Degrassi Junior HIgh

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Back to the Eighties - March 2008

Degrassi Junior High

March 13th 2008 23:36

Degrassi was the best show that ever came out of Canada.
Starting early with The Kids of Degrassi Street, this series followed a bunch of school kids through their adolescent maturity. The show was well known for its hard-hitting social issues and a cast of non-professional actors.

The peak of the series was Degrassi Junior High from the late 80's, which eventually turned into Degrassi High.

The opening story-arc 'All the way with Stephanie K' is legendary. On re-reviewing the episodes recently, I was surprised at how slutty she really was dressing.
Other famous story-arcs from the show include
Miss Avery's a lesbian!
Wheels' foster parents dying, which followed into him tracking down his real dad.
Joey flunking a year
Dwayne getting AIDS, and Joey finding out
But the longest running story was about Spike's pregnancy (note: everyone that has had sex in the Degrassi series gets pregnant!) and that led into Shane's acid trip where he jumped off a bridge and ended up physically and mentally disabled.
Yep, these kids did it all.
A reoccurring theme was Wheels, Snake and Joey's band the Zit Remedy (later shortened to The ZIts) and their one song 'Everybody Wants Something' - which they played for about 5 years!

Caitlin & Joey then

Caitlin & Joey now

The show was groundbreaking at the time, and while it may seem a little tame compared to what we have today, it's still far more realistic.

The Degrassi series has continued to this day with Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is actually centered around Spike's daughter.

I was disappointed to hear that Joey and Caitlin were together in the new series, but have broken up again, thanks to her new love interest - played by director Kevin Smith, who had a childhood crush on Caitlin (who didn't?) and even named the lead female in Clerks after her.

But, who could blame her, after what Joey did in the cult classic Degrassi movie - Schools Out.

But I think we all learned plenty from Joey Jeremiah (at your service), Caitlin Ryan, Wheels, Snake, Heather & Erica (the twins), Lucy, Melanie, Kathleen, Spike, Shane, Rick, Arthur, Yick Yu (the disorganized), Tessa and Dwayne.
Not to mention Ms. Avery and Mr Raditch.

If I get a kiss, I'll vote for you, Steph - promise!

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Posted By: Jarrah - Category: Television, 1987, 1988, 1989, Canada

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Comments

23 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Neems

March 14th 2008 01:11

Koala Lounge
Truth Whisperer

HAHAHAHA I love your blog! I used to watch this religiously- one of my favourite shows. I loooved Spike- she was adorable and I remember she and Snake having to look after an egg in preparation for the baby??

I wonder if the song that joey's band sings is on youtube??

I think this show did wonders for television as well as hitting the hard social issues. It just seemed more real and less "OC" which is what we have nowadays.

This will get me through the office today! Thanks Jarrah!

Neems x

Comment by Jill Browne

March 14th 2008 02:52

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Whoa! I missed the whole Ms. Avery's a lesbian thing! But I remember toilet paper all over Mr. Raditch's yard, and a lot of good things about Spike's mother.

I think Voula (spelling?) was in the class too.

Thanks for posting that clip with the song, I love it.

Comment by KylieW

March 14th 2008 03:52

Celebrity Obsession

I used to LOVE Degrassi Junior High. I didn't realise they had a next generation show until one saturday morning when I flicked over to ABC. I was VERY excited about that!

Comment by JohnDoe

March 14th 2008 04:08

Film & TV on DVD

This is one show I never got into as a kid, though I am curious to see the Kevin Smith appearance in the new series.

Comment by Michaelie

March 14th 2008 04:33

Flick Wit

I absolutely LOVED Degrassi! I could sing the theme song off by heart right now - as well as 'Everybody Wants Something'. Spike was my favourite - I was never into Caitlin. Remember when the twins got 'the kissing disease'?

I saw Next Generation one day, but it's just not the same.

Michaelie

Comment by Eva W.

March 14th 2008 06:53

Life in Germany

Ah, you brought back sweet memories... Thanks!

