The Grange P-12 College, Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne, Australia
Cinematography
Nick Gregoric
Editor
Ian Carmichael
Running time
26–27 minutes
Production companies
Princess Pictures ABC HBO
Original release
Network
ABC iview
Release
2 May (2014-05-02) – 4 May 2014 (2014-05-04)
Network
ABC1
Release
7 May (2014-05-07) – 11 June 2014 (2014-06-11)
Related
Summer Heights High
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)
Jonah from Tonga (Tongan: Siōnā pe Tonga) is an Australian television mockumentary sitcom miniseries that is written by and starring comedian Chris Lilley. The mockumentary series follows Jonah Takalua, a rebellious 14-year-old Australian boy of Tongan descent portrayed by the Anglo-Celtic Australian Lilley in brownface. The character had been introduced in Lilley's 2007 series Summer Heights High. At the conclusion of that series, Jonah was expelled from Summer Heights High School.[1] In this series, his father, Rocky Takalua, has sent him back to his homeland of Tonga to live with his uncle and their family in order to get Jonah's life back on track. The series was highly controversial for its use of brownface and ethnic stereotypes, much like Lilley’s other work; it has been commonly described as racist.[2][3]
The six-part series was produced by Princess Pictures and Chris Lilley in conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and screened on ABC1 in Australia, HBO in America, and BBC Three in the UK.[1] In New Zealand Māori Television screened the first episode on 29 July 2017, but then withdrew later episodes due to protests.[4] The entire series was available for streaming online for one weekend from 2 May to 4 May on BBC iPlayer and ABC iview, before starting a six-week run on ABC1 on 7 May 2014 and from 8 May on BBC Three. This was a first for a major Australian TV production.[5] The series itself was a "ratings disaster" for both the ABC and BBC.[6] It was later announced that the entire series would screen at select cinemas in several Australian cities followed by a Q and A with Chris Lilley.[7] These events were subsequently cancelled, with refunds given[8] and the website created to promote them removed.[9]
^ ab"Jonah's back and read to puck with viewers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
^"Comedian's defiant response to 'brownface' critics". NZ Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^"Jonah from Tonga was withdrawn for good reason: it's Chris Lilley's satire at its worst | Morgan Godfery". the Guardian. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^"Jonah from Tonga taken off Māori Television". Stuff (Fairfax Media). 1 July 2017.
^Kalina, Paul (17 April 2014). "Chris Lilley's Jonah breaks rules with an online first for ABC". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
^Meade, Amanda (14 May 2014). "Chris Lilley tastes ratings disaster as just 287,000 viewers tune in". The Guardian.
^${FirstName}. "Now Showing". Eventcinemas.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
^"Twitter / eVent_cinemas: @3ChordsAndMe Hi. it has been". Twitter.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
^http://www.jonahfromtonga.com.au[permanent dead link]
JonahfromTonga (Tongan: Siōnā pe Tonga) is an Australian television mockumentary sitcom miniseries that is written by and starring comedian Chris Lilley...
rewarding to watch, perhaps because he is the most different to me". Jonah originates fromTonga, having immigrated to Australia when he was 3 years old. He is...
Playground and as "Kool Kris" in the Chris Lilley mockumentary series JonahfromTonga. In 2004, he was a contestant in the reality singing competition series...
Lunatics, Superwog, How to Stay Married, Ja'mie: Private School Girl, JonahfromTonga, Wrong Kind of Black, and Last Days of the Space Age. The studio also...
Matiasi), Jonah's no-nonsense father, who constantly threatens to send Jonah back to Tonga if he misbehaves. Ofa (Ofa Palu), the only girl in Jonah's friendship...
Heroes: Finding the Australian of the Year, Ja'mie: Private School Girl, JonahfromTonga and Lunatics. Shows currently running in this format include What We...
McVicker as Robin Shandrell (season 2), a delinquent student who Gamby expelled from North Jackson prior to the beginning of the series. Fisher Stevens as Brian...
Jonah Tali Lomu MNZM (12 May 1975 – 18 November 2015) was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. Lomu is considered to have been the first true...
(2023–present) 24 (2003) American Dad! (2007–2016) Family Guy (2006–2016) JonahfromTonga (2014) Devin (2010) The Next Step (2022) Ghosts (airing as Ghosts US)...
2022). "Stax Records Docuseries Set At HBO From Jamila Wignot & Ezra Edelman". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May...
Planned filming on Shelter Island, New York, was canceled due to objections from residents, and therefore the beach and beach house scenes were instead filmed...
JonahfromTonga (Australia, 2014), 6 episodes about a year 9 bully of Tongan descent called Jonah Takalua, and his life after he was expelled from Summer...
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show JonahfromTonga Late Night with Jimmy Fallon The League Lewis Black's Root of All Evil...
centerpiece of Max (previously HBO Max from 2020 to 2023), an expanded streaming platform operated separately from but sharing management with Home Box...
Sketch". Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020. "Chris Lilley responds after shock claims about JonahfromTonga character"....