Froggy Fresh Rap

Bibliographic Info:
 Froggy Fresh. (2013). FroggyFreshRap. Retrieved March 25, 2013,  https://www.youtube.com/user/FroggyFreshRap

Descriptive Summary:

A satirical mix of short vignettes, videos, inspirational videos, and interviews with his fans, Froggy Fresh Rap is a viral video web series that features a young up and coming Tennessee rapper. The series follows the trials and tribulations of two teenage best friends, the silent and often awkward Money Maker Mike and the verbose WWE loving Froggy Fresh (originally known as Krispy Kreme). An ongoing plot point is the duo's battle against local thug, James, who not only has stolen Mike's bike and killed his mom, but now has fatally stabbed Mike in a forest face-off.

Evaluative comments with rating:
5/5 TVs - Pure genius

The videos have evolved from a one note satire of an up and coming backwoods rapper to an upbeat ongoing series with two exuberant and likeable leads. Froggy Fresh is often biting and witty, but beneath the parody exists a real enthusiasm for fun, professional wrestling, and hip hop. The storytelling seems plucked right out of an Encyclopedia Brown novel, with James standing in for Bugs Meany, but there's something appealing about this blissfully unaware best buds who will do anything for each other. It doesn't hurt that the videos are shot well and the beats are excellently produced. Definitely catchy, it's easy to root for Froggy Fresh and Money Maker Mike.

Suggested Audience (age range): 14 - 18

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Offbeat, witty,  slang-heavy, upbeat, compelling, funny

"Readalikes" aka Watchalikes/Soundalikes: MC Paul Barman, MC Face, Summer Heights High (tv series), Har Mar Superstar

Booktalking hook:

A sample verse from "The Baddest" by Froggy Fresh:

I had to fight my whole life

I could beat you up even if you had one thousand knives 
Even if you had infinity knives 
I would punch you up into the air like a kite 
I bet you sleep with a nightlight
Cause you're scared of the dark
Cause you stink like a fart
Well I'll light your fart on fire with my rhymes
You think I won't? I do it all the time
I bet I got more money than Jay-Z
Compared to me, Jay-Z is Lay-Z
Plus Beyonce thinks that I'm cute
It's okay Beyonce, I think you're cute too
I made out with so many girls
Made out with every girl in the world
I might look small, but I'm not
I don't care if you're big, I'll fight you a lot
You know that

Reason for inclusion: Online popularity - his videos have over 42 million views

Category: Web Series/Music/Comedy

Summer Heights High (TV Series)

Bibliographic Info: Lilley, Chris. (2007). Summer heights high (Television Series). Australia: Australian Broadcasting Company.

Descriptive Summary:
A mockumentary series written by and starring Australian comedian Chris Lilley that focuses on the lives of three characters at one Australian public school.

Lilley plays:

Ja'mie King - a self involved, insensitive, and insincere female exchange student from a private school.

Mr G - a self centered and narcissistic drama teacher who is blind to the needs of his students.

Jonah Takalua - a 13 year old Tongan bully with an interest in hip hop and break dancing who is frequently misunderstood by his teachers.

The series is incredibly biting and often controversial. Summer Heights High takes a look at the social hierarchy of high school as well as the racism that exists in Australia concerning non-white and Polynesian Australians.

Evaluative comments with rating:
3.5/5 TVs - it's hard to like this show, but also hard to not love it

Summer Heights High is not recommended for everyone particularly because of its mature themes and often offensive language. The show, despite being a mockumentary, is often very realistic in its depiction of high school life. Jonah's character is often the star of the show and his storylines are more complex than they appear on the surface. Teachers and authority figures frequently underestimate and belittle him while singling him and his friends out for behaviour based on their Polynesian heritage.  On the surface Summer Heights High appears to be mocking Polynesians, but after a few episodes it becomes quite clear that the Polynesian students are the sympathetic figures in the series. They are blatantly discriminated against and bullied by adult figures - while white students exhibiting the same behaviours are rarely, if ever, punished. The series isn't without its warts, but there are a number of teachable moments. Recommended for mature teens.

Suggested Audience (age range): 16-18

Readers’ advisory notes:

 Appeal factors: Offbeat, character-driven, darkly humourous, funny, slang-heavy

"Readalikes" aka Watchalikes: The In-Betweeners, Peepshow, Clark and Michael, Sit Down, Shut up, Angry Boys

Booktalking hook:

Jonah and his friends in the office after bullying another student:
“How is it ok for you to bully Ben?”— Guidance counsellor

 “Cause he's a ranga.”— Jonah
“A what?” - Guidance counsellor
“A ranga, sir. 'Cause he's got red hair, "Orangutan" That's what we called him.” — Jonsh
“And does that make it ok for him to be bullied, because he has red hair?” — Guidance counsellor
“Well people are racist to us, so we can be racist to rangas. ”— Jonah
“But redheads aren't a race, Jonah. ”— Guidance counsellor
“But, sir, there's heaps of them. They're everywhere!”— Leon

also:

 Jonah to the camera crew:

"They don't understand that I'm just choosing to be dumb. I'm not dumb. I'm just choosing not to be smart at the moment, but if I put in effort, then I could be really smart, but I choose not to." — Jonah

Reason for inclusion: Recommendation by a friend/teacher

Category: TV Series/Comedy