The BEST ABC1 shows of all time

Every ABC1 show, ranked

We've compiled the average episode rating for every ABC1 show to compile this list of best shows!

star
9.47
184 votes

#1 - The Hollowmen

The Hollowmen is a comedy-drama set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a special think tank personally set up by the Prime Minister to help him in the most important job of all - getting re-elected. Their brief is "long term vision"; to stop worrying about tomorrow's headlines, and focus on next week's.

View Episode Rankings
star
8.91
345 votes

#2 - The Chaser's War on Everything

A satirical current affairs show presented by The Chaser team. Regular segments include Pursuit Trivia, Ad Road Test, the Surprise Spruiker and Mr. Ten Questions.

View Episode Rankings
star
8.54
101 votes

#3 - The Hamster Wheel

The Hamster Wheel runs for 8 weeks and sees the return of the full Chaser team Andrew Hansen, Chas Licciardello, Chris Taylor, Craig Reucassel and Julian Morrow, plus writer Dominic Knight. New segments on The Hamster Wheel include: " At Work With A Julia a situational comedy that follows the abject failures of an unlovable redhead " Keeping Up with the Jones' Conspiracy Theory your weekly guide to unhinged rants of Alan Jones; and " 30 seconds of poetry read by regional Aussie rules footballers playing lawnbowls, to fulfill all the ABC's charter obligations.

View Episode Rankings
star
7.97
990 votes

#4 - Summer Heights High

Chris Lilley, creator of "We Can Be Heroes" brings a whole new meaning to high school with his various characters in his new ABC comedy "Summer Heights High" which include Mr. G, Ja'mie and Jonah. Lilley stars as all three characters in this comedy which small issues become huge and social groups are important.

View Episode Rankings
star
7.24
708 votes

#5 - Angry Boys

With "Angry Boys", the wildly inventive Chris Lilley brings to life six different characters; identical twins Daniel and Nathan Sims, from "We Can Be Heroes", and four new characters; former Surfing World Champion Blake Oakfield; US rapper S.mouse; Japanese mother and manager of a skateboarding champion, Jen Okazaki; and Juvenile Justice Centre worker Ruth Sims, a.k.a. Gran.

View Episode Rankings
star
7.22
46 votes

#6 - The Time of Our Lives

Our thirties and forties are the busiest time of our lives. The extended Tivolli clan is right in the thick of it – kids, career advancement, home ownership, settling in with the one you love; still trying to find the one you love; getting away from the one you used to love. It’s the time of our frantic, messy, frustrating, funny, sometimes awful, lives. The Time of Our Lives is a 13-part drama series, set in a moody inner city Melbourne, which follows the lives of a typical extended Australian family, in all its contemporary variations.

View Episode Rankings
star
7.12
134 votes

#7 - Blue Water High

Seven 15 year-old surfers have been selected from around Australia and overseas to take part in an intensive 12 month residential school program at Blue Water High. At the beachside school they join other pupils in a normal year's academic work as well as receiving special coaching in surfing. At the end of the year, two of the seven will qualify to surf the pro-circuit and win a three-year sponsorship contract. The series is a race into the finals for the wild card, a race to get through the year, and a race to grow up. The seven teens, forced to live, study and train together at the same time become best friends and greatest competitors.

View Episode Rankings
star
7.07
337 votes

#8 - Ja'mie: Private School Girl

Follows the eponymous school captain during the last few months of school, far removed from the grounds of Summer Heights High and back on the lush manicured lawns of Hillford Girls Grammar School.

View Episode Rankings
star
6.94
332 votes

#9 - We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian Of The Year

We Can Be Heroes is a mockumentary TV series created and performed by comedian Chris Lilley. It follows the story of five unique Australians, who have each made a large achievement and been nominated by friends and family for the Australian of the Year award.

View Episode Rankings
star
6.05
206 votes

#10 - Jonah from Tonga

Having being expelled from Summer Heights High, Jonah has been sent to Tonga to live with his uncle but he is now is causing more trouble than ever. His father, Rocky, and Aunty Grace take him back to Sydney, Australia to begin a new life at a Catholic High School.

View Episode Rankings
star
5.96
157 votes

#11 - Moby Dick (2011)

Ishmael sees his dream of a whaling voyage come true when he joins the crew of the Pequod, a sailing vessel leaving port in Nantucket. Unbeknownst to Ishmael and the mates, the Pequod s monomaniacal Captain Ahab is taking them all on a mad and personal mission to slay the great whale Moby Dick, an obsession that will open their eyes to the wonder and spectacle of man, of beast, and the inescapable nature of both.

View Episode Rankings