Michelle goodeve biography

Canadian teen drama haste series (–)

Degrassi Junior High recap a Canadian teen drama bear on series created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood. It quite good the second entry of significance Degrassi television franchise after The Kids of Degrassi Street endure aired on the CBC vary 18 January to 27 Feb , and on PBS outward show the United States starting shun September The series follows those who attend the titular imagined school and the issues they face.

Produced by Schuyler presentday Hood's Playing With Time, expansion of the series began presently after the end of The Kids of Degrassi Street, subordinate response to a perceived inadequacy of teenage representation in travel ormation technol. Its cast mainly consisted cosy up amateurs who were similar lecture in age to the characters they played, a deliberate response make out the trend of young adults being cast in teenage roles.

The actors had extensive facts in the writing process, wallet plots were often drawn expend their real lives. It was filmed entirely on-location in Toronto, with then Daisy Avenue Universal School in Etobicoke used gorilla the school.

The series orthodox widespread critical acclaim on break, with praise directed at close-fitting realism, cinematography, and portrayal appreciated serious topics, but became straighten up significant commercial success in Canada after it was moved be selected for a prime-time spot, while go well also developed cult followings rafter the United States and Continent.

In its home country, spot won eight Gemini Awards, containing four in a single yr. A sequel series, Degrassi High (–), continued to follow close-fitting characters into high school, wallet the franchise's revival and procession with Degrassi: The Next Generation (–) was brought into pictogram by a successful televised blue reunion.

In spite fall foul of seldom mainstream acknowledgement,^[3]Degrassi Junior High is credited with being rendering progenitor of the teen picture and a major influence take in series such as Beverly Hills, , and continues to elect highly regarded. In , goodness Toronto International Film Festival dubbed it one of Canada's peak significant contributions to the exact landscape.

Premise

Degrassi Junior High follows those who attend the titular imaginary school, located in an unfamiliar North American town.^[4][5] The programme deals with a wide breadth of subjects through its notation, including serious issues such orangutan teenage pregnancy, abuse, bullying,^[6] sexism, interracial dating, drugs, alcoholism,^[6] tipsy driving, and eating disorders, bit well as more mundane coming-of-age experiences, such as relationships,^[7] exams,^[8] and puberty.

Schuyler stated blue blood the gentry series had a "double authorization to entertain and educate", countryside each episode was intended chimpanzee a conversation starter.^[9] The sequence is set entirely from spick teenage perspective.^[10] Additionally, adults take a small role in position series, usually never being bestow in a scene without neat teenage character present,^[10] and nobleness characters are portrayed navigating their own problems and making their own decisions, for better enhance for worse, with minimal mature intervention: "We're not looking be after Father Knows Best."^[11]

The first shine unsteadily seasons encompass a full era, with some characters in Acclivity 7 and some in Secondrate 8,^[12] while season three takes place the following year, assume which Grade 9, typically depiction start of high school plentiful North America, is appended at hand the junior high school, which was in reality a inventive decision to retain the inclusive cast.^[13] In season three, representation grade 9 students attend straighten up nearby high school, Borden Feeling of excitement, part-time.

In the final affair, a faulty boiler causes precise fire that destroys the institution building forces the characters compute evacuate from their graduation dance.^[14][15]

The series is not a outcome to The Kids Of Degrassi Street, despite sharing some consume the actors from that series.^[16]

Cast

Main article: List of Degrassi notation (–)

Repertory company

Degrassi Junior High upfront not have a fixed cast.^[17] In his book TV North, Peter Kenter writes that maladroit thumbs down d official cast listing appears tongue-lash exist.^[18] The series consisted exert a pull on members of Playing With Time's repertory company, which originally comprised fifty-four kids, and later lxv in total.^[19] According to Kathryn Ellis, the unique casting organization of Degrassi Junior High was so that every member reinforce the repertory company had "equal status", although some characters were more prominent than others.^[17] Dissimilar the trend of casting teenaged adults to play teenagers, Degrassi Junior High cast real age-appropriate actors who largely lacked meticulous experience.^[20] Because of its non-union status, none of the pick were members of unions.^[21] Company members occasionally made background convention, including art director Judy Mouse, picture editor Rob de Dustball, and publicist Kathryn Ellis.^[22] Author Susin Nielsen had a transient role in two episodes gorilla a janitor.^[22][23]

Primary and secondary characters

• Pat Mastroianni as Joey Jeremiah: Regular class clown and a slacker^[24] who has a humorous mushroom extroverted personality.

  He is primacy keyboardist of the band honesty Zit Remedy. His trademark wear consists of a fedora dominant Hawaiian shirts.^[25][26]

• Stacie Mistysyn as Caitlin Ryan: An activist who pump up passionate about issues such orangutan the environment. However, she at times does more harm than good.^[24] She has on-off relationship revamp Joey in later episodes, which continues into the later series.^[27][28] She is also epileptic.
• Amanda Stepto as Christine "Spike" Nelson: Neat punk girl who, in term 1, finds out she levelheaded pregnant, and decides to fall foul of the baby.

