Ja'mie: Private School Girl

Ja'mie: Private School Girl
Genre Comedy
Mockumentary
Created by Chris Lilley
Written by Chris Lilley
Directed by
  • Chris Lilley
  • Stuart McDonald
Starring Chris Lilley
Narrated by Chris Lilley
Theme music composer Chris Lilley
Composer(s) John Foreman
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Laura Waters
  • Chris Lilley
Producer(s)
  • Laura Waters
  • Chris Lilley
Editor(s) Ian Carmichael
Location(s) Melbourne
Cinematography Nick Gregoric
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 25–27 minutes
Production company(s)
Broadcast
Original channel
Picture format
Audio format Stereophonic
Original run 23 October 2013 – 27 November 2013
Chronology
Preceded by Angry Boys
Followed by Jonah from Tonga
Related shows We Can Be Heroes
Summer Heights High
External links
Website

Ja'mie: Private School Girl is an Australian comedy television series set at an exclusive private girls' grammar school in Sydney's extremely wealthy North Shore district, written by and starring male comedian Chris Lilley. Continuing the mockumentary style of Lilley's previous series, Ja'mie: Private School Girl follows Ja'mie King, a character who previously appeared in Lilley's series We Can Be Heroes and Summer Heights High, during her final weeks of high school.

The series is co-produced by Chris Lilley and Princess Pictures in association with ABC and HBO.[1]

The Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) broadcast the show in Australia from 23 October 2013 and concluded on 27 November 2013. HBO began broadcasting the show in the United States on 24 November 2013. In the United Kingdom, BBC Three currently broadcasts the series.

Development

Lilley announced that he was working on a new show on his Facebook page. The ABC confirmed that Lilley's six-part half-hour comedy series would screen in 2013.[2] On 8 September 2013, Lilley revealed the title of the show and that the returning character to the series is Ja'mie King.[3][4]

Production

Melbourne-based production company Princess Pictures and Chris Lilley produced the series with Australian Broadcasting Corporation and HBO. The show was shot at Haileybury, Melbourne.[5]

Broadcast and reception

Private School Girl debuted on ABC1 in Australia on 23 October 2013,[6] and on HBO in North America on 24 November 2013.[7] BBC Three began broadcasting the series in the UK on 6 February 2014 at 10pm.[8]

Viewing figures on ABC were initially high at 924,000 viewers, but had dropped to 575,000 by the fourth episode. The series was, however, a success on ABC iview, beating earlier records set by Doctor Who.[9]

Critical reaction has been mixed for the series. Laurence Barber of The Guardian blamed a lack of character development for its drop in popularity in Australia, believing "Lilley has made it almost impossible for us to care."[9] Reviewing the shows broadcast on HBO, Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter criticised the transition from sketch to series saying "You'd have to be the biggest of Ja'mie fans to want to watch her talking nonstop for 30 minutes."[10] After the show's premiere in the United Kingdom, Rebecca Smith of The Daily Telegraph praised the comedy of the first episode as well as Lilley's performance, yet believed it was "in danger of becoming one-dimensional."[11]

Characters

Ja'mie King

Main article: Ja'mie King

Ja'mie King, portrayed by Chris Lilley, is the main character of the show. She was also a main character in two of Lilley's previous shows, We Can Be Heroes and Summer Heights High. Ja'mie: Private School Girl follows Ja'mie in her final year of school, having left Summer Heights High and returned to Hillford Girls Grammar School.[3]

Mitchell

Mitchell Ward, portrayed by Lester Ellis, Jr., is Ja'mie's love interest. A new year ten student on a rugby scholarship at the all boys school Kelton Boys Grammar down the road. In Episode 4 he breaks up with Ja'mie and begins dating her friend Madison which angers the Prefects. In Episode 5 he sends Ja'mie a photo of his penis which she shows to Madison. Madison states that she is going to dump him. Ja'mie and Mitchell reunite at the end of Episode 6 as Ja'mie chose him over Kwami due to the fact that he is white. In the 6 months skip, she mentions that she broke up with him because he kept grinding on her and sending her photos of his genitals.

The Prefects

The Prefects are Ja'mie's friend group at school and the head girls of Hilford. They are self-described as the quichest girls at the school, "quiche" being a term made up by Ja'mie herself, meaning "a step above hot". All the girls are expelled at the end of Episode 6 after they give a raunchy performance at the Hilford Presentation evening. They all enrol with Ja'mie at Blaxland College, shown in the 6 month skip.

Courtney

Courtney, portrayed by Madelyn Warrell, is Ja'mie's younger sister who also attends Hilford. She is the subject of a lot of Ja'mie's abuse, particularly over her singing in the school choir. She and her friend Selena (Thi Reynolds) film Ja'mie's risque dance performance with Mitchell.

Cody

Cody Bomhoff, portrayed by Alex Cooper, is Ja'mie's "GB" (Gay Bestie). He attends Kelton Boys Grammar and is the first to inform Ja'mie about the arrival of Mitchell. He takes dance class at Hilford with Ja'mie due to Kelton not having a class. He is responsible for Ja'mie's rebel makeover in Episode 5 and he also accompanies her to visit Kwami for the last time.

