527 replies to this topic

[Charlotte]

Degrassi was one of my very favourite shows growing up. I loved the fact that the cast consisted of normal-looking kids (some better-looking than others) and not like, 23-year-old models playing high school kids. I had a crush on Joey and thought Caitlin was so pretty. Oh, and while I liked that they had four Greek kids on that show (because I'm Greek too), I thought it sucked that Voula, Diana and Alex were portrayed as gigantic nerds and Alexa was a ditzy blonde whose life revolved around her dopey boyfriend Simon. The Degrassi movie School's Out! kicked all kinds of ass because hearing Caitlin say, "You were fucking Tessa Campinelli?! You're such a bastard!" to Joey was priceless. Yay for the CBC for letting the Degrassi kids swear!

Edited by Charlotte, Feb 4, 2005 @ 4:41 PM.

[buzzylee]

It was my favourite show, growing up, too. I've seen practically every episode. It was so awesome. The kids wore their own clothes and did their own hair and make-up. It was a culturally diverse cast and the storylines featured actual problems that weren't always solved in a neat little package. Sometimes, the issues would span an entire season, sometimes more. They weren't afraid of tackiling really contreversial things, like teen pregnancy, abortion, suicide. Lots of stuff most shows aimed at teens wouldn't touch back then. I think it was one of the best shows on TV.

Of course, times have changed, and it looks kind of dated, but I still love it. Especially the movie. My youngest sister had to watch it in High School. She thought it was dumb and a bit preachy, but I wish I'd gotten to watch it when I was in school. I think I might even still have it on video, somewhere...

Remember the time Joey walked through the cafeteria naked and got caught by Mr. Raditch? Good times...good times...

Edited by buzzylee, May 1, 2004 @ 9:06 PM.

[Charlotte]

I taped the movie when it first aired and still watch it every so often. From what I can gather, Degrassi episodes were shown to kids in just about every health/guidance class in Ontario. I thought that was kinda pointless, but I definitely didn't complain. The Joey-walks-naked-through-the-cafeteria episode is my favourite. I remember giggling hysterically when it first aired because I was like, 7 years old and saw Joey's nekkid ass! on TV. "Jo-ey! Jo-ey! Jo-ey! Jo-ey!" Degrassi reruns now air on Showcase on Saturdays and Sundays at 7:00 a.m.

ETA: Does anyone know when and if DJH/DH will be coming out on DVD any time soon?

Edited by Charlotte, May 2, 2004 @ 3:16 PM.

[Mice Elf]

Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High will be released in Canada at some point, but a release date has not been set. Go here for more information (actually, there isn't much more information there, but it does confirm that I am not just pulling this out of my ass).

The original Degrassis, and I assume the new one, took place In the neighbourhood where I grew up. I always liked how much they featured the neighourhood, although for some reason they frequently showed a sign for the intersection of Pape St. and Degrassi St., which always annoyed me, since Pape and Degrassi do not intersect.

[Rachel RSL]

Yeah, growing up in Toronto, it was a local game to play "Spot the Degrassi Kid". Almost everyone in Toronto has a Degrassi kid sighting. My two: I saw one of the twins eating at the food court in the Eaton Centre, and I once rode the subway with Snake. And Joey used to work in a deli in Bayview Village but we don't count that in the game because he worked there so it's not like we randomly spotted him.

[panpan23]

Rachel RSL, check out Degrassi Update, which is dedicated to sightings of Degrassi cast members. It hasn't been updated in almost a year, but it's still pretty aweomse.

And "You were fucking Tessa Campinelli?" ranks as one of my all-time favorite moments in television history.

[elle75au]

My sister and I LOVED Degrassi! I even have the Stephanie Kaye book :) And remember the Zit Remedy? And Liz, who had a haircut that looked like she was wearing a swimming cap at the time?

We hated Caitlin though and thought she was a big poser. She did have a pretty face, but her hair was just so fried and awful. My sister and I imitate Caitlin from the movie - she was in the pool with Lucy and she says "I think I'm ready" (to lose her virginity)...and for some reason we think this is hilarious.

I tried to watch the new Degrassi show when it came on, but its not the same.

[Charlotte]

I tried to watch the new Degrassi show when it came on, but its not the same.

Hell, the only reason I watch the new Degrassi is to see Joey and Caitlin and Snake and Spike. Most of The Next Generation kids are annoying as shit.

[Apple73]

When l was in high school everyone used to talk about degrassi junior high .
People used to sing the song as well.lol
l have all the degrassi books which l got from the abc shops here in melbourne australia and l also have the vhs tape of school's out
l used to think that snake was cute and joey as well.
Does anyone know when the the 3rd season the next generation will be on tv here in australia?

