49 Fun Facts About Degrassi

Who created the Degrassi franchise?

Schuyler was an ex-schoolteacher and Hood an editor; their company was called Playing With Time.

The franchise began with which 1979 short film, adapted from a Kay Chorao book?

Ida Makes a Movie, a 1979 short based on Kay Chorao's children's book, was Playing With Time's first Degrassi production and led directly to The Kids of Degrassi Street.

The school takes its name from a real street in which city?

De Grassi Street is a real residential street in Toronto's east end, just east of the Don River; the earliest Degrassi productions were shot on and around it.

Unlike every later Degrassi series, the franchise's first series followed which group?

The Kids of Degrassi Street followed children rather than teenagers, centring on grade-schoolers; Stacie Mistysyn and Neil Hope returned in Junior High as new, older characters.

On which network did Degrassi Junior High premiere on January 18, 1987?

Degrassi Junior High premiered on CBC on January 18, 1987, and ran for three seasons before its cast moved on to Degrassi High in 1989.

Which Etobicoke building stood in for Degrassi Junior High?

Vincent Massey Public School, a real elementary school in Etobicoke, supplied the school exteriors for Degrassi Junior High, which debuted in 1987.

What was the name of the garage band formed by Joey, Snake and their bass-playing friend Derek?

The Zit Remedy was the trio's garage band, with Joey on keyboards; it had exactly one song, played endlessly, and later shortened its name to The Zits.

Which Degrassi Junior High episode about a teen pregnancy won an International Emmy?

'It's Late' won Degrassi Junior High an International Emmy for its frank story of a young teen's pregnancy, a rare subject for 1980s teen television.

Who played Emma Nelson in Degrassi: The Next Generation?

Miriam McDonald played Emma Nelson from the 2001 premiere; Emma, the baby born during Degrassi Junior High, anchored The Next Generation's early seasons.

Which character did Stacie Mistysyn play across three Degrassi series?

Stacie Mistysyn played Caitlin Ryan, the activist and aspiring journalist, in Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, and returned as her in The Next Generation.

Which Carlaw Avenue institution was picked as Degrassi High for resembling a high school?

Centennial College's building on Carlaw Avenue, now its Story Arts Centre, played Degrassi High from 1989 to 1991 because it looked like a real high school.

What did PBS cut from the Degrassi High premiere 'A New Start' for American viewers?

PBS removed the scenes of anti-abortion protesters outside the clinic in 'A New Start', where Erica goes for an abortion; the show's creators objected to the cut.

On what date did the TV-movie finale School's Out air on CBC?

School's Out aired on January 5, 1992, a Sunday night, closing the original Degrassi saga in the summer after the Degrassi High class graduated.

In School's Out, whose drunk-driving crash kills a young child and injures Lucy?

Wheels, drunk behind the wheel, causes the crash and is charged with criminal negligence causing death; the film then closes at Simon and Alexa's wedding.

School's Out is claimed to contain the first use of which word in Canadian television history?

'Fuck' is heard in School's Out, most memorably in the furious line to Joey, 'You were fucking Tessa Campanelli?', delivered by Stacie Mistysyn.

Who played Manny Santos in Degrassi: The Next Generation?

Cassie Steele played Manny Santos, Emma's best friend, from the 2001 premiere through season ten, and went on to star in The L.A. Complex.

Which CBC show hosted the 1999 Degrassi Junior High cast reunion that helped revive the franchise?

Jonovision, Jonathan Torrens's teen talk show, reunited the Junior High cast in 1999; the enthusiastic response pushed the producers toward a new series built around Emma.

On which network did Degrassi: The Next Generation premiere on October 14, 2001?

It ended on MTV Canada on August 2, 2015 after 14 seasons.

How many episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation were made?

Degrassi: The Next Generation produced 385 episodes across 14 seasons, from 2001 to 2015, far more than all the earlier Degrassi series combined.

The Next Generation centred on Emma Nelson, the daughter of which original character?

Spike, full name Christine Nelson, became pregnant as a Degrassi Junior High student and gave birth to Emma, who grew into The Next Generation's central character.

What is the title of The Next Generation's theme song?

'Whatever It Takes' was The Next Generation's theme, composed by Jim McGrath; its refrain 'whatever it takes, I know I can make it through' opened each episode.

Which future rap superstar played Jimmy Brooks?

Drake, born Aubrey Graham in 1986, played Jimmy Brooks from the 2001 premiere until 2009, when his rap career took off with the mixtape So Far Gone.

In 'Time Stands Still', what humiliation drives Rick Murray to bring a gun to school?

The humiliation was yellow paint and feathers dumped on stage right after Rick won a school quiz competition; Spinner and Jay staged the prank and let Jimmy take the blame.

Who wrestles Rick for the gun in 'Time Stands Still', during which struggle Rick is fatally shot?

Sean Cameron grabbed Rick as he turned the gun on Emma; in the struggle the gun went off and Rick died, moments after he had shot Jimmy.

Which bullying expert who had worked with Columbine families did the producers consult for the shooting episode?

