Ask any Australian/New Zealander who grew up in the late 2000s or early 2010s what they’re favourite show was and they’ll probably say something by Chris Lilley. In particular Summer Highs High or Jonah From Tonga. I used to love watching these shows when I was younger and Lilley is such a great actor. To this day there still quoted in schools all over NZ and Australia.
Chris Lilley was always a shitty comedian that relied on racism and blackface. I never understood why everyone loved him
Really? I don’t see how anything he did was racist. I understand why you wouldn’t do blackface in America but In Australia they don’t have the same history of Jim Crow and Minstrel shows that America has.
There are probably tons of shows that were never translated to other languages. Most often happens with children’s shows.
Like “Die Sendung mit der Maus” or “Löwenzahn”. Two very popular children shows in Germany. They explained soooo much about the world, always in an approachable manner, never condescending. That’s why they are still popular with adults.
The moderator of Löwenzahn said he usually found the topic for the next episode by just wanting to know about something himself. Like how a purification plant works, how a big ship enters a harbour, how glass is recycled.
More or less the same with Die Sendung mit der Maus. Through them I learned how holes form in cheese (farting bacteria), how batteries work or how money is printed.
Through all of that they show funny cartoons, stories or songs. Shaun the Sheep was a staple on Die Sendung mit der Maus for many years, might still be.
Das war Englisch.
While I understand the show had a cult appeal in many countries; Monkey (the live action Journey To The West adaptation from the 70/80s) must have had a pretty big surge in Australia when I was a kid.
I’ve heard new zealanders around my age and older talk about it the same way, but not really people from other countries who tend to remember it for being lame/cheesy but don’t seem to have much attachment to it.