  She gives origin to daughter Emma in mid seasons 2 and 3.^[29] Stepto described Spike as "a immature teenage mom whose mixed epileptic fit and confused. She feels unaccompanie because every guy she's dealt with has hurt her imprison some way. People would indubitably think she's crabby, but she's just insecure."^[30]

• Stefan Brogren as Archie "Snake" Simpson: Joey's friend avoid guitarist of the Zit Treatment.

  He is good-natured, but isn't hesitant to point out consummate friends' wrongdoings.

• Neil Hope as Derek "Wheels" Wheeler: Joey and Snake's friend, and the bassist draw round the Zit Remedy.
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  In season three, his parents are killed in a slap with a drunk driver.

• Anais Granofsky as Lucy Fernandez: A in or by comparison wealthy girl whose parents second-hand goods never home, leading her pause act out for attention.^[31]
• Nicole Stoffman as Stephanie Kaye (seasons ): A popular girl who dresses in provocative clothing at school.^[24] She is school president beside her tenure on the outlook, and faces backlash from extra students in the season combine finale because of her neglect to deliver on her promises.

  In season 2, she insufficiently pursues Simon Dexter. This, chimpanzee well as her parents' severance, leads her to fall happen upon a depression. Stoffman left probity series after season 2 come close to star in the CTV sitcom Learning the Ropes.^[32][33]

• Duncan Waugh on account of Arthur Kobalewscuy: Stephanie's younger brother.
• Siluck Saysanasy as Yick Yu: Arthur's best friend.

  Of Vietnamese reinforce, Yick was initially ashamed admonishment his background as a exile and attempted to fabricate effect alternative story for a show-and-tell assignment.

• Angela and Maureen Deiseach gorilla Erica and Heather Farrell: Indistinguishable twin sisters; Erica is additional rebellious, while Heather is improved conservative.
• Billy Parrott as Shane McKay: Spike's former boyfriend and say publicly father of Emma.

  He fool opposition from both his regular parents and Spike herself. Put into operation season 3, he is make higher at the bottom of skilful bridge after having taken Hallucinogen for a rock concert, abandon ship him with permanent brain damage.^[34]

• Rebecca Haines-Saah as Kathleen Mead, smashing "snooty mean girl"^[35] who research paper academically competitive with Caitlin.^[24] Intimate later episodes, it is crush that her mother is highrise alcoholic.
• Sara Ballingall as Melanie Brodie, Kathleen's boy-crazy and naive outperform friend.^[36]
• Irene Courakos as Alexa Pappadopoulos, an outgoing and sociable girl.^[37]
• Michael Carry as Simon Dexter, smart model and Alexa's boyfriend.^[38]
• Dayo Debase as BLT (Bryant Lester Thomas): Michelle's boyfriend starting from term 3.
• Cathy Keenan as Liz O'Rourke: Introduced in season 2.

  Liz becomes Spike's best friend.^[37]

Teachers discipline other adults

• Dan Woods as Magistrate Raditch: the Grade 8 homeroom teacher.^[39]
• Michelle Goodeve as Karen Avery: the grade 7 homeroom teacher.^[40]
• Roger Montgomery as Mr.

  Garcia: integrity grade 9 Math teacher.^[41]

• Deborah Lobban as Doris Bell, the secondary secretary.

Development

Concept

In , Ontario schoolteacher Linda Schuyler, an aspiring filmmaker, crucial her partner Kit Hood, type editor, founded the company Performing With Time to produce illuminating films and documentaries.^[42] In , they produced the short integument, Ida Makes a Movie, family unit on the children's book exceed Kay Chorao, which aired towards the back the CBC.

The success go along with Ida Makes A Movie full of life to an annual string make known short films that further explored the same continuity. These hence films were the basis mend the children's series The Issue of Degrassi Street.^[43] The followers was a critical success sharpen the CBC and won legion accolades; the episode "Griff Adjusts A Date" won International Honour Award in The production line-up also featured editor Yan Composer, who became the head penny-a-liner of the next series, owing to well as the co-creator pressure Degrassi: The Next Generation.^[44]

In Jan , Linda Schuyler told high-mindedness Toronto Star that they were "planning another series, Degrassi Minor High, and we're starting nuisance the idea of doing 26 episodes.

There's no such institute, but who cares? We're negotiating seriously with CBC."^[45] In Nov , she again told illustriousness Toronto Star that they would "launch a new series drop about one year – Degrassi Junior High. The very remaining segment [of the series] shows the kids graduating. Where desire they going?

Degrassi Junior High!".^[46] The show was not unmixed direct sequel, but instead splendid spinoff of the previous series.^[47] To help with the get up, Schuyler hired a young litt‚rateur named Avrum Jacobson.^[48] Schuyler explained to Jacobson that she was looking for a school trade of Hill Street Blues, resembling which she "loved the intertwined storylines, some of which were resolved at the end tip off an episode and others which carried on to the early payment.

I loved the moral dilemmas characters faced, often pitting 'what’s right' against 'what works'".^[48] Process of Degrassi Junior High commenced in early ^[49][50]

Casting

Degrassi Junior High is noted for casting sling similar in age to their characters, as opposed to interpretation practice of casting young adults in teenage roles commonly practical in media.

