and should have been the focus. No laughs but endearing.

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Angry Boys has turned a corner, particularly last night. I must admit, the slap comedy didn’t appeal to me, but with an emerging social commentary through Gran, and the brothers, it really is starting to become an institution. Who doesn’t relate to at least one of the characters?

Another interesting element is the digital integration of the series. Anyone visited the Angry Boys’ Facebook Page? It’s a cracker, and has some of the most engaged and active fans I’ve seen. This, in addition to the fan-run Twitter character accounts, clearly shows a loyal fan base. I just wish it would translate to ratings…

I’d love to hear what young men – aged 16 to late twenties – think of the series and if it is resonating?

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Absolutely agree, Gran had me in tears last night, and the twins segments were amazing. I think it’s deeper and darker than a lot of people expect.

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I agree with Bucks summation with one exception. I really like the S.Mouse! character. I think Chris Lilley has done a great job highlighting the hypocrisy and stupidity of the American music industry, especially the hip hop / rapper segment. He’s not a likeable character for sure, but it’s not about him, it’s about the bigger picture.

I’m enjoying this series more and more each week. Probably because I’m not trying to compare it to SHH, I’m looking at it for itself. It’s brilliant thought-provoking social commentary at its best.

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Sorry but this one lost me after the first episode. I get that it might be building momentum now, but with so much at stake and such big shoes to fill, it should have been a cracker from ep1. Hence the poor ratings now.

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It’s true that Angry Boys is not in the same league as Summer Heights high and (to a lesser degree) We Can Be Heroes, but I’m not going to stop watching. With 12 episodes, it is obviously going to take more time to gain momentum which, I think it is starting to achieve. Gran is the standout character and her story arc is starting to strike a chord! I even sympathise with the twins now.
I think what has turned the average audience member off is that this show isn’t outrageously hilarious like his previous works and I think Angry Boys requires a level of patience. Angry Boys is probably a different category to his previous shows and people shouldn’t expect the same things as Summer Heights.
That said, there are issues: S.Mouse (only there to sate Americans) and I think there is more room to expand on Blake Oakfield.
I say: Lilley has earned our respect and we should give him the benefit of the doubt and keep watching.

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Why is everybody hating on S.Mouse!?

The true brilliance of Chris Lilley is his ability to slowly unwrap and bring down the defenses of all of his characters as the show progresses. This happened in both SHH and WCBH.

The characters in Angry Boys are starting to step out from behind their “fronts” and reveal some real human elements. Gran’s revelation about her health last night is a perfect example.

S.Mouse! comes across as obnoxious and completely dillusional at the moment, . But he’s still coming to terms with his fall from grace and fading popularity. He’s a young man desperately trying to promote a false image of himself whilst clinging to his 15mins of fame.

You watch as all his bravado unravels and a vulnerable and confused young man is revealed!

Stay tuned, cos nothing in this show is gonna turn out as expected.

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He is still a total legend. I didn’t like the surfing character much but now I think he and his situation of being a weakling with horrible mates is powerful. What an idiot! The skateboarder mum is a shocker and will go down in history where she belongs as evil personified. Gran is terrific and yet I disliked her so much at the beginning. No Chris Lilley is still the best best writer and actor and editor and social voyeur – we’re talking Barry Humphries but instead with a kind heart. Look how we see through the bravado of those male characters – brilliant. every word they say reveals such a sadness if not anger.

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angry boys is amazing. Iwe need more shows like it. And if you dont think so try n have a bit of sence of humor.

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