Degrassi: It goes there! [Archive]

Babette

03-01-2007, 09:36 PM

Does anyone else watch Degrassi? My obsession with this Canadian teen drama started with Degrassi Junior High when I was in high school (it was the 80s, man). The show progressed into Degrassi High and a few years ago returned at Degrassi: The Next Generation. The actress who played the pregnant teen in the 80s is still on it and her daughter is a high school student. They have a couple other grown-ups who were teens in the previous series. It is cheesy and poorly acted, but their slogan is "It Goes There". They deal with serious issues like guns, abuse, drugs, STDs, drag racing, abortion, teen moms, blow jobs, internet porn, and more.

NM teases me for watching it, but my friend at work and I always have to giggle about it. They even had a few episodes of "Jay & Silent Bob Do Degrassi" since Kevin Smith is a huge fan of the show. You can check it out on The-N, the teen network that was a spin-off from Nickelodeon. Alanis Morisette, who was on Nick's You Can't Do That on Televison in the 80s even appeared on a Degrassi episode (with Smith).

Just wondering if anyone else is as geeky as I am.

(I've also been watching the reruns of 70s-80s After School Specials on the Cox cable channel. Today had a 15ish Rosanna Arquette embarrassed about her deaf parents. Craptacular! I still have not come across the one with Helen Hunt on PCP. I so need to see that again!)

innerSpaceman

03-01-2007, 09:38 PM

I was totally into Degrassi Junior High ... waaaaaay back in the day. But I could never dig any of the updated versions.

But I'd heard about whatsherface (preggers) from the original being back, with her real daughter playing one of the kids. Hahahahahahaha! That's awesome!

mousepod

03-01-2007, 09:45 PM

Back in the day, I was a big fan of Degrassi (it was Kids of Degrassi Street before Jr. High, btw). I remember once having a conversation with Jim "Foetus" Thirwell about the episode where Caitlin is worried about her sexuality ("Lesbian! Lesbian! Lesbian!"). Ah, memories.

And you are definitely a geek.

Babette

03-01-2007, 09:47 PM

They had a total lesbian arc last season with the hot bad chick and the perky cheerleader. Many girl-on-girl kisses.

Ghoulish Delight

03-01-2007, 10:21 PM

My sister was a big fan. I was a smidge too young. Aware of it, but didn't really get it and have no memory of watching it (thought I'm sure it'd look familiar if I saw clips from the original).

Alex

03-01-2007, 10:24 PM

I don't think I've ever heard of it.

innerSpaceman

03-01-2007, 10:27 PM

I think it was Canadian, eh? And not being known by everyone was part of its cultappeal.

thecorndogwalker

03-01-2007, 11:39 PM

HEY you are talking to Degrassi's biggest fan.. I loved Degrassi Junior High...

Geeky Moment: I remember the two part episode which was the season finale that had Degrassi Junior High burning up.. So next season it became Degrassi High... I loved that show..

For a while they were playing the old episodes and I watched the new ones, but they are not as raw as the old ones... good to see Joey, Snake, Spike and Catlin as adults in the new ones...

thecorndogwalker

03-01-2007, 11:47 PM

great website for Degrassi fans...

http://news.degrassi.ca/

Watch out or you will have to go to Mr. Raditch's office!!!

Jughead P. Jones

03-02-2007, 08:24 AM

I'm happy that so many of you like Degrassi. It was and still is a part of Canadian television...probably one of the most successful Canadian series ever made.

But, did you guys know that it actually premiered back in 1980 under the title "Kids of Degrassi Street?" It ran on and off for a few years before Degrassi Junior High came on in 1987.

And, now we have the newest incarnation of Degrassi, which is currently in its sixth season...and admittedly, I don't find it all that bad.

(of course, having Snake and Spike still with the program helps a LOT!)

Jughead P. Jones

03-02-2007, 08:27 AM

They had a total lesbian arc last season with the hot bad chick and the perky cheerleader. Many girl-on-girl kisses.

I know! A lot of what goes on in the new series would NEVER have made it onto the original! Could you picture Spike and Liz in that same position?