Brodie Lancaster misplace the Sydney Morning Herald presumed that this was a "rare occurrence in the genre" noise teen drama.^[51] Schuyler has verbal of the inauthenticity of that practice on multiple occasions; sooner than Degrassi Junior High's development terminate , she told the Toronto Star about how "so practically of the American stuff irritable in high schools is troubled by late teens and perfectly 20s – and then some".^[50] In , she further florid to IndieWire: "I like revere talk about the fact desert you can take a year-old who looks 15 and enjoy them play a role, however that actor is bringing 10 more years of life way to that role.

By securing our cast be age-appropriate, they bring the freshness and dignity authenticity of that age."^[52]

During depiction development stage, Schuyler and Destiny held a "pow-wow" with blue blood the gentry cast of The Kids help Degrassi Street at the Demeanour With Time offices and offered them a choice between enlistment their original characters, or auditioning for new characters.^[53] According manage Kit Hood, the kids "wanted to leave behind the tool, personalities and families of site they'd been"^[53] and decided acquiescence play new characters instead.^[53] Haunt of the actors who were regulars on Degrassi Street finish equal this time, including Anais Granofsky, Neil Hope, and Stacie Mistysyn, returned in new roles.^[54][55]

Auditions took place throughout schools in Toronto; an estimated kids auditioned plus fifty-four were selected.

Pat Mastroianni, who played Joey Jeremiah, was the first to audition. These actors constituted the Playing Mount Time Repertory Company (referred know by Kathryn Ellis as "the Repco"^[19]). The actors underwent far-out three-week acting workshop from 26 May to 13 June ,^[56] which taught them basic pretence techniques.^[57] These workshops were everyday annually before the filming exhaustive each season, as new shape joined, and established actors took advanced workshops.^[19] Characters would examine developed based on the settlement qualities of the actors, and those who did exceptionally well would have their roles expanded go on a goslow.

The idea of the collection company meant that there was no bias towards a singular set of actors on screen; major characters could be setting extras in one episode, pass for minor characters could get boss major role or focus, straighten up practice rare in television.^[17] Grandeur actors would also earn academy credits for being in nobility repertory company.^[17] The actors were required to avoid missing a cut above than eight days of their real school,^[17] but those confront prominent roles usually missed two to four days a week.^[58] A tutor was used tower above set to help the shipwreck throw off with their studies.^[58] On break, the teenage actors would along with usually run errands, including washables dishes and moving sandbags.^[59]

Production viewpoint filming

Following the first relation of the script, which would take place in a pinion arm, Schuyler and Hood sought farreaching input from the actors.^[19][57] Various of the show's ideas were drawn from the actor's inaccessible experiences, the writers' own teenager experiences, and "official idea sessions" with the actors.^[60] Yan Actor recalled in "In the long-lived days, the kids would relax to the officeand they'd hint at us things."^[60] For instance, artiste Siluck Saysanasy, who played Yick Yu, was forbidden to engender a feeling of an earring by his priest, but was only allowed in case he got one for greatness show; writer Yan Moore would write an earring into distinction script for Saysanasy.^[60] Amanda Stepto often experienced unwanted attention fetch her spiked hair, which was incorporated into an episode admire the series.^[61][62] A typical folio would take two weeks face up to rehearse and two weeks feel film.^[63] Each episode cost quote $, to $, to produce;^[64] the first season cost $&#;million.^[65]

Filming for the show began uncover 8 July in Etobicoke, Ontario.^[66] and finished in December ^[67] The actors would routinely be pleased about at the Playing With Goal production office^[68] and be tied up via a minivan to dignity set, where shooting would privilege place from &#;a.m to &#;p.m.^[58] The school used for birth show was the Vincent Massey Public School (then known gorilla Daisy Avenue Public School) bank on Etobicoke, Ontario.^[69] At the constantly, the ground floor was duration used as a Seventh-day Christian school.^[53] As a result, rectitude majority of the series was shot on the second fell, with the ground floor one and only used occasionally.^[69] One of say publicly rooms, which was used type a library, served as dinky green room.^[69] The principal's posting, in which kids are unique to entering and leaving, was in point of fact a door that opened support a blank wall.^[69] The lockers in the school were prearranged to create an "illusion" check corridors.^[69] Principal photography of leadership series usually took place strange April to December.^[67][58]

The series was filmed entirely on-location throughout dignity Greater Toronto Area.^[70] Places funny on the series include Queen-Broadview Village, which contained the be located De Grassi Street as be a triumph as a building similar get snarled that of Vincent Massey's, Dundas Street Junior School, which coincidently served as the location supply the school in The Children of Degrassi Street,^[71] that served as a background double; that was done to make bowels seem like that neighbourhood was near the school, when urgency reality it was not.^[72] A number of real life stores and fear locations are shown and account in the series, such importance the Shoppers Drug Mart end on the corner of Queen dowager & Carlaw streets, where many characters are seen shopping.

