--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be…" description: "\"I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.\" — Chris Lilley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg" --- # I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC… ![“I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.” quote by Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg) > “I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.” [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The show exceeded expectations, becoming a major hit despite modest predictions. **In simple terms:** Unexpected success of a TV show. Key Takeaway Expect the unexpected in media projects. Themes media unexpected success culture celebrity TV pop culture Mood surprised excited Type observational humorous When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - network decisions - viewer trends Key Concepts cult following viral popularity audience reception Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge potential success? - What factors turn niche shows mainstream? A Different Perspective Success can be unpredictable; hype may not match outcome. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) ## Related quotes > ['Summer Heights High' is one of my favourite shows of all time. I'm obsessed. I re-watch it all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/summer-heights-high-is-one-of-my-favourite-shows-of-all-time-i-m/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) > [Summer Heights High does not get enough love. My favorite show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/summer-heights-high-does-not-get-enough-love-my-favorite-show/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [To be honest, after all the crap that happened with 'Summer Heights High,' I was like, 'I'm not going to write anything controversial or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/to-be-honest-after-all-the-crap-that-happened-with-summer-heights/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is paying me for is storytelling - not to make sure that a costume is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-work-for-abc-if-the-thing-that-abc-is-paying-me-for-is-storytelling/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Girl how do you feel about heights, because we're about to get high tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-sebastiao/girl-how-do-you-feel-about-heights-because-we-re-about-to-get-high/) [Emanuel Sebastiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-sebastiao/) > [You can't get any better than TV on HBO, ABC and BBC3.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-can-t-get-any-better-than-tv-on-hbo-abc-and-bbc3/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Prior to working for Fox, I worked for ABC and NBC, spent a lot of time at CNN, and almost ended up at CBS.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/prior-to-working-for-fox-i-worked-for-abc-and-nbc-spent-a-lot-of-time/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [The ABC's are attitude, behavior and communication skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-chertavian/the-abc-s-are-attitude-behavior-and-communication-skills/) [Gerald Chertavian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-chertavian/) > [If you turn on ABC 7 in the morning San Francisco, you'll see them using an iPad with Waze on it, and actually talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-bardin/if-you-turn-on-abc-7-in-the-morning-san-francisco-you-ll-see-them/) [Noam Bardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-bardin/) > [ABC is owned by Disney, so it's a little more conservative than Adult Swim. Polar opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/abc-is-owned-by-disney-so-it-s-a-little-more-conservative-than-adult/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [Six months after I moved to L.A., I booked the ABC pilot 'Commander-in-Chief' with Geena Davis. I played her son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lanter/six-months-after-i-moved-to-l-a-i-booked-the-abc-pilot-commander-in/) [Matt Lanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lanter/) > [Professional highlight of 2011 was definitely getting the job at ABC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-zee/professional-highlight-of-2011-was-definitely-getting-the-job-at-abc/) [Ginger Zee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-zee/) > [My first job with a network was 'General Hospital,' and that was ABC. I feel like I have so much history with them, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-ray-newman/my-first-job-with-a-network-was-general-hospital-and-that-was-abc-i/) [Jaime Ray Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-ray-newman/) > [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [ABC Family is really restructuring their network because there's a new kind of family, so I think they're really trying to step away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dallas/abc-family-is-really-restructuring-their-network-because-there-s-a/) [Matt Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dallas/) ## More by Chris Lilley > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'll probably be still playing a school girl when I'm 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-ll-probably-be-still-playing-a-school-girl-when-i-m-60/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [There are bits of me in all my characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/there-are-bits-of-me-in-all-my-characters/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I think it just really excites me, the idea of delving so far into a character that people actually believe it's real, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-think-it-just-really-excites-me-the-idea-of-delving-so-far-into-a/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I like the boundaries, the kinds of conventions of a documentary and having to work within that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-like-the-boundaries-the-kinds-of-conventions-of-a-documentary-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I think sometimes people become quite emotional about the characters as well, and that's pretty cool that you can get that emotion out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-think-sometimes-people-become-quite-emotional-about-the-characters/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-a-big-comedy-show-watcher-but-i-love-ricky-gervais-stuff-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I like playing all sorts of ages and