I just LOVED that show.

However, I'm not actually sure how realistic it was. I dare say that they sometimes tried a little too hard to teach young people a "lesson" in those episodes. If so much drama could really happen in one small high school grade, I'd be very impressed.

Thanks to Degrassi, I started high school with some very unrealistic expectations. I was most surprised that by 10th grade I hadn't seen a single pregnant girl walking around the schoolyard. haha

Comment by Jarrah

March 14th 2008 07:26

Back to the Eighties

Well, it depends on what high school you went to!
But I think most will agree, its far more realistic than today's O.C's etc.

But this is what you wanted....The Zits with Everybody Wants Something!

Comment by Michaelie

March 14th 2008 08:28

Flick Wit

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

If I were Caitlin that would do little to impress me! It's worse, and therefore better, than I even remember! The pants on them! And they are such bad singers!

Comment by Jarrah

March 14th 2008 09:00

Back to the Eighties

Yeah, I couldn't believe how bad it was!

Comment by MicKey Moustrap

March 14th 2008 09:20

Wow, this is crazy flashback!

You did gain Jarrah, thankyou so much, you're a really great writer.

And Jill Browne Miss Avery wasnt really a lesbian, but everyone thought so. It was one of the funniest episodes and Caitlin was having these crazy nightmares about ! ha ha

Comment by Anonymous

March 14th 2008 18:39

i used to love this show. i would get home from school just in time to watch it on pbs in the afternoons.
the twins were very annoying. my faves were joey, wheels, snake, lucy, spike and luke.
i remember being scared my first day of high school because i thought i would get innitiated the way joey and the gang did on "degrassi high". lol.

Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang

March 15th 2008 06:50

The wonderful Peter Yang's Variety blog
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Yeah, Degrassi high is a pretty good show.

I mean it started of as a pure kid show, but as they grow older, the storyline really become more mature and in some way, it is more like an adult show by now.

Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang

March 15th 2008 07:32

The wonderful Peter Yang's Variety blog
Power Ranger Online
Cartoon Kim Possible - Online
Swine Flu, Swine Flu, Swine Flu!!!
Music Online

PS: How did you got that "google search" box on your website?

I want that as well.

Comment by Luke

March 16th 2008 07:08

Book Club
Old Movies
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Degrassi rules, I did a zine on it not too long ago. You should all buy a copy off me.

Comment by Cibbuano

March 16th 2008 21:38

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Man, you know I watched Degrassi. Well, I watched the Kids of Degrassi Street and then moved onto this.

I don't know if it's the BEST show to come out of Canada. Have you seen the Kids in the Hall?

Comment by Jarrah

March 16th 2008 23:12

Back to the Eighties

I admit I have never seen it.

Comment by Jill Browne

March 17th 2008 00:28

Skip On Over
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Ah, we in Canada are such masters of TV (lol).

Kids in the Hall is quite a bit different from DeGrassi, more offbeat humour, less junior high angst.

Comment by Johnny Rico

March 26th 2008 11:20

Man I still get off on canadian meloadrama ey.

Comment by Morgan Bell

April 19th 2008 16:36

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man after reading this post i have this incredible urge to watch the entire series all over again, i wonder if they have it on dvd?

degrassi really shaped my childhood, to this day i genuinely believe anyone who has sex WILL get pregnant! lol . . . even lesbians!

Comment by Anonymous

April 28th 2008 00:23

I heard that Pat Mastroianni will star in a film called « 40 Is the New 20 » that will be released in the summer of 2009.

Comment by Anonymous

May 2nd 2008 17:35

Really Long Link

That's Pat's IMDB page and it mentions nothing about the 2009 movie. The last thing he has done was in 2006.

But, it would be nice if he did =) he's so cute!

Comment by Anonymous

May 2nd 2008 17:36

Go buy the DVDs =) it's worth it!!

Comment by CC Bannana

September 10th 2008 00:21

Its says 40 is the new 20 right at the top dipshit!
Will be released next year.

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