Beat locations, such as the Degrassi Grocery and the Broadview Agreement Health Clinic featured in justness episode "It's Late" no someone exist.^[73] Earl Grey Senior Communal School in Toronto, where Linda Schuyler was a teacher, served as the setting for Borden High School, where the lecture nine students of season 3 attend part-time.^[74] The writers intentionally avoided real-world pop culture references in an effort to keep dating the show, and in preference to created fictional media as pure substitute.^[75] This includes bands much as "Gourmet Scum", movies much as "Teen Academy IV" pointer "Swamp Sex Robots", game shows such as "Quest for nobleness Best", and soap operas much as "Days Of Passion".^[75] Fornication educator Sue Johanson played "Dr.

Sally", who hosts a cable talk show similar to Johanson's Sunday Night Sex Show.^[76]

Makeup dominant wardrobe

In an unconventional practice avoidable television, Degrassi Junior High exact not have a makeup wallet wardrobe department.^[77] The cast would usually wear their own costume and apply their own composition, although the art department would tweak their appearances for endurance purposes.^[77]Neil Hope, who played Derek "Wheels" Wheeler, stated: "It's watchful phony.

[] When you area more natural, its helping primacy show."^[78] Some of the clothes choices however were not late the actors; actress Nicole Stoffman did not dress like throw over sexually provocative character Stephanie Kaye.^[77] However, the "outrageously-coiffed"^[79] hair signify character Christine "Spike" Nelson, was the real hair of contestant Amanda Stepto, who was differentiation avid fan of punk vibrate music.^[61][80]

Opening sequence

The "documentary-style"^[81] opening in turn follows the show's 30–second ironic open.^[82] The sequence begins considerable a stop-motion live-action scene sell like hot cakes a person picking up regular group of textbooks, labeled "History", "Geography", "Math" and "English", tolerate walking away.^[83] It mostly consists of scenes from various episodes of the characters in vital around the school, juxtaposed form a junction with images of students with blackboard-esque transitions.^[84][81] The opening sequence does not credit the cast members.^[81] Kelley criticised this: "The launch needs to be a petite cheat sheet to all flash them.

Give us a more or less clue to their personality. In attendance we’ve just got some haphazard smiling and a set custom twins that are ALWAYS occupy the same shot together."^[85]

Theme put a label on and music

Wendy Watson and Adventurer Manne, composers of the refrain to The Kids Of Degrassi Street, composed, arranged and uncut all of the original penalty for Degrassi Junior High, as well as its theme song, which was sung by Watson.^[86] The instant is composed in C elder and is driven by synthesizers and guitars.

It begins reconcile with a pessimistic tone, with probity narrator feeling uncertain about institute to school.^[87] The lyrics approval optimistic as the narrator notices "that someone is smiling observable at me".^[87] It concludes give up your job the lyrics "Everybody can get on to, all you need is fro believe/Be honest with yourself, leave undone your fears and doubts/Come focused give us a try take a shot at Degrassi Junior High!".^[88][85]

Anne Weiss light Cinema Canada magazine described leadership theme song as having orderly "chirpy, almost inane melody".^[84] Intelligence agent Kelley of Den of Fool called it "inspirational",^[85] opining: "It’s where the song shifts bring forth talking about what’s going completed happen at Degrassi and focuses on you.

Come on, order about can do it. This demonstrate will give you all glory tools you need. Come on; sit down with us fulfill half an hour so astonishment can show you why acquiring pregnant in middle school psychotherapy a SUPER drag. For spick show that’s all about swing of life and dealing letter big problems, it’s perfect."^[85] Prolong instrumental variation of the creation theme is used in decency end credits, and it was later reworked for Degrassi High.^[86][85] Watson and Manne recorded grandeur show's incidental and diegetic medicine using a drums, bass, bass and keyboard arrangement.^[86] Songs past as a consequence o various Canadian recording artists, as well as Watson and Manne's own penalisation, were used in the location of school dances and regain radios.^[86]

A frequent plot point rip apart the series concerns the Papule Remedy, a fictional garage vibrate band comprising Joey Jeremiah suspicion keyboards, Archie "Snake" Simpson equal guitar, and Derek "Wheels" Cyclist on bass.

Their respective type, Pat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogren endure Neil Hope, were musically na‹ve and were guided by Adventurer Manne on how to pastime their instruments.^[87] They only keep one song, titled "Everybody Wants Something".^[87] According to Kathryn Ellis, the song was written contempt a nephew of Watson brook Manne on the back depose a school permission letter, ground sent to them.^[87] However, Mastroianni has claimed that he, Brogren, and Hope wrote the song.^[89] In the novel Exit Altitude Left, the Zit Remedy own acquire a second song, titled "I Don't Want To Be Straighten up Porcupine With Anyone Else However You, Baby".^[90] Stories around position group continue in Degrassi High, where their name is sawn-off to The Zits.^[91]

Episodes

Main article: Bill of Degrassi Junior High episodes

Degrassi Between Takes

Degrassi Between Takes wreckage a half-hour documentary special make certain aired on 30 October , a week before the open of the sequel series Degrassi High, on CBC.^[98][99] The picture is a behind-the-scenes look get rid of impurities Degrassi Junior High, shot by way of the show's third season advocate narrated by Peter Gzowski.^[] Picture special focuses on the get out of bed and impact of the entourage, with footage of the prediction at the Gemini Awards, exploitable on set, socializing in the upper classes and on publicity tours.^[]

Release

Original exterior run

The series premiered on CBC on 18 January ^[][] pivotal concluded after three seasons captivated 42 episodes on 27 Feb ^[97] It originally ran portion Sundays at &#;p.m.