[Rachel RSL]

Everybody wants something, they'll never give up
Everybody wants something, they'll never give up
Everybody wants something, they'll take your money
::::::guitar twang::::::
And never give up!

[MonaCK]

Hell, the only reason I watch the new Degrassi is to see Joey and Caitlin and Snake and Spike. Most of The Next Generation kids are annoying as shit.

Totally.

And I have to say ... I am a HUUUUUGE Joey fan. I just "found" The Next Generation, and I sort of tune out of episodes unless Joey is on screen.

I know.

Pathetic. ;)

[Softee]

I love Degrassi with a passion. A friend of mine lives in my city (North Bay, Ontario) and played "Max" on Degrassi Jr. High (one of the lesser known characters yes, but still pretty neat for a big fan of the show such as myself), and i recently met "Joey" and "Snake" who were also in town recently on a university campus tour called "Dinner with Degrassi".

It was tons of fun listening to them talk and joke around about their experiences growing up on the show -- they played funny clips and out-takes on a big screen and seemed to genuinely enjoy each other's company and were very warm and easy going guys.

The best part was the Q&A, where they got down and dirty with some behind-the-scene's Degrassi gossip!

[Judith]

I started watching TNG because of the old Degrassi. Now I am hooked on TNG.

Now, we stopped getting original Degrassi in my area around the first year of Degrassi High, so let me ask those of you more in the know this: When did Caitlin become so "wacky"? In TNG, she is always opening her eyes really wide and making all of these dramatic faces. I don't really remember her doing that in original Degrassi. Did she start in DH? Or is this a recent development?

[elle75au]

Hey Softee - can you give us any good goss from the Q & A?

So what are Caitlin's & Joey's roles on nu degrassi? I know Snake is a teacher and Spike is Emma's mum, but I only saw a few epis near the beginning and I don't think they were in it yet.

Also - did you guys get the books in Canada & US? Or were they only an aussie thing?

[roosterboy]

Hey. Never saw the original DeGrassi, but thought I'd chime in here to answer this...

So what are Caitlin's & Joey's roles on nu degrassi?

Joey is a used car salesman and father of a little girl, Angela. His wife died a few years ago and he is also parenting her son from her first marriage, Craig.

Caitlin recently returned to town from Hollywood (IIRC) and is a local news anchor/reporter/something. She and Joey recently got back together.

I really hope original flavor DeGrassi comes out on DVD soon. I've heard so much about how great it was but have never seen it myself.

[Charlotte]

When did Caitlin become so "wacky"? In TNG, she is always opening her eyes really wide and making all of these dramatic faces. I don't really remember her doing that in original Degrassi. Did she start in DH? Or is this a recent development?

I also noticed her newfound wackiness. It's really annoying. Caitlin was such an uptight wench on DH that it's hard to believe her new persona.

did you guys get the books in Canada & US? Or were they only an aussie thing?

We had the books here in Canada as well. I don't own any, but I do remember signing them out of the public library and reading them along with my Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books.

I really hope original flavor DeGrassi comes out on DVD soon.

Meeee toooo! I was hoping they would come out this summer in time for my birthday (that would be such an awesome b-day present!), but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen. :(

Edited by Charlotte, May 26, 2004 @ 6:36 PM.

[Judith]

I do remember signing them out of the public library and reading them along with my Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High books.

Word. I was happy because the one I read had Stephanie. After Stephanie left, it was never the same for me. I liked Caitlin and Lucy, but couldn't handle the twins or Alexa. I liked original Allison, too.

[panpan23]

So what are Caitlin's & Joey's roles on nu degrassi? I know Snake is a teacher and Spike is Emma's mum, but I only saw a few epis near the beginning and I don't think they were in it yet.

I know that Joey and Caitlin were both in the premiere episode (Mother and Child Reunion) and that Joey was going to have a recurring role. Isn't he, like, Craig's stepfather or something?

I'm not sure when they decided to make Caitlin a regular character instead of a "recurring" character.

[Rachel RSL]

I was happy because the one I read had Stephanie. After Stephanie left, it was never the same for me.

Same here. I especially enjoyed the episode where she gave all her slut clothes to Alexa and then got pissed when Alexa got popular. Didn't she leave the show to go "star" in a new tv show based in L.A.? I vaguely recall she played the daughter in that show, which lasted all of 10 seconds before it was cancelled.

[ctoan]

Has anyone seen the commercial for The Eleventh Hour this week? There's an actress (a guest star, I think) that looks like Susie from the Degrassi Jr High shows. Have you seen this and am I right or delusional?