(Well, actually, I probably could. :D )

thecorndogwalker

03-02-2007, 08:38 AM

The one thing I do like about the new series is that if you were a total DJH and DH fan then you would know that the new series really had some good back story to work with and they did.. When Emma met her biological dad ( Shane), When Wheels came back to town with cancer, having Mr Raditch the first couple of seasons! And of course poor Joey trying to travel back with the Zit Remedy...

Would really love to see an adult Lucy. On D:TNG... I remember her lach-key/shoplifting storyline, not to mention getting felt up by that creepy teacher, and having the abusive boyfriend and losing her best friend L.D. to cancer.. she had some good story....

Alex

03-02-2007, 08:39 AM

So is remembering Kids of Degrassi Street like remembering the first season of The Facts of Life when they were in the junior high school before the addition of Jo?

thecorndogwalker

03-02-2007, 08:55 AM

yeah whenl molly ringwald was at school with the girls in peekskill and Mrs. Garrett worked for the Drummonds part time...

Jughead P. Jones

03-02-2007, 09:28 AM

Jughead P. Jones

03-02-2007, 09:30 AM

So is remembering Kids of Degrassi Street like remembering the first season of The Facts of Life when they were in the junior high school before the addition of Jo?

Actually, what's really weird is a lot of the Degrassi characters (Wheels and Caitlin, for sure) were in Kids of Degrassi Street, but none of them were playing the characters that they would initially play on Degrassi Junior High/High.

I guess in one weird way, it was like watching a television pilot that kicked off a successful show, with the parts being played by other people.

blueerica

03-02-2007, 09:59 AM

Haha! I didn't watch it often as a kidlet, but caught it here and there. I'm pretty sure it was whenever we had cable, but I couldn't remember the channel for the life of me.

I will admit that I have caught a few D:TNG episodes, but without cable or satellite (won't be a problem in 2 weeks!) I haven't even bothered in this last year and a half. I never really went out of my way to watch it, but those marathons can get awfully enticing.

thecorndogwalker

03-02-2007, 12:15 PM

got to watch spike and snakes wedding.... dang!

keith - SuPeR K!

03-02-2007, 06:52 PM

i am obsessed with degrassi. i do not feel the need to hide this fact.

many more people than i ever expected seem to be fans of the show... when i write about a recent episode in my live journal i got comments from people of all ages who i had never expected to be fans... took me by surprise...

Babette

03-02-2007, 10:12 PM

So is remembering Kids of Degrassi Street like remembering the first season of The Facts of Life when they were in the junior high school before the addition of Jo?yes, then fast forward 20 years to Natalie's daughter attending Eastland.

I never really went out of my way to watch it, but those marathons can get awfully enticing.That is what got me hooked. It is as bad as a 90210 girls marathon on Lifetime.

i am obsessed with degrassi. i do not feel the need to hide this fact.

many more people than i ever expected seem to be fans of the show... when i write about a recent episode in my live journal i got comments from people of all ages who i had never expected to be fans... took me by surprise...What are you cookoo bananas! :) I was shocked when they killed JT, but the followup episode was kind of blah. What is with the "girlfriend" anyhow? Liberty is the mother of his illegitimate, given away for adoption child.

Does anyone know when it comes back? It has a weird season schedule.

thecorndogwalker

03-03-2007, 08:39 AM

thats what i dont like.. the schedule is kindve weird.. i watch every new episode and then it just repeats, and repeats... i think the new season starts in the summer???

Jughead P. Jones

03-03-2007, 06:00 PM

Well, in Canada, they've postponed Degrassi on CTV so they can air American Idol.

I'm guessing it will return in the middle of May.

Babette

03-03-2007, 07:43 PM

Ugh! Are you kidding me? That stupid "talent" show interrupts House and Bones here in the US. Lame.

Gimme Degrassi over Idol anyday.

Stan4dSteph

03-03-2007, 08:20 PM

Ugh! Are you kidding me? That stupid "talent" show interrupts House and Bones here in the US. Lame.

Gimme Degrassi over Idol anyday.I am a new convert to House. New show this week!

Ghoulish Delight

03-03-2007, 09:55 PM

Skankin' Pickle had a song called I'm in Love with a Girl Named Spike. Good song.

