Angry Boys
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | May 11, 2011 |
| Founder | Chris Lilley |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, United States, United Kingdom |
Key people | Chris Lilley (creator, performer, executive producer), Laura Waters (executive producer) |
| Products | Television miniseries |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, HBO, BBC Three (pre-broadcast rights UK) |
Angry Boys is an Australian mockumentary-style sitcom miniseries crafted and performed by Chris Lilley, continuing the distinctive documentary parody approach established in his earlier works. Lilley embodies several characters, including S.mouse, a fictional American rapper; Jen, a cunning Japanese mother; Blake Oakfield, a surfing champion; Ruth "Gran" Sims, a juvenile detention officer; and her twin grandsons from South Australia, Daniel and Nathan Sims.
The series was filmed in various locations such as Melbourne, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. It represents a collaborative production between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the American cable network HBO, with BBC Three in the United Kingdom securing pre-broadcast rights. The show premiered on ABC1 on 11 May 2011 at 9:00 pm.
Development
Executive producers Chris Lilley and Laura Waters brought together much of the creative crew from previous projects like Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes to create six distinct characters for this series. This team included essential roles such as casting director, director of photography, art department personnel, costume designer, makeup artist, location scout, composer, and editor.
In August 2009, announcements were made regarding a successor to Summer Heights High. Towards the end of 2009, casting calls sought actors from diverse backgrounds for roles such as an African-American model named LaFonda, an African-American male called Carter, and a Japanese-American skateboarder named Corey. The ABC officially confirmed the title as Angry Boys alongside its co-production partnership with HBO.
A global audition process attracted over 3,500 actors and non-actors competing for 89 primary roles and more than 1,200 extras. Filming extended over seven months across upwards of 70 locations spanning Australia, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. The editing phase lasted approximately one year. A preview episode was broadcast in March 2011 prior to the official launch in May. Executive producer Waters characterized the series as an ambitious creative endeavor designed to surpass their earlier achievements.
The premiere of Angry Boys took place on ABC1 at 9:00 pm on 11 May 2011.
Music
The theme music for Angry Boys was composed and produced by Chris Lilley, with Bryony Marks contributing to arrangement duties and producing all incidental scores. Recording sessions with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra featured Lilley performing on grand piano. Additionally, Lilley wrote and produced every song featured in the series, including S.mouse’s rap numbers which were recorded in his personal studio.
Characters
Chris Lilley plays six principal characters throughout the series.
Daniel and Nathan Sims
Seventeen-year-old twins Nathan and Daniel Sims, who also appeared in We Can Be Heroes, reside on a farm in rural South Australia. Following their father’s passing, Daniel has taken responsibility for managing the household and is focused on restoring their farm alongside Nathan. Nathan experiences partial hearing loss at around 10%, is reserved in nature, and frequently endures bullying from Daniel. Their "Wall of Legends" honors figures such as rapper S.mouse and surfer Blake Oakfield.
Nathan produces a tribute video dedicated to S.mouse’s song "Poo on You," which results in complications with local law enforcement. As Nathan’s hearing deteriorates further, officials recommend transferring him to a specialized school for deaf students in Adelaide. To mark his departure, Daniel arranges a farewell party inviting their admired heroes; despite Gran’s dementia causing her to forget sending invitations, Oakfield, Okazaki, and S.mouse unexpectedly attend the gathering.
S.mouse
S.mouse, whose real name is Shwayne Jnr., is a 24-year-old African American hip hop artist hailing from Los Angeles, recognized for his chart-topping single "Slap My Elbow." Despite his narrative of growing up in hardship, his father contradicts this by stating that Shwayne was raised in the affluent area of Calabasas, attended a private school, and had a background in gospel singing.
Following backlash over his provocative track "Poo on You," S.mouse issues a public apology and is confined to house arrest at his parents' residence by his record label. Unhappy with the label’s demo titled "Gingerbread S.mouse," he independently releases "Grandmother Fucker," a video that provokes his father's disapproval. After the label severs ties amid controversies, he establishes a home studio to create his independent album The Real Me, with Danthony serving as executive producer.
After the album's modest reception, S.mouse experiences a creative shift inspired by an article about an Aboriginal child’s death. This leads him to compose "Squashed Nigga" and adopt the new stage name Shwayne Jnr.
