Summer Heights High - Laughs, Ecstacy and Controversy.

"I said puck Miss, with a 'P'! Don't you know how to spell?"

Jonah Takalua's infamous quote has spawned a new slang word that is entering Australian Teenager's vocabularies at an alarming speed. 'Puck' is fast becoming the new f-word, close enough to have an effect, but just different enough to avoid consequences, and a reference that almost any warm-blooded Australian will recognize.

Jonah, a rebellious and mis-behaved Polynesian boy and one of comedian Chris Lilley's many characters, is one of the trio of stars featured in Summer Heights High, a mockumentary about life at an Australian, inner-city public high school.
Along with Ja'mie King, an over-privileged and spoiled teen girl, and Mr G, an eccentric and somewhat delusional Drama teacher, who are all played by Lilley, Summer Heights High has fast become an Australian classic, even for a series with a mere 7 episodes.

The series, which aired on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Network.), has forever made it's mark on Australian popular culture, with books, T-Shirts, DVDs, CDs and even with talks of it's own stage production (Mr G - The Musical).

However, as with any other popular television series, it was destined for it's fair share of controversy.

It didn't take long for a portion of the viewers to become offended. The first in a long string of outcries came after a fictional overdose on the show.

During part of one of Mr G's section's on the show, a fictional student known as Annabel Dickson was announced to have died of an ecstasy overdose. While the character of Annabel never actually appeared on the show, a mock-photo of a blond teenage girl was displayed as 'Annabel.' Not long after the announcement and finding out more about Annabel from other students, Mr G announced he would be writing a musical based on the life and death of Annabel for the school production.

As harmless as this may have seemed at first, Mr G's adaptation was tasteless, with the musical featuring equally tasteless lyrics.

'Annabel Dickson, Annabel Dickson
When girls take drugs, and then they die
Who would have thought, at Summer Heights High
On days like these, it's a Bummer Heights High
And Annabel died'

Whilst the first verse seemed relatively tame, the next few lines of the song where not as appealing.

'She's a party girl with a bad habit, bad habit for drugs
She's a naughty girl with a bad habit, bad habit for drugs'

And the third verse was just plain disrespectful.

'She's a slut and she knows it
She wants to root all the boys
She can't help taking the drugs on a Saturday night.'

While at first the whole idea just seemed like a fictional poke at abuse of power and bad taste, a shocking coincidence rocked the media. The parents and family of a young Sydney woman who died of an ecstasy overdose, where angered by the show episode.
The family of Annabel Catt, a 20-year old dance teacher, said the episode had distressed them greatly and pleaded with the ABC to pull the show from the air.
In an amazing coincidence, the young girl in mock photo used was actually a close resemblance to Miss Catt, who had died that February. While at first it was highly debated, due to the fact that the show was filmed before her death, the issue was dismissed as a freakish and horrible coincidence.
The Catt family, however, where nonetheless hand-delivered a personal apology from ABC boss Mark Scott.

The ordeal was not over, however, as not long after the Catt family accepted the apology, a second family also demanded one. The family of Anna Wood, a 15 year old girl who also died of ecstasy overdose 12 years ago, had come to the conclusion that if Annabel Catt was not the inspiration of the skit, then Anna Wood was. However, the baseless allegations where soon dismissed as a grab for publicity.

The ABC however, changed the credits of the show to include a disclaimer, stating that all characters where 'wholly fictional' after every episode.

Summer Heights High string of media attention was not over, however, as the show was soon condemned by teachers and parents for promoting 'Poor standards of behavior.'
Copy-cat students where now repeating insults and racist remarks made by Jonah on the show, calling fellow students 'Homos' and teasing redheads, calling them 'Rangas'. The term 'Puck you' was now becoming a problem, as well.

The condemnation came soon after the show reached 1.6 million viewers, and became the networks highest rated show since Mother and Son debuted in 1992.

Famous Australian child Psychologist, Michael Carr-Gregg, while admitting that the show was "a fabulous Australian comedy", also said the show could be seen to be "mocking effeminate men and homosexuals as well as reinforcing racial stereotypes, through characters such as Jonah."

"It is really important to understand that kids under eight can't distinguish between fact and fantasy. There is potential kids won't see the show as a satire."

Whilst the media from rival networks jumped on the condemnation bandwagon, with shows such as 'A Current Affair' and 'Today Tonight' (Shows similar to '60 Minutes'.) pumping out story after story on the show, Summer Heights High and Chris Lilley continued to reach the top.

While the series has ended, the DVD has become a hot Christmas item, and lines for DVD signings with Lilley had almost 5 hour lines at some cities. Clothing companies are enjoying sales from T-Shirts donning slogans such as, 'I'm director of the preforming arts, spread it.', 'If you loved me you'd do as I f--king say!' and 'Dictation', Jonah's trademark graffiti tag - a picture penis followed by 'tation'.

The show is also being studied in high schools across the country, being cited for it's underlying social justice messages.

Summer Heights High has proved it's status as a successful show, continuing to win the hearts of viewers despite all of the controversy is has been handed.

Summer Heights High Official Website