CTV INTRODUCES "DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION"

-- Sequel series to be accompanied by online component, documentary series --

Toronto (June 6, 2001) - It's back. CTV proudly presents "DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION," a new 15-part, 30-minute dramatic sequel to the popular Degrassi series of the 1980's - from the same producer of "The Kids of Degrassi Street", "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High". Principal photography will begin in July with a series launch slated for October, 2001 on CTV. The series will be accompanied on the CTV schedule by a documentary companion series "Degrassi.tv" and will be elevated by a unique online web presence (see "The Web Site").

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" introduces a whole new generation going through the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the year 2001. It's been a decade since the gang at "Degrassi High" left to embark on the next chapters of their lives. Naturally, it's time for their 10th anniversary high school reunion and that's the premise and the perfect launching point for "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Joey (Pat Mastroianni), Caitlin (Stacie Mistysyn), Snake (Stefan Brogren) and Lucy (Anais Granofsky) return for a one-hour special, to kick-off the series. Returning to Degrassi for their 10-year reunion, they are reunited with Spike (Amanda Stepto) and other alumni who have descended on the school from all points of the world.

The one-hour special also re-introduces viewers to Spike's daughter, Emma (fans will remember her as a two-year-old). Now 12 years old, Emma is entering a new phase in her life -- Grade 7 and Junior High, at the newly refurbished Degrassi Community School. The remaining 13-part series follows Emma and her "next generation" schoolmates Ashley, Terri, Jimmy, Sean, Manny, Liberty, Paige, Spinner, Toby and J.T. as they journey through junior high. There, they are sure to encounter the same pressures, temptations,challenges and issues that their parent's generation did. But for them, it's a whole new environment. These kids may be more media savvy and more articulate than their parents - but not necessarily more sophisticated. In a world influenced by the Internet, body piercing and hip-hop music, attention spans have decreased.

"We are extremely excited to be involved with this project and with Epitome Pictures, the series' original producers," said CTV's Susanne Boyce, President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group.

"The core of the classic Degrassi was its simple yet realistic storytelling, with the underlying message 'You are not alone'. Our partnership with CTV means we can carry on this storytelling in 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' in the same multi-platform way that the youth of today now live their lives" adds Linda Schuyler, President of Epitome Pictures.

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" is produced in association with CTV by Epitome Pictures, with the web component developed in association with Snap Media. The Executive Producer is Stephen Stohn. The Producer is Linda Schuyler, who also co-created the series with Yan Moore.

ABOUT … "DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION"

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" will be an integrated media experience for today's adolescents. The series continues the core spirit of the old Degrassi franchise, telling the viewers: you are not alone. It talks directly to its young audience, exploring their dilemmas from their point of view. "Degrassi: The Next Generation" is headed back to the place where they students learned about life and friendship.

For kids, it's a chance to see their own lives and issues reflected back at them. For young adults, it's a chance to look at where they've come from and where the new generation is headed. For parents and other adults, it's an opportunity to peek behind the closed doors of teens' lives.

As with the previous series, "Degrassi: The Next Generation" explores the issues affecting teens as they struggle between being kids and being adults - be it a first kiss, coming to terms with new siblings in a recently-blended family, dealing with an alcoholic parent, deciding whether or not to cheat on that French test. All issues are explored through particular characters and their unique, three-dimensional take on the situation and choices confronting them. And no matter how overwhelming, serious or dramatic individual character choices will be, there is always plenty of humour, because there are a lot of laughs when you're 12 and 13 years old.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

STEPHEN STOHN, Executive Producer
Stephen has worked in the entertainment industry for over 35 years. A founding member of the entertainment law firm Stohn Abramovitch LLP, Stephen was also Executive Producer of "Riverdale", English Canada's first prime-time soap opera, and is currently the Executive Producer of "Savoir Faire", "Room Service" and The Juno Awards.

LINDA SCHUYLER, Producer
Linda executive produced and co-created the multi-award-winning Degrassi series. A founding member of the Association for Media Literacy, she was also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association. In recognition of her contributions to Canadian Television programming, she was awarded the Order of Canada in 1994.

YAN MOORE, Story Editor and Writer
Yan wrote most of, and story-edited all 70 episodes of "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High". A three-time Gemini nominee for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series, he has also served as Story Editor for American literary series "The House". He was Executive Story Editor on three After School Specials (ABC), as well as "Road to Avonlea" and "Liberty Street". He was Co-Creator, Creative Producer, Story Editor and Writer on "Riverdale".

AARON MARTIN, Story Editor And Writer
Aaron is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre's Professional Screenwriting Program, and Film Residency Program (1999-2000), and also holds a BA Hons from Queen's University in Drama and History. His short film "Martirio" was short-listed for the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Aaron and his writing partner, Tassie Cameron, are co-creators of "ESP", a paranormal teen drama in development with CTV and its production arm, Landscape Productions.

BRUCE MCDONALD, Director
Bruce is the highly acclaimed Canadian director of "Claire's Hat", "Dance Me Outside", "Highway 61" and "Roadkill". His television credits include "The War Next Door", "Lexx III", CTV's "The City" and "Little Men", "Emily of New Moon", "The Rez" and "Twitch City", for which he received a Gemini Award and Gemini nomination as Best Director - Comedy Series. He has also directed MOWs, including "Platinum" for which he also received a Gemini nomination. A longtime fan of the Degrassi franchise, Bruce will direct the one-hour kick-off premiere in addition to some other episodes, and will mentor several fresh young directors throughout the season.

SUSIN NIELSEN, Writer
Since launching her writing career with 16 episodes of the original Degrassi series, Susin has worked continuously as a writer and story editor for such youth-oriented series as "Edgemont", "The Adventures of Shirley Holmes", "Madison", "Ready or Not" and the animated series "What About Mimi" and "Braceface". Other series work has included CTV's "Cold Squad", "Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy" and "Liberty Street". Susin was the recipient of a 1998 Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Childrens or Youth Series for "Shirley Holmes" and of a 1997 Writers Guild of Canada Top Ten Award for "Madison".

TASSIE CAMERON, Writer
Tassie is also a graduate of the 1999-2000 Canadian Film Centre Professional Screenwriting Program, and was Writer in Residence with the Centre from July through December of 1999. She has an M.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. One of Tassie's feature film scripts, Cake, won the Harold Greenberg Fund Award and is slated for production. She has also written for Definitely Not the Opera on CBC Radio, Shift Magazine and
Women Make Movies. Tassie and her writing partner, Aaron Martin, are