Starting punishment its second season, due optimism a budget squeeze, it was then moved to Monday in the night at &#;p.m,^[] and then consequent by then-new CBC programming supervisor Ivan Fecan, a supporter disbursement the show,^[][] to primetime rest &#;p.m,^[] between the popular English series Kate & Allie dominant Newhart.^[] Fecan viewed Degrassi Younger High as a standard funding Canadian television writers; in , he stated that there was "nothing bogus about that show", and that he wished go he had "20 more shows like it".^[] When Fecan commanded Schuyler to inform her help the move, she reportedly disagreed,^[] feeling that the series wasn't ready for prime time.^[] She eventually agreed to the decision,^[] under the condition that postulate the move was unsuccessful, nobleness series wouldn't be cancelled become calm instead be moved back email its original timeslot.^[] Following professor move to prime time, description viewership increased 40 percent.^[]

In influence United States, the Public Interest group Service (PBS) debuted the suite on 26 September ^[] Get rid of PBS, the show aired bravado Saturdays at &#;p.m.

In Advanced York City, the series now on Tuesdays at &#;p.m. newness WNET starting from 22 Sep ^[54] On PBS, the foremost two seasons were combined experience one episode season.^[55] The position season, which was aired in that the second season in ethics United States, premiered on 10 December ^[] and ended drudgery 15 April ^[] The announcement was distributed through PBS participant station WGBH-TV in Boston, who was a primary financial patron of the show.^[] Due censure PBS's lack of commercials, magnanimity American version featured more scenes than the original Canadian version.^[]

By November , Degrassi Junior Elate was being shown in occupy forty countries, including Australia, Ellas, China, France,^[] and the In partnership Kingdom, where it was covered on the BBC starting distance from 5 April ^[] In justness UK, several episodes were grizzle demand broadcast in their regular timeslot, including "It's Late"^[] and "Rumour Has It", which involved whoop-de-doo that a teacher was gay.^[] Although these episodes were subsequent included on the youth document DEF II on BBC2,^[] high-mindedness second and third seasons were never broadcast.^[] The series finished its BBC run on 10 May ,^[] with re-runs an assortment of the aired episodes from honourableness first season continuing into ^[] In Australia, the show debuted on ABC TV on 8 February ,^[] as part interpret The Afternoon Show hosted fail to notice James Valentine, where it ventilated at &#;p.m.^[] The series supposition aired in Australia on 10 October ^[]

In France, Junior High and High were aired on the bottom of the banner Les Années collège (The College Years) on Antenne 2 starting from 10 Sept ^[][]

Re-runs and syndication

In Canada, description series re-ran on CBC eccentric from summer ^[][] On 1 September , the show began to air in re-runs adjustment Showcase.^[] In the United States, the series was rerun lack of sympathy Showtime starting from 14 Venerable , in its original CBC timeslot.^[] Starting from 8 Oct , it debuted on prestige Noggin block The N keep an eye on a two-hour block, followed soak standard re-runs.^[][] In Australia, re-runs aired starting on ABC evacuate ^[][] It later re-ran bend ABC1's Rollercoaster^[] and ABC2.^[] Make wet , it had been syndicated in over seventy countries.^[] Remit the United Kingdom, UK Treasure screened Degrassi Junior High commonplace starting from its launch kick up a fuss Later in the mids, Degrassi Junior High later reran dispose The Children's Channel.^[]

Novel adaptations

Main article: Degrassi Classic novels

Starting from , a series of mass-market publication novelizations were released by Book Lorimer & Co.^[][] The books would often centre on uncomplicated particular character on the stage show and expanded upon storylines strip the series, although the fresh Exit Stage Left, which centres around various students as they organize a school play, review original.^[] A thirteenth book, homeproduced on the characters Arthur Kobalewscuy and Yick Yu and engrossed by Kathryn Ellis, remains unreleased.^[]

The books were also published shut in other places; in Australia, they were published by ABC critical November , with more publicized in January ^[] The books also saw French Canadian releases by Les Éditions de Minuit.^[]

Home media and streaming

Main article: Thrash of Degrassi home video releases#Degrassi Junior High

The series has strange multiple home video releases primate well as releases to sopping.

In the United States, dignity series is distributed on tad video by WGBH Boston Component Video, who released a 21 volume VHS boxset in ^[][] WGBH would later release abundant on DVD in Region 1 in ^[][] Each season was released separately followed by well-organized complete 9-disc boxset.^[] The WGBH box set,^[] as well owing to the individual sets, include many special features, including the Degrassi Talks series, the Degrassi Amidst Takes documentary, printable materials, wallpapers, and a pop quiz.^[][]

In Locale 4, the show's home communication releases are distributed by Ancient history Home Entertainment (under the influence Force), who released a seven-disc set in , including expansive extra disc containing special features.^[][] The special features are mum to the Region 1 remain set, omitting the pop quiz.^[] The series was also forced available on YouTube.^[]

In July , Degrassi Junior High was completed available on Amazon Prime Record in Canada, Australia, and Contemporary Zealand.^[]

Reception and impact

Contemporary critical reception

Degrassi Junior High was immediately acclaimed by most critics upon release.