Barbara Coloroso, author of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander, had counselled Columbine families and advised the writers on Rick's bullying arc.

Which American filmmaker guest-starred as himself with Jason Mewes in the last three episodes of season four?

Kevin Smith, alongside Jason Mewes, played himself shooting the fictional film Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh! at the school in the season-four finale arc.

Which Next Generation episode did The N refuse to air for two years because it dealt with abortion?

'Accidents Will Happen', the season-three two-parter in which Manny Santos chooses an abortion, was pulled by the US network The N and not shown there for two years.

Which season-ten episode about a transgender student won a Peabody Award?

'My Body Is a Cage' follows Adam Torres, played by Jordan Todosey, as classmates discover he is transgender; the two-parter earned Degrassi a Peabody Award.

What production change came with season ten in July 2010?

Season ten adopted a telenovela/soap-opera format, airing new episodes four nights a week in a summer block called The Boiling Point, and dropped 'The Next Generation' from the title.

By season ten, which original character remained, having been promoted to principal?

Snake Simpson, played by Stefan Brogren since Degrassi Junior High in 1987, became principal in season ten and held the job through Degrassi: Next Class.

Who played Spinner Mason in Degrassi: The Next Generation?

Shane Kippel played Gavin 'Spinner' Mason from the 2001 premiere through season nine, ending with Spinner's surprise marriage to Emma in the season-nine finale.

Which Next Generation actress, who played Mia Jones, went on to lead The Vampire Diaries?

Nina Dobrev played Mia Jones from 2006 to 2009, then left to star as Elena Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries, which premiered in September 2009.

On which streaming service did Degrassi: Next Class air internationally from 2016?

Netflix carried Degrassi: Next Class internationally from January 2016, days after its Family Channel premiere, releasing each 10-episode season as a full drop.

Degrassi: Next Class was originally intended to be what?

Degrassi: Next Class was first planned as the 15th season of the previous show; after MTV Canada dropped the series in 2015 it was relaunched as a new series and ran 40 episodes over four seasons.

Which streaming service's planned Degrassi revival was scrapped in 2022 amid the Warner Bros. merger?

HBO Max ordered a Degrassi revival in January 2022, then cancelled it that November before production began, amid Warner Bros. Discovery's post-merger cost-cutting.

Which 2018 Drake music video reunited the cast of The Next Generation?

He had left the show after season eight to focus on music, signing with Young Money in June 2009.

Which animal is the team mascot of Degrassi Community School?

The Degrassi Panthers are the school's teams in The Next Generation; the panther logo appears on Degrassi basketball and football jerseys throughout the series.

How did J.T. Yorke die in season six of The Next Generation?

J.T. Yorke was stabbed outside a party by a Lakehurst student in the season-six episode 'Rock This Town', one of the series' most shocking deaths.

How many seasons did Degrassi High run on television?

Degrassi High ran for two seasons and 28 episodes, from 1989 to 1991, before the story was wrapped up in a TV movie.

Who played Joey Jeremiah in Degrassi Junior High?

Pat Mastroianni played Joey Jeremiah, the fedora-wearing joker, across Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and The Next Generation, where Joey ran a used-car dealership.

Which entertainment lawyer became Linda Schuyler's producing partner and husband?

Stephen Stohn, an entertainment lawyer, married the franchise's co-creator and was executive producer of The Next Generation; he also co-wrote the lyrics of its theme song.

Schuyler and Stohn founded which company in 1992 to produce every later Degrassi series?

Epitome Pictures, founded in 1992, produced the mid-1990s drama Liberty Street and later made every episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class.

What is the title of Linda Schuyler's 2022 memoir?

The Mother of All Degrassi, published by ECW Press in 2022, is the co-creator's memoir of building the franchise from a 1979 short film into a global brand.

When season ten left CTV in 2010, which Canadian network picked up Degrassi?

MuchMusic carried Degrassi in Canada from season ten in 2010 through season thirteen, after which the final season moved to sister channel MTV Canada.

Which 2009 TV movie sent the Degrassi cast to Los Angeles?

Degrassi Goes Hollywood, the 2009 TV movie that closed season eight, sent Manny, Paige and friends to Los Angeles, where Jason Mewes played himself as a film director.

The Next Generation reused the set of which 1997 Epitome soap opera on Bartley Drive?

Riverdale, the 1997 soap opera, was shot on a studio set at 220 Bartley Drive that was converted into Degrassi Community School for all 14 seasons of The Next Generation.

Which Next Generation character was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in season four?

Craig Manning, the musician played by Jake Epstein, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in season four's two-part 'Voices Carry' after a manic episode.

Which Degrassi High character learned he was HIV-positive?

Dwayne Myers, the school bully, learned he was HIV-positive in the Degrassi High two-parter 'Bad Blood', one of the first HIV storylines on a teen drama.

In the 1992 series Degrassi Talks, what did cast members do?

Degrassi Talks, a six-part 1992 documentary series, had cast members including Amanda Stepto interview teens across Canada about social issues such as sex, drugs, alcohol and abuse.