Jen Okazaki
Jen Okazaki is a Japanese mother of three who relocated her family from Japan to Santa Barbara, California, in pursuit of enhanced prospects. She dedicates her efforts to advancing her eldest son Tim Okazaki's career as a skateboarding champion. Subsequently, the family returns to Tokyo to leverage marketing opportunities, where Jen develops a business empire named "GayStyle Enterprises," capitalizing on Tim’s skateboarding fame by selling specialized items such as phallic-shaped whistles, perfume dispensers, water bottles, and scrubbing brushes.
Concerned about Tim’s excessive workload and signs of depression, Jen takes on some of his duties and introduces a dog called "Gay Dog" for emotional support. Tim later discloses on his website that he is heterosexual and has a secret girlfriend, provoking Jen to leave home angrily with a threatening message. Bruce (Billy Loh) eventually replaces her as Tim's manager. The family moves back to Santa Barbara but lives separately; Tim purchases homes for himself and his relatives. Dissatisfied with suburban life and domestic confinement, Jen begins grooming her second son Luke to pursue a professional golf career.
Gran
Ruth Sims, affectionately known as "Gran," is the 65-year-old grandmother of Daniel and Nathan and has served as a prison officer at Sydney’s Garingal Juvenile Justice Centre for boys for 25 years. She resides on the premises alongside her colleague Penny (Alison Roy). Gran adopts a strict, drill-sergeant demeanor while demonstrating genuine concern for the inmates, often acting as their trusted confidante. She also cares for 23 guinea pigs, with her favorite named after TV personality Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
Gran is known for her bluntness and politically incorrect remarks; she organizes inmates into football teams based on skin color and makes deliberately provocative comments. She engages the boys through practical jokes such as fake releases or staged executions and hosts regular events like "Friday Night Song Night." Gran develops a connection with Talib (Jake Glass), a new inmate who faces bullying due to his quiet disposition and the offense of "wanking a dog." To foster trust, she confides in Talib about her Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Following the death of her beloved guinea pig Kerri-Anne—suspected to have been caused by Talib—hostilities escalate until Talib attacks another inmate and is placed in solitary confinement. Gran inadvertently provides extra bedding later used in an inmate’s suicide attempt, prompting her to intervene by removing Talib prematurely from isolation. This incident reveals worsening symptoms of her Alzheimer's disease, leading to an official retirement order. Gran subsequently relocates to Dunt to live with family members.
Blake Oakfield
Blake Oakfield, aged 38 and once a champion surfer from Narmucca Bay, New South Wales, is the originator of the Mucca Mad Boys surf crew. Notorious for stirring up local disturbances, Oakfield's professional surfing career came to an abrupt halt following a brutal gang altercation that resulted in the loss of his testicles, prompting his retirement from competitive surfing. He currently asserts that he defends Narmucca Bay against the rival faction known as the Fennel Hell Men.
Oakfield initiates the Fat Boys Surf School to instill confidence and ocean skills in young boys but discontinues it after an incident causes injury to a student. Subsequently, he is mistakenly detained for shooting Packo, the leader of the Fennel Hell Men. During this turmoil, his pregnant wife Kareena relocates to Sydney with their children. His close friend Hunter moves in to offer support, and the Mucca Mad Boys unite behind Oakfield throughout this challenging time.
During the court proceedings, it is revealed that Ashley, a former member of Oakfield’s gang, was actually responsible for the shooting and returns to incarceration. Oakfield undergoes surgery for artificial testicle implantation and reopens the surf school with assistance from his gang members. Kareena comes back after delivering their third child, Tyrone. Renewed and determined, Oakfield sets his sights on competing in the Billabong Legends of Surfing Tour, confident that his operation has restored his competitive edge.
Other characters
- Kerry (Debbie Jones) – Mother to Daniel and Nathan.
- Steve (Greg Fairall) – Kerry’s husband and stepfather to Daniel and Nathan.
- Tyson (Liam Keltie) – Younger sibling of Daniel and Nathan.
- Jamie (Samuel Cooke) – Another younger brother to Daniel and Nathan.
- Julia (Virginia Cashmere) – Sister to Daniel and Nathan.
- Tim Okazaki (Jordan Dang) – A skateboarding prodigy managed by his mother Jen; marketed with a fabricated Japanese background, Tim struggles with this false identity versus his authentic American roots.
- Danthony (Clyde Boraine) – Best friend and producer for S.mouse after he is dropped by his record label.