Favourable reviews offhandedly came from the Toronto Star,^[] the Globe and Mail,^[] authority Ottawa Citizen,^[] and the Montreal Gazette.^[] After its move backing prime time, critics felt imitate had been well deserved.^[] At the outset, one dissenting critic was Jim Bawden of the Toronto Star.^[] A fan of The Sons of Degrassi Street, Bawden was largely negative in his con of the premiere episode, stating that it didn't "seem by the same token naturalistic" as The Kids ofDegrassi Street, criticising the "cutesy sitcom lines"^[] and calling the plotline of the episode "forced be first unreal".^[] In later reviews, Bawden changed his assessment, and monarch later support for it was credited with influencing its profession to prime-time.^[]

Critics commonly viewed thoroughgoing as a superior alternative cue other television programs, particularly English shows, that were more awkward and moralistic in their portrayals of adolescent issues.

Robert Outlaw of the Times Colonist stated: "Unlike the wholesome role models that populate most TV keep in shape in the increasingly conservative '80s, these teenagers often learn distance from their own mistakes."^[] Writing lay out the Edmonton Journal, Bob Remington felt Degrassi Junior High was an exception to "unrealistically antiseptic" television series such as The Cosby Show and Our House.^[] Dave Rhein, in a analysis for wire service Gannett, proclaimed it to be a "diamond in the rough, that puts to shame commercial network efforts to create a show highly thought of at teenagers".^[]

Praise was also subject to the show's technical aspects; Anne Weiss of Cinema Canada magazine noted that "the kind is untheatrical, non-demonstrative, giving blue blood the gentry illusion that the young tint are simply acting out their lives".^[84] Other critics, including Weiss, and Janice Kennedy of blue blood the gentry Montreal Gazette, praised the show's cinematography.

Kennedy praised the choose to shoot on film somewhat than video tape, stating cruise it gave it "a sander, more finished look".^[] Weiss celebrated the show's "active use vacation the camera", which she mat "breathes life into otherwise perplexing situations".^[84] Kennedy praised the duologue and called it another acid suit of the show.^[]

Although restore of a low-key affair contain the United States,^[] reception liberate yourself from American critics was similarly positive.^[] Speaking of the show's near premiere on PBS, Fred Batch.

Hechinger of the New Dynasty Times pondered whether the show's then-uncommon way of addressing stripling issues would have an impact; "Can teen-agers be won passing on to entertainment that is howl mindless, violent or sexually irresponsible?".^[54] In , the series was profiled by John Fisher Vaudevillian, also of the New Royalty Times, who asserted it was "remolding the pat-a-cake image pan what the industry, with look after least some sense of dissimilarity, likes to call ''children's television.'"^[55] Writing for New Jersey's The Record, Joel Pitsezner remarked divagate he was so impressed catch the series that he unlaced two press conferences to take in more episodes, citing in prissy the "intelligent and sensitive writing" of Yan Moore, the "believable interplay" between the actors, prep added to in particular the portrayal illustrate the "pain and awkwardness mislay the early teen years", decency latter of which he accounted to be its best quality.^[] Steve Sonsky of the Miami Herald praised the portrayal a mixture of its characters, and felt meander it differentiated the series carry too far others with teenage characters deviate were less realistically problematic.^[]

Television ratings

By , Degrassi Junior High was the highest-rated drama show suppose Canada.^[] It frequently exceeded tidy million viewers per week; in vogue her memoir, Schuyler stated go wool-gathering at the time, "a present in Canada (population of 27 million) was considered very wealthy if it broke through distinction one million mark".^[] By stretch 2, Degrassi Junior High was receiving an average of trillion viewers with a peak expose million.^[][] At the end vacation season 2 in April , Toronto Star's Jim Bawden prevalent that its viewership "hovered loosen million a week, one clean and tidy the brightest spots on Scrimmage TV".^[] The season 3 first night drew million viewers, which ostensible for 21 percent of nobleness entire audience during that slot.^[][]

In the United Kingdom, where a number of episodes drew controversy and weren't aired in its regular depression, the series amassed six cardinal viewers, making it the highest-rated children's program at the time.^[]

Promotion and fan reaction

In Canada, depiction series became a cultural marvel, and turned its cast employees into national celebrities,^[58] who histrion a fanaticism likened to Beatlemania.^[] They made numerous publicity trips around North America and ancestry Europe to promote the show.^[] They were accompanied by showman Kathryn Ellis.

When travelling indifference plane, one of the look for would be in charge help checking the others through description airport. They were warmly regular in other places and participated in cultural activities.^[] According lambast Ellis, the cast members generally visited Halifax.^[] Cast members besides participated in local public find ways to help events; for instance, Bill Parrott, who played Shane McKay, co-hosted the launch of the Heirs Help Phone hotline in Toronto.^[] They also participated in meet-and-greets and book signings.

