# Degrassi **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659 "2002-10-31T05:42:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Barber_s_Underwear)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/1 "2002-10-31T05:42:12Z")
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? - Bubba. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/2 "2002-10-31T13:39:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ASD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@ASD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASD)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/3 "2002-10-31T17:21:49Z")
I loved that show when I was little. And, for what it’s worth, you can buy copies of most of the episodes (on VHS, not DVD). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/4 "2002-10-31T17:29:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/5 "2002-10-31T17:30:41Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/6 "2002-10-31T17:32:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\*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. \*\* 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_. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/7 "2002-10-31T17:51:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/8 "2002-10-31T18:18:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Tony\_Barber\_s\_Underwear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Barber_s_Underwear)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/9 "2002-11-01T11:37:35Z")
Mr Radditch is still there? 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). - Bubba ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/degrassi/134659/10 "2002-11-01T11:47:44Z")
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. Ahh youth.