It seems that every time Degrassi comes back for a new season, I feel like I have to apologize for loving it so much. But I apologize I will not! Not today, not ever again.
I’m so excited that this show is back tonight on Much. Even though it’s about teenagers, it’s still one of my favourite shows on television. I love how quickly the stories move along, I like the diversity of the characters and I like that they don’t follow the kids to University anymore. That means, once you graduate, you’re out. It means that you don’t get sick of any of the characters and if you do, you know their only going to be around for a little while. Kinda like real life high school!
While season 11.5 hasn’t even started yet, I do have a bone to pick with the new season. Audiences in the States already got the chance to watch the new episodes, since they are airing five days before they do in Canada! Talk about role reversal. We always get American shows late and then when there is a great Canadian show to watch, those darn Americans get it before us? Me no likey.
Either way, I’m stoked that Much continues to air this awesome series and while I’ve told everyone that I have plans for Friday night, let it be known that those plans in actuality are boxed wine and Degrassi.
The perfect Friday.
Just because I’m a super fan, here are the new credits, featuring the kids at Degrassi. Can’t wait!
Wow. Now this is just a crazy story. It was just announced today that Neil Hope, the actor who played lovable Wheels on the original Degrassi series, has died. But here’s the thing, he actually died five years ago.
The request to not announce his death five years ago was made by his family and since that time, it sadly seemed that no one noticed…or thought to ask. However today, Degrassi producers Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stoh the tragic news. Apparently Neil died five years ago of natural causes.
All told, Neil played the character of Wheels on three different shows: Degrassi: The Next Generation, Degrassi Junior High and The Kids of Degrassi Street and the Degrassi movie Schools Out. His character was last seen in 2003, in an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation. Degrassi fans should smile knowing that his last scene on the series was singing The Zit Remedy’s “Everybody Wants Something.”
In honour of his passing, I’d be remiss to not play the song that every kid in Canada’s knows off by heart.
Holy shit, it took 25 years, but Snake might actually get an Emmy!
The cast and crew of Degrassi are celebrating today,their show has just been nominated for its first ever Primetime Emmy! They found out the big news this morning, when it was announced that the show was nominated for Outstanding Children’s Program. Some of the show’s producers include Linda Schuyler, Stephen Stohn, Brendon Yorke and Stefan Brogren, who played Snake in the original series and is now the principal of Degrassi!
This has been a stellar year for Degrassi, so far it’s already picked up a Peabody Award, and now there’s a chance it could be bringing an Emmy home to Canada.
The timing of the nomination couldn’t be better, the show is about to kick off its ELEVENTH season this Monday on MuchMusic. That’s right, it’s been eleven years since the Next Generation of Degrassi started, who feels old now?
We’re only three weeks away from the premiere of the 11th season of Degrassi and yes, I’m as excited as a tween. I never got on the Justin Bieber train, let me have this, okay?
One of the best parts of any new season of Degrassi are the new opening credits, who’s in, who’s out, and who didn’t you know was still even on the show
Well the kind folks at Epitome Pictures have released the opening credits a little early and it already has me salivating for the new season. I realize that is a gross visual to describe a show about teenagers, but that’s what you get.
Take a look at the trailer below, keen listeners will notice that it’s Alexz Johnson singing the credits this year, she is from another Epitome Pictures project a few years back, Instant Star!
Degrassi: Now or Never begins July 18th, Monday to Thursday on Much Music.
Look, I know that I’m pretty much the only person over the age of twenty-five that regularly gets excited about anything to do with Degrassi. (I still have a very clear memory of watching the first episode during my first year of university, I had a Degrassi party. There were three people there. It was a big deal.) So now, eleven years later, even I’m surprised that I’m still invested in the show as much as I am. It really is the Coronation Street of my generation.
Well in a few weeks, the series will kick off its eleventh season and if the new trailer is any indication, Degrassi is in fine form. Much like last year, the trailer plays more like a music video, with lots of hints and clues about the forthcoming story lines. It’s like a magic eye with pretty people. (I can say teens are pretty…right?)
I will say, the trailer isn’t as exciting as last year’s carnival themed trailer, but this one has its moments too. The young love! The fighting…oh and a gun! It really does feel like a new season of The O.C, doesn’t it?
Take a look at the trailer, featuring Augustana’s newest single “Steal Your Heart.”
