I used to be a big fan of the show ‘Degrassi Junior High’. It would come on at 5:30 during the ‘Afternoon Show’ on the ABC (Australia’s public broadcaster) - preceeded with a warning by James Valentine (the host) that the show dealt with issues that may not be suitable for younger viewers.
I found that the show dealt with many issues in a realistic way that I could relate to, even without being a Canadian. It was also quite well acted.
I have noticed in the TV guides now that there is a “Degrassi - The Next Generation” screening. Has anyone caught this version? I was wondering if it was up to the standard of the previous versions, and whether any of the past pupils of Degrassi make ‘cameo’ appearances.
I also believe that there have been a number of ‘Degrassi’ shows -
Kids of Degrassi
Degrassi Junior High
Degrassi High
Degrassi - The Next Generation
Does anyone know of any others, and were there any characters that made it through the first three shows?
Okay, Degrassi is known in Canada for it’s bad acting and many of the people I know who were fans watched it because it was so laughable (low budget badness seemed to have some kind of appeal).
I DID watch the pilot episode because they promised that here would be cameos by old cast members.
So here it goes:
“Snake” is now a teacher at the school. And Christine “Spike” Nelson is also a regular cast member – her “daughter” is now a teen going to Degrassi. I think they are the only old cast members who are regulars. “Joey” owns a car dealership and has a recurring role.
Other old cast members pop up from time to time and almost all of them were in the pilot episode at a highschool reunion.
The new Degrassi show has a better budget and the acting is no where near as annoying as it used to be. They still tackle teen issues with the occasional over-the-top scenarios (in the pilot, Spike’s daughter hooked up with a pedophile over the internet).
I’m not familiar enough with the old series, but I can tell you a little about the old characters and how they turned out as adults:
DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT A SPOIL.
Snake - teacher
Wheels - is out of jail, but his life seems pretty much ruined
Joey - is a widower who own a car dealership and has a young daughter
Caitlyn - is an accomplished actress
The big guy who used to beat up Joey once in awhile (don’t remember his name) - is gay.
I liked the show. I remember right after Degrassi High ended, there were a couple of episodes (like a mini-series) about what they did during their summer. I never was able to finish seeing them, and I’m still curious.
Oh, to add more: Degrassi was the only teen-aged show that I remember (or knew of) tackled the AIDS situation in a good manner. It was at the end of the series, when one of the bullies was found to be gay (and having HIV).
Yeah, wasn’t that like a TV movie or something? I remember a college roommate stumbling across it on TV and we were shocked when we heard them actually swear.
I loved Degrassi as a kid, and to this day will watch it if I find it on TV. They dealt with all sorts of things that my friends and I were dealing with as well; they had a lesbian librarian who faced losing her job because of her sexuality, which actually happened in my town. They had a bully with AIDS, who wasn’t gay. They had a girl who was being beaten by her boyfriend.
I don’t know about the bad acting part, except maybe that Lucy girl. Sheeesh.
Degrassi TNG is actually in its second season up here in the Great White North (which is mighty dry right now…).
It’s the same writing/producing team behind all 4 shows (yes foxyboxer, you’ve named all four), and they’re all pretty much up to the same calibre.
I saw the pilot for TNG last year, and I’ve seen half an ep this year-- my wife watches the show-- and I think the principal is another recurring character.
I stand by my point that the stories and acting were more realistic than other highschool-based shows - 90210, Saved by the Bell etc. (admittedley they are a totally different genre).
I used to love Kids of Degrassi when I was a kid. We got it in Ireland. I had a major crush on one of the girls. Can’t remember her name but she had a kind of bob haircut and wore silly jumpers.