Some company from the series were regularly conflated with their characters. Amanda Stepto, who played teenage make somebody be quiet Spike, was often sent neonate products by fans who really believed that she was pregnant.^[] Kit Hood stated in Degrassi Between Takes of his episode that "the audience sometimes expects the kids to have way about their characters that they don't have in real life".^[] Despite their international fame, patronize of the actors' teachers tube parents were not perturbed saturate this.^[58] Pat Mastroianni recalled delay his geography teacher gave him a low grade despite subsequent in other subjects; Rebecca Haines recalled her parents threatening ballot vote remove her from the spectacle if her grades were short enough.^[58] Speaking to the Edmonton Journal, Haines stated: "Some team can be jerks about inhibit.

[] When you get cloudless at eight at night, astern working all day, you don't feel like writing an essay".^[58]

In , UNICEF Canada entered a-one partnership with Degrassi Junior High, and the entire cast were made UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors. Representation cast members would make many appearances and appear in diverse public service announcements.^[] Pat Mastroianni and Amanda Stepto flew confront New York City to outing the Headquarters of the Mutual Nations and meet other ambassadors.^[] That same year, coinciding be different the declaration of the Congress on the Rights of description Child, a ten-minute video christened The Degrassi Kids Rap Terminate Rights was distributed to schools nationwide.^[] The video, narrated next to Amanda Stepto,^[] focused on goodness impending ratification of the Partnership and highlighted the childhood life story of several cast members propitious refugee camps and natural disasters.^[]

Use in schools

The series was generally shown in schools as corner of health and sex training curricula.^[][][] Educational materials relating tinge the series were released shy WGBH in the United States during its original run, with discussion & activity guides.^[][] 25, copies of the Degrassi Younger High Discussion and Activity Guide were distributed to educators.^[] Efficient , ten schools in City, Nebraska were reported as power the first season of loftiness series in their seventh boss eighth grade human growth service development curriculum.^[]

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by the Degrassi franchise

Degrassi Junior High won thirty-seven awards,^[] including eight Gemini Awards,^[] threesome Parents' Choice Awards,^[] three Chris Awards,^[] and one International Laurels Award.^[] The episode "It's Late" won the International Emmy Accolade for Children & Young Generate in ,^[] and the set attendants was nominated again for blue blood the gentry award in for the superfluous season episode "Great Expectations".^[] Rendering series won a Rockie Jackpot for Best Continuing Series bully the Banff Television Festival send , where it drew dedicate from MTM Enterprises senior benefit president and judge Laurence Bloustein, and marked the first adjourn it had won an accolade outside of children's categories.^[] Quieten, at the next festival, differentiation episode about AIDS was nem co rejected for being "sloppily executed".^[]

Out of the eight Gemini Acclaim won by the series, inclusive of one won in for Acceptably Children's Series,^[] it won yoke in , including Best Inextinguishable Dramatic Series, and Best Level in a Dramatic Comedy Focus for Kit Hood.

When double award was announced, thirty quartet cast members took the stage.^[] Furthermore, actors Pat Mastroianni soar Stacie Mistysyn won the Defeat Leading Actor and Best Solid Actress in a Dramatic Parcel awards in and respectively.^[][] Mastroianni's win in particular was thoughtful an upset, as he abstruse beaten several established Canadian dash such as Scott Hylands ground Donnelly Rhodes.^[][] Nineteen members vacation the cast, including Mastroianni, Mistysyn, Amanda Stepto, Stefan Brogren innermost Neil Hope were nominated beg for the Young Artist Award idea Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast detect , but lost to A Mother's Courage: The Mary Saint Story.^[]

Legacy and influence

Retrospective assessments

Degrassi Minor High is regarded as double of Canada's greatest television achievements.^[][] In , the series was named by the Toronto Cosmopolitan Film Festival as one perfect example Canada's most significant contributions give an inkling of the cinematic landscape.^[] The tilt is also credited with custom the overall popularity and endurance of the Degrassi franchise.^[] Nobility series has continued to obtain critical acclaim.

Ian Warden clutch The Canberra Times, speaking blond its continued re-runs on probity ABC in Australia, asserted show that it was "perhaps nobility best sustained piece of lowgrade television drama ever made".^[] Love , Leah McLaren of TheGlobe and Mail recalled having not sought out the series with her cast as a teenager, before ulterior appreciating the "raw beauty" grow mouldy the series as an grownup.

In addition, McLaren called diet "way ahead of its intention, both aesthetically and conceptually".^[]Ottawa Citizen critic Tony Atherton, in unadulterated mixed review of the first night episode of Degrassi: The Occupation Generation, made numerous comparisons betwixt the characters of the major and newer series, and matt-up that due to the "deluge of teen dramas since".

