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“Summer Heights High,” an eight-episode Australian comedy series, is an acquired taste. Those who enjoy the discomfort of “The Office,” will find similarities, but must prepare themselves for a much higher level of uncensored awkwardness.

The show centers on three members of a public school who never appear in scenes together because they are all played by the same person, Chris Lilley.

Jonah Takalua, the resident bully, is convinced the faculty is against him because he is one of a handful of Polynesian students in the eighth grade. He shows up to school on the day of a dance-off with an inappropriate stain on his pants, and the administration forces him to complete the day in short shorts. Takalua is also obsessed with MTV’s “Punk’d” and doesn’t understand why his victims don’t find his antics humorous.

Next comes Greg Gregson, better known as Mr. G, the school’s experimental drama teacher who couldn’t hack it as a real performer and takes his joke of a job way too seriously. He takes it upon himself to direct the school musical about a female student who very recently died of a drug overdose even though he never knew her. Mr. G’s take on her life is solely based on rumors that she was a slut and drug addict, which he repeats continuously throughout the play and then he wonders why the girl’s parents don’t support his musical.

Lastly, and best of all, 11th grader Ja’mie King transfers to Summer Heights from a private school. Her endless supply of obliviously offensive remarks about the differences between public and private school kids make for countless laughs at comments you know you shouldn’t find funny. She also initiates a very weird but nonetheless amusing relationship with a boy four years younger than her. Lilley’s versatility as an actor is incomparable to most. At times, however, his ability to pass as a 16-year-old girl is just downright scary – but in a good way.

– Saba Mohtasham