genders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-like-playing-all-sorts-of-ages-and-genders/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [You feel the pressure of going to university because you need a back-up plan, which is why I enrolled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-feel-the-pressure-of-going-to-university-because-you-need-a-back/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Films do seem prestigious and glamorous, but when you create something, you want people to see it. TV still reaches so many more people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/films-do-seem-prestigious-and-glamorous-but-when-you-create-something/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-had-to-do-a-talk-or-a-speech-i/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm not really a management-type person. It doesn't suit my personality to be bossing people around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-really-a-management-type-person-it-doesn-t-suit-my/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Playing girls is cool, but its a lot more fun playing boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/playing-girls-is-cool-but-its-a-lot-more-fun-playing-boys/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm definitely attracted to the idea of people that have these big aspirations that the audience know might never happen, but they're lost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-definitely-attracted-to-the-idea-of-people-that-have-these-big/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [You can't get any better than TV on HBO, ABC and BBC3.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-can-t-get-any-better-than-tv-on-hbo-abc-and-bbc3/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) [Explore all 65 Chris Lilley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) ## More Abc quotes > [ABC Family is really restructuring their network because there's a new kind of family, so I think they're really trying to step away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dallas/abc-family-is-really-restructuring-their-network-because-there-s-a/) [Matt Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dallas/) > [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [My first job with a network was 'General Hospital,' and that was ABC. I feel like I have so much history with them, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-ray-newman/my-first-job-with-a-network-was-general-hospital-and-that-was-abc-i/) [Jaime Ray Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-ray-newman/) > [Professional highlight of 2011 was definitely getting the job at ABC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-zee/professional-highlight-of-2011-was-definitely-getting-the-job-at-abc/) [Ginger Zee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-zee/) > [Six months after I moved to L.A., I booked the ABC pilot 'Commander-in-Chief' with Geena Davis. I played her son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lanter/six-months-after-i-moved-to-l-a-i-booked-the-abc-pilot-commander-in/) [Matt Lanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lanter/) > [ABC is owned by Disney, so it's a little more conservative than Adult Swim. Polar opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/abc-is-owned-by-disney-so-it-s-a-little-more-conservative-than-adult/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [If you turn on ABC 7 in the morning San Francisco, you'll see them using an iPad with Waze on it, and actually talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-bardin/if-you-turn-on-abc-7-in-the-morning-san-francisco-you-ll-see-them/) [Noam Bardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-bardin/) > [The ABC's are attitude, behavior and communication skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-chertavian/the-abc-s-are-attitude-behavior-and-communication-skills/) [Gerald Chertavian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-chertavian/) > [Prior to working for Fox, I worked for ABC and NBC, spent a lot of time at CNN, and almost ended up at CBS.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/prior-to-working-for-fox-i-worked-for-abc-and-nbc-spent-a-lot-of-time/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [You can't get any better than TV on HBO, ABC and BBC3.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-can-t-get-any-better-than-tv-on-hbo-abc-and-bbc3/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The value of the television network is partly tradition, serving as a navigation device and as a brand. Research shows that people do know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/the-value-of-the-television-network-is-partly-tradition-serving-as-a/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [Watching the evening news in 2011 is a strange time-travel experience. 'The CBS Evening News,' 'ABC World News' and 'NBC Nightly News' haven't changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/watching-the-evening-news-in-2011-is-a-strange-time-travel-experience/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [ABC Family is ready to get a new image for themselves, and I think 'Greek' really kind of started that change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-michael-foster/abc-family-is-ready-to-get-a-new-image-for-themselves-and-i-think/) [Scott Michael Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-michael-foster/) > [Of course ABC and its parent company Disney were right to cancel the sitcom 'Roseanne' after its eponymous star, Roseanne Barr, wrote a racist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/of-course-abc-and-its-parent-company-disney-were-right-to-cancel-the/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [You know, it is a funny thing, but 'The Flintstones' was bought by ABC and the sponsors when they discovered adults were watching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hanna/you-know-it-is-a-funny-thing-but-the-flintstones-was-bought-by-abc/) [William Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hanna/) Browse all 58 Abc quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Lilley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abc" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/chris-lilley-10497_abc_i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be_707801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.” — Chris Lilley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chris Lilley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was sure 'Summer Heights High'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```