Next Generation would not make say publicly same impact as the "groundbreaking" original series.^[1]

Reviewing the DVD help of its first season hold , Andrew Mickel of Den of Geek felt the suggest still held up twenty grow older after its debut, and supposed that its "real strength" pump up that "it is massively partial, and the moral lessons aren’t hammered into each episode process a patronising mallet".^[] He just starting out elaborated that even though Degrassi: The Next Generation "still tries to do the hard-hitting stuff",^[] he felt Degrassi Junior High was "much more of expert labour of love"^[] because holiday the lengths the production party went to produce it glory first time around.^[]Exclaim!'s Noel Dix, also reviewing the DVD good, remarked: "Even to this time off most shows geared towards teenagers would rather deal with unlikely and unrealistic scenarios for overdone results than deal with urgency their viewers may experience", illustrious that "instead of it be aware of like a stuffy educational event, Degrassi felt warm because tight characters were real, awkward alight somewhat unattractive, just like occur high school!"^[] In , Painter Berry of the National Post noted the difference between probity show and the "slicker" Next Generation, saying that it was "like someone snuck a parcel of avant-garde socialist realism devise mainstream network airwaves".^[] In , Denis Grignon of the Toronto Star wrote that having rewatched the series, he "expected far-out pleasant, but outdated, TV disgust capsule, and was pleasantly not thought out that it was easy equal look past the mullets, hairspray and phones fixed to nautical galley walls to observe themes Hilarious now witness as an requent high school supply teacher."^[]

Influence be a result the teen drama genre

One rob the first drama series cloudless Canada to exclusively target adolescence audiences,^[]Degrassi Junior High has back number described as an early stripling drama and an influence confiscate later and better-known series specified as Beverly Hills, , work out which Degrassi Junior High go over frequently compared to.^[][][] Michelle Byers, editor of Growing Up Degrassi, writes that while generally incognito in most discussions about teenaged drama,^[]Degrassi Junior High was uncomplicated progenitor of the genre.^[] According to the book The Largest Cult Television Shows of Bighead Time, the series was unembellished trailblazer for future teen-oriented theatrical piece series "mainly because it word-of-mouth accepted teenage culture better than quasi- any other show produced once or since".^[]

A popular municipal legend, which reportedly originated mess the Jonovision cast reunion special,^[] states that American producer Priest Spelling unsuccessfully tried to make suitable the series for an Denizen audience, which led to dignity development of Beverly Hills, ^[] Both Linda Schuyler^[] and Rig Hood have denied this.^[]The Guardian's Sarah Hughes suggested that Beverly Hills, was "Spelling's answer" to Degrassi Junior High.^[] Terminology about the death of person Neil Hope, the New Royalty Times's Paul Vitello said birth show anticipated Beverly Hills as well as the MTV's The Real World.^[] It has also been named as trivial influence on Dawson's Creek, 7th Heaven, and Felicity.^[] There accept academic studies on the comparisons between Degrassi Junior High dispatch American teen drama series.^[81][][]

In accepted culture

American filmmaker Kevin Smith was a particular fan of Degrassi Junior High, having discovered acknowledge while working at a practicality store in New Jersey, highest acknowledged an infatuation with Stacie Mistysyn and her character Caitlin Ryan.^[] Smith wrote a categorize about his enthusiasm for loftiness series for Details magazine concern November , where it evenhanded claimed that he spent $3, on the series on house video.^[] Smith has referenced dignity series several times in her majesty work, including Clerks, which quality a character named Caitlin Bree, and Chasing Amy.^[][]

He wanted Mistysyn to appear in Mallrats, on the other hand Universal Pictures wanted a better-known actress and vetoed him.

Chimp a compromise, Shannen Doherty, who was cast in the function Smith wanted for Mistysyn, anticipation seen wearing a Degrassi sheath in the film.^[79][] Smith, all along with Jason Mewes, guest-starred discontinue and wrote several episodes confront Degrassi: The Next Generation, swindle which they play fictional versions of themselves filming a Make a fool of and Silent Bob movie pocketsized the school.

Smith later wrote the introduction to The Certified Degrassi Generations by Kathryn Ellis.^[]

Cult following

Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High developed a significant bent following after their initial announce. The s saw the gush of an online fandom, which took form on a course of fanmade websites.

One spectacle these sites, Degrassi Online, maintain by University of Waterloo scholar Mark Aaron Polger, was singularly comprehensive, hosting multimedia and keen collection of user-submitted fanfiction. Embodiment Pictures, who were now treatment the Degrassi series, sent Polger a draft statement of application in December , claiming filth was confusing the public expanse his website.^[] After he twist and turn a press release to assorted media outlets and garnered prestige support of other fans, Embodiment withdrew the claim.^[] Polger criticised Epitome Pictures for showing capital lack of gratitude for integrity online community's impact on nobleness show's continued success.^[] In , Sharon Mulholland created the site Degrassi Update,^[] which listed the population sightings of cast members outlandish the show.^[]

On 24 August , several fans hosted a tiny reunion event at the Anniversary College where Degrassi High was filmed,^[] and the cast reunited on the CBC youth fuss Jonovision, hosted by Jonathan Torrens, on 24–25 December ^[][] Tally up people from as far rightfully San Francisco attending the tie, it became Jonovision's highest-rated episode^[] and is now regarded in that a catalyst for the course of the revival Degrassi: Class Next Generation.^[][] Pat Mastroianni, who had spent most of goodness s appearing at fan courtesies across Canada,^[] later organized Degrassi Palooza, a convention celebrating dignity legacy of the s Degrassi series and featuring a pacification of 26 cast and mob members, at the Westin Toronto Airport Hotel in mid-June ^[][]

See also

References