- Lasquisha (Kristin Dione Metoyer) – S.mouse’s girlfriend until episode 10.
- Shwayne Senior (Richard Lawson) – Father of S.mouse.
- Talib (Jake Glass) – New detainee at Garingal Juvenile Justice Centre; bullied due to prior conduct but forms a connection with Gran.
- Kareena (Sarah Sutherland) – Blake’s wife and mother of three children; pregnant through most of the series, giving birth to Tyrone by the finale.
- Hunter (Paul Pearson) – Blake’s closest friend and co-founder of Mucca Mad Boys; consistently provides support.
- Penny (Alison Roy) – Employee at Garingal Juvenile Justice Centre; nicknamed "Legs" for her stature; previously worked alongside Gran.
Merchandise
S.mouse’s track "Animal Zoo" became available for digital purchase on the Australian iTunes Store on 26 May 2011. This was followed by another single, "Slap My Elbow," released on 8 June 2011; it initially entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number 93 before climbing to number 37 the following week. The song also reached number 13 on the ARIA Urban Singles Chart. His third release, "Squashed Nigga", was issued on 21 July 2011, debuting at number 22 and peaking at number 18 on the ARIA Urban Singles Chart.
Following the series finale on 27 July 2011, a soundtrack album was launched featuring seventeen tracks by S.mouse, the Angry Boys theme song, along with nineteen accompanying videos. The album debuted at number 75 on the ARIA Albums Chart and later rose to number 36, achieving a peak position of number 9 on the ARIA Urban Albums Chart. Additionally, the series was released on DVD containing twelve episodes plus deleted scenes, bloopers, and music videos by S.mouse. The soundtrack earned the ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack Album in November 2011.
Audience Reception
Despite a highly awaited debut, Angry Boys experienced predominantly unfavorable critiques, trending globally on Twitter alongside "Gran." While some viewers deemed it "worth the wait," others expressed discontent with its profuse use of profanity and perceived lack of comedic value. The series also encountered criticism on talkback radio, with claims labeling it as "racist, homophobic, and offensive." Reviews from critics were divided: Karl Quinn of The Age characterized the show as daring and confrontational but not particularly humorous, whereas Darren Devlyn from News.com.au noted moments of "artistic brilliance" but was let down by the scarcity of genuine laughs. Holly Byrnes and Shoba Rao of The Daily Telegraph commended Lilley's provocative satire, dubbing him an "outrageous comic genius," though they questioned if the show's satirical nuances would resonate with younger viewers.
Viewership Ratings
The initial episode of Angry Boys drew an audience of 1,368,000, ranking it as ABC1's top-rated program for 2011. The following episode experienced a minor dip to 1,346,000 viewers but maintained its position as the leading show in its time slot. Episode three saw a more significant decrease to 805,000 viewers, placing it fourteenth overall amid competition from the 2011 State of Origin Rugby League event dominating that evening's ratings.
Subsequent episodes exhibited varied viewership: episode four attracted 920,000 viewers; episode five had 848,000; episode six declined to 569,000; episode seven rose slightly to 634,000; episode eight dropped to 591,000; and episode nine reached a series low of 391,000 amid stiff competition from the final State of Origin match which garnered nearly 2.5 million national viewers. Episodes ten and eleven stabilized with audiences of 453,000 and 465,000 respectively, while the twelfth and concluding episode saw an increase to 612,000 viewers.
International Syndication
| Country | Broadcasters | Time Slot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | ABC1, ABC2, The Comedy Channel | Wednesdays at 9:00 pm | Premiered on 11 May 2011; reruns aired on ABC2 and The Comedy Channel. |
| Czech Republic | HBO Comedy | Mondays to Wednesdays at 8:00 pm | Debuted on 14 May 2012. |
| Belgium | Prime | Thursdays at 10:30 pm | First broadcast on 5 July 2012. |
| New Zealand | Comedy Central | Mondays at 9:00 pm | Launched in 2011. |
| United Kingdom | BBC Three | Tuesdays at 10:30 pm | Premiered on 7 June 2011. |
| United States | HBO | Sundays at 10:00 pm | Debuted on 1 January 2012. |
| Germany | Sky Atlantic | Wednesdays at 10:30 pm | Premiered on 26 June 2013. |
| Sweden | Sveriges Television | Saturdays (varied times) | First aired on 18 January 2014. |
| France | Jimmy | — | Released in 2014. |
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