Other characters

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date AU viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley23 October 20130.92[12]
Ja'mie is in the last few months of her schooling at Hillford Girls Grammar. As school captain, she and her prefects perform a dance at assembly to honour some elderly Hillford Girls alumni who are visiting as part of centenary celebrations however they are reprimanded by Mr Hayes for the risque dance moves and the fact their bras are showing. Ja'mie reveals that she has ditched her friend Brianna (previously seen in We Can Be Heroes and Summer Heights High, as she has gotten fat. Ja'mie now has a new group of friends who she describes as all being 'quiche', a word she made up, meaning hotter than hot. Ja'mie also reveals that she is still working in the community, visiting the African refugees and reading to her Ugandan friend Kwami over Skype. She believes herself to be the ideal Hillford Girl and the girls discuss the erecting of a statue of the year's Hillford Medal winner all believing that Ja'mie will obviously win. Later at the bus stop in front of Kelton Boys Grammar, Cody, Ja'mie's gay BFF, informs her of the arrival of Mitchell, a hot rugby scholarship student in year 10 of whom Ja'mie immediately becomes infatuated with. She drives home with her mother and sister, almost crashing the car due to arguing with her sister and mother whilst texting. At home Ja'mie and her friends manage to persuade Ja'mie's father to agree to let Ja'mie throw a party so she can invite Mitchell and get to know him.
2"Episode 2"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley30 October 20130.88[13]
After debating sexting etiquette, Ja'mie practises her HSC dance solo and faces her rival, Erin, a school boarder Ja'mie is convinced is a lesbian. In a ploy to get more attention from Mitchell, Ja'mie names her upcoming mega-party "The Perfect Prefect Party" and invites everyone except Erin and the boarders.
3"Episode 3"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley6 November 20130.59[14]
Ja'mie takes in a Ugandan boy named Kwami as her "project." He will live at her house for one month. The boarders try to crash the Perfect Prefect Party and there is an altercation between them and Ja'mie. Mitchell is clearly interested in Ja'mie.
4"Episode 4"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley13 November 20130.58[15]
Ja'mie is now officially 'dating' Mitchell. One day, Mitchell's Facebook relationship status reads "single," along with an update saying he was hanging out with Ja'mie's best friend, Madison. The two girls fight, and Ja'mie falls into a depression. She claims that she has attempted to kill herself, although it seems dubious. Cody convinces Ja'mie that she needs a makeover to make her feel better.
5"Episode 5"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley20 November 20130.64[16]
Ja'mie is in trouble with the school after an illicit Skype video is made public, wherein she shows her breasts to Kwami while wearing the school uniform. Kwami is kicked out of the King household. Mitchell texts Ja'mie a suggestive photo and Ja'mie tells Madison, who promptly breaks up with Mitchell.
6"Episode 6"Chris Lilley and Stuart McDonaldChris Lilley27 November 20130.62[17]
Unhappy with the decision on the recipient for the Hillford Medal, Ja'mie plans to stick it to her school by planning to create a scene at presentation night. It becomes clear that Ja'mie is interested in women.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2014 Logie Awards[18][19] Most Popular Light Entertainment Program Ja'mie: Private School Girl Nominated
Most Popular Actor Chris Lilley Won
Most Outstanding Actor Nominated

Home video releases

Series Set details DVD release dates Special features
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Ja'mie: Private School Girl
  • 2 discs
  • 6 episodes
5 August 2014[20] 16 June 2014[21] 28 November 2013[22]
  • Deleted scenes
  • Bloopers
  • Behind-the scenes featurettes

References

  1. "Summer Heights High's Ja'mie King goes back to school for BBC Three". BBC. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  2. "ABC TV in 2013… Amazing!". About the ABC (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Summer Heights High's Ja'mie King Goes Back to School for BBC Three". About the BBC (Press release). British Broadcasting Corporation. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  4. Lewis, Maria (8 September 2013). "Chris Lilley Reprises Role of Ja'mie King in New Series on ABC". news.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. Staff Writers (1 November 2013). "Chris Lilley Comedy Horrifies Parents, Ex-Students of Haileybury". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  6. Suz (30 September 2013). "UPDATED: Chris Lilley Reveals Air Date for 'Ja'mie: Private School Girl'". Pedestrian.TV. Pedestrian Group. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  7. Kondolojy, Amanda (9 September 2013). "'Ja'mie: Private School Girl' Debuts November 24 on HBO - Ratings". Zap 2 it. TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  8. "New Chris Lilley Series in Production for ABC1". About the ABC (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Barber, Laurence (15 November 2013). "Not so Ja’miezing: Private School Girl proves disappointing". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  10. Goodman, Tim (22 November 2013). "'Getting On' and 'Ja'mie: Private School Girl': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  11. Smith, Rebecca (6 February 2014). "Ja'mie: Private School Girl, BBC Three, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  12. Knox, David (24 October 2013). "Wednesday 23 October 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  13. Knox, David (31 October 2013). "Wednesday 30 October 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  14. Knox, David (7 November 2013). "Wednesday 6 November 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  15. Knox, David (14 November 2013). "Wednesday 13 November 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  16. Knox, David (21 November 2013). "Wednesday 20 November 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  17. Knox, David (28 November 2013). "Wednesday 27 November 2013". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  18. "2014 Logies: Full list of winners". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  19. Knox, David (27 April 2014). "Logie Awards 2014: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  20. http://store.hbo.com/jamie-private-school-girl-dvd/detail.php?p=527675
  21. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Private-School-Girl-DVD/dp/B00JC359LQ/
  22. "Ja'mie - Private School Girl". ABC Shop. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 November 2013.

External links