I think her name was Susie. She had a little sister, and she was abused by the same sub that Lucy was, but she didn't want to tell, but then Lucy convinced her to tell (I think Wheels was involved too) so that he wouldn't be around when the little sister got to school.

[Charlotte]

I'm not sure when they decided to make Caitlin a regular character instead of a "recurring" character.

She started to appear in the opening credits last fall, the third season. I think the only reason they brought her back was so that they could pair her up with Joey again, 'cause otherwise she really has no reason to be on TNG.

After Stephanie left, it was never the same for me.

I don't know why, but I didn't really like Stephanie so I didn't mind her leaving the show.

[jellywager]

I always loved this show, but could never watch it regularly. ITA, the Caitlin was totally uptight and that her being a diz on TNG is WTF? She doesn't even play dizzy well, she has to tells us that she is.
Since I could not always follow the story line, what ever happened to the dark haired girl whose mother died. I think her father did not like her boyfriend (who was black but I do not know if that is the reason the father did not like him or wether it was just he did not want his daughter to have a boyfriend). The girl would not listen to her father and moved out. She had to work at a doughnut shop, to afford the apartment, and go to school. Whatever happened? Did she ever move back in w/her father? I don't know it always freaked me out b/c I could not imagine supporting myself when I was in high school.
I only saw the ending of the movie, and could never ever catch the whole movie. I thought Wheels died, but on the first ep. of TNG they mentioned Wheels getting off scott free while a child died. What happened?
I looked on Amazon.com to buy the series and/or the movie, but nothing was available. Where can I buy these ep. and movie?

Edited by jellywager, May 29, 2004 @ 9:38 AM.

[Charlotte]

jellywager, the dark-haired girl was named Michelle and IIRC, she did move back with her dad because her flatmates were too noisy and she needed a quiet place to study. Wheels didn't die, he was driving drunk and got into an accident where a child died and Lucy was seriously injured. He spent some time in jail but now he's out.

If you're in Canada, you can see the Degrassi movie this Monday at 1:00 pm on Showcase.

[buzzylee]

If you're in Canada, you can see the Degrassi movie this Monday at 1:00 pm on Showcase

Awesome. Good thing I checked up on this thread. I can make myself a new tape since the old one is getting worn out.

As for favorite characters, mine were Joey, Snake, Lucy and Spike.

I used to like Wheels, but after his parents died, he became a real ass. The funniest moment in the entire show was when pre-death Wheels went to the drugstore to buy some condoms for his date with Stephanie...and the pharmacist turned out to be Stephanie's mom!

Alexa really grated on me and I always thought she treated Simon like crap. Oh well. He was dumb enough to marry her. And he permed his hair for the wedding because she told him to.

And as for peripheral characters, I always thought that Claude (the guy who committed suicide) and Clutch (gotta love the nicknames they came up with) were ultra-creepy.

I could go on, but I have to work :(

[jellywager]

Waaah!! I'm not in Canada! Will I ever see this movie?

[Charlotte]

I used to like Wheels, but after his parents died, he became a real ass.

I agree. Stealing money from Joey's mom was not cool. And if I were an orphan with no place to live, I would be a hell of a lot nicer to my grandparents than he was. He also seemed like a bit of an Ontario hillbilly to me, like he should have a Labatt Blue in his hand while saying, "How 'bout them Leafs, eh?"

My favourite characters were Joey, Caitlin, and Spike. I agree that Alexa was annoying. She and Simon had like, zero chemistry together and he was such a patsy for letting her bully him all the time.

gotta love the nicknames they came up with

Yeah, WTF was up with that? It seemed like every other kid on Degrassi had one of those lameass nicknames. When I was in high school there was only one kid that I knew of who had a name like that ("Biggie") and he gave it to himself.

Edited by Charlotte, Oct 14, 2005 @ 4:43 PM.

[buzzylee]

I know! I remember the first episode Clutch was in and Lucy and L.D. were all "Oooh! He's so sexy. And he has a car! (squeal!)" I never really saw the attraction, but to each their own, I guess.

What other weird nicknames were there? Snake, Wheels, Clutch, BLT (was that it? I have no idea if I'm remembering that one correctly. He was Michelle's boyfriend), Spike (which was appropriate), Scooter... I'm sure there are more, but I'm blanking out right now.

Oh! And remember when Dr. Sue "guest-starred" as the radio talk show host that Arthur and Yick phoned when Yick started getting wet dreams? That was a classic. My friends and were so thrilled when she came to our school.

I'm sorry if I'm spitting out random thoughts, but I just can't help it. So many memories...sigh. Man, I'm old. ;)

[caltrask55]

Not Dr. Sue! Dr. Sally! And she's shown up on TNG!

Edited by caltrask55, May 30, 2004 @ 8:47 PM.