The new season of Degrassi premieres on July 18th on MuchMusic, with four episodes a week for seven weeks. Now that’s what I call a great summer vacation!
Usually when someone leaves a successful show, their path can be well…uncertain. Just ask whatshername (Shelly Long) and hopefully and most likely, Charlie Sheen
So when it was announced that Landon Liboiron would be leaving Degrassi for a new show on Fox, it was a bit of a risky move. Sure Terra Nova is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and the network is already putting a ton of money behind the project, but that doesn’t always guarantee success.
But luckily for Landon, given how great the just released trailer for Terra Nova looks, I think he’ll be just fine leaving behind the kids of Degrassi!
Seriously, how awesome does that show look? Since it doesn’t look like we’re getting a Jurassic Park 4 anytime soon, Terra Nova will happily tide me over.
I always knew watching Degrassi made me feel smarter and now I have proof!
The Canadian classic has just been awarded the very distinguished Peabody Award! The award, which recognizes the “distinguished achievement by broadcasters, cable and Webcasters, producing organizations, and individuals,” was given to Degrassi for its groundbreaking episodes about Adam, Degrassi’s first transgendered student. In honouring the show, the committee said: “True to its history, the durable high-school serial’s two-parter about a transgender teen neither trivializes nor overdramatizes its subject.”
Other 2011 winners include Justified, Men of a Certain Age and The Good Wife.
The Peabody Awards, hosted by Larry King, will be held May 23.
Big news for the cast and crew of Degrassi! The teen show has just been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama! (In case you don’t know, GLAAD is the The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.)
This is really big news considering the the show has huge competition in the category including Grey’s Anatomy, True Blood, Brothers and Sisters and Pretty Little Liars.
Here’s a list of all the GLAAD Media Award Nominees! Other nominees include the Toronto-filmed Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.
Speaking of Degrassi, the show will return in a few weeks, if you’re like me and you can’t wait, here are two different promos to tide you over!
I spent most of 2010 defending my enjoyment of Degrassi but this time, I’ll let the numbers speak for itself.
In it’s tenth season, the show swtiched networks, produced more than 48 episodes and reached a huge milestone: more than 220 episodes since the show premiered in 2001! Not bad for something that used to be called “The Next Generation”. 2010 was also the year that Degrassi was named Canada’s Favourite TV Show at this year’s Geminis. Whether you like it or not, the show doesn’t seem to be going anywhere….thankfully.
In a matter of weeks the show;s twenty-two member cast tackled subjects like abuse, teen pregnancy, stabbings, coming-out, alcoholism, hoarding, school-uniforms, lock-downs and most importantly, introduced Adam, Degrassi’s first transgendered student. All of this was promoted in what I’m choosing as the coolest promo of the year:
This was also the year that I got the chance to visit the Degrassi set. It was amazing to see that the entire set is basically a city block with real stores, cafes, schools and it’s all staged in and around the show’s production offices. The show’s current cast is extremely strong and are proof that show’s can evolve and morph and not hurt the quality of the end result. Show’s like Glee should definitely take note and copy Degrassi’s model.
For a show that has already produced stars like Drake, Shanae Grimes and Nina Dobrev, it’s exciting to know that the stars are probably giong to keep coming. By doing the name Degrassi proud, the show was definitely one of my favourites of 2010!
First, a question: Do you guys think it’s weird that I write about Degrassi so much? Actually…wait. Don’t answer that.
Second, an announcement: If you are Degrassi fan like me, you’ve probably been losing sleep and booking extra “appointments” due to the stress of there not being any new episodes until the new year. Well, rejoice. Degrassi is coming back sooner than you think and this time, they’re going to India!
Not that I’m trying to make light of the situation in India but it looks like there might be a whole lotta crying men in this special that airs on Christmas Eve. Which makes me think of only one thing: DRINKING GAME! So here’s what I’ve come up with, every time you see a guy cry, take a drink. And to keep it fair, every time you see a girl that plays a guy on TV cry, take two! How’s that sound to everyone? What’s that you say, you shouldn’t play a drinking game on Christmas eve? Well, that’s why we aren’t related!
Three cheers for even more Degrassi!
(Oh and don’t forget to enter my Giveaway of the Degrassi Super Prize Pack including a signed script of the tenth season’s premiere!)
It seems that every time Degrassi comes back for a new season, I feel like I have to apologize for loving it so much. But I apologize I will not! Not today, not ever again.