Babette

03-04-2007, 02:33 PM

Oooooh, new House. Thanks for the heads-up.

thecorndogwalker

03-05-2007, 07:55 AM

Jughead P. Jones

03-05-2007, 11:54 AM

went on Degrassi website. was reading the synopsis for the J.T. death and memorial episodes... Guess they had to do one of the kids in sooner or later... they also going to have to bring in new blood, since most of those kids are going to be in college very soon....

Actually, if you count Rick, Terri's abusive boyfriend who shot up Degrassi and ended up getting shot by Sean in self-defense, J.T.'s death is the second one in the new series.

(And, it scares me just how much I know about Degrassi...:blush: )

mousepod

03-05-2007, 12:02 PM

I still love the Claude/Caitlin death storyline from DH.

thecorndogwalker

03-05-2007, 02:58 PM

Actually, if you count Rick, Terri's abusive boyfriend who shot up Degrassi and ended up getting shot by Sean in self-defense, J.T.'s death is the second one in the new series.

(And, it scares me just how much I know about Degrassi...:blush: )

Yeah now I remember that.. He was the long haired kid that pushed Terri around.. wasnt she doing ads for plus size modeling or something and he got jealous... and what the hell happened to Terri? shes not on the show anymore right??

thecorndogwalker

03-05-2007, 03:01 PM

I still love the Claude/Caitlin death storyline from DH.

Now that I really remember, that was the episode when they were having a talent show and Claude did this really tragic monolouge with a rose or something... Then he blew his brains out in the boys bathroom.. Did'nt Snake find him and had a hard time with it afterwards? Could be getting my DH's mixed up.

Jughead P. Jones

03-05-2007, 04:13 PM

Yeah now I remember that.. He was the long haired kid that pushed Terri around.. wasnt she doing ads for plus size modeling or something and he got jealous... and what the hell happened to Terri? shes not on the show anymore right??

Gist of it goes like this.

Terri broke up with Rick, but got back together with him in the middle of season three. Rick started abusing Terri again, and he pushed her so hard she smacked her head on a rock and fell into a coma for a few weeks. She recovered, but it was eventually revealled that she left Degrassi to go to another school.

So, I guess you could say that Terri was the "L.D." of the series...had a big role the first couple of seasons, then disappeared. :D

thecorndogwalker

03-06-2007, 07:25 AM

L.D. lasted for a while, she at least ended up in DH when she got cancer..

I think Terri is more like the Voula or Stephiane of the series. Two DJH characters I would have liked to see go on further...

Jughead P. Jones

03-06-2007, 08:07 AM

Now that I really remember, that was the episode when they were having a talent show and Claude did this really tragic monolouge with a rose or something... Then he blew his brains out in the boys bathroom.. Did'nt Snake find him and had a hard time with it afterwards? Could be getting my DH's mixed up.

Yep, it was Snake that found him. And, I believe that the Claude/Caitlin episode was the one in which Joey and Caitlin got back together for the second time before they broke up once more in the 1991 "School's Out" movie.

thecorndogwalker

03-06-2007, 01:58 PM

... and thats why I love the chronology of Degrassi, they really do make you feel that these are real people..

Yeah I remember I was probably in my first year of high school or maybe my last year of JH.. when they actually showed up the episode(s) when that big bully guy caught HIV. He was the one who was always having beef with Joey. I remember thinking how well that story was done and they would never do that on American TV.

I used to watch all the DJH and DH on channel 13 in Brooklyn, where I was brought up, which was the public TV there.. I used to get home quickly after school because they used to give DJH every day at 4pm. Then I remember that in the summer time, I am assuming right before the new season started they would play 3 episodes during the day.. I loved it..

I am so this close to getting the boxed sets and doing a marathon...:)

keith - SuPeR K!

03-16-2007, 08:46 AM

Ugh! Are you kidding me? That stupid "talent" show interrupts House and Bones here in the US. Lame.

Gimme Degrassi over Idol anyday.

House and Bones! *swoon* I LOVE House and Bones :)

Babette

03-17-2007, 10:03 AM

What's up with House. There was a new one then back to reruns. :(

thecorndogwalker

03-17-2007, 11:50 AM

im sick of all these reruns and delaying of shows.. all the networks are doing it.. i remember not too long ago when prime time tv shows started in september and ran all the way through in may.. some times there were breaks, but mostly no repeats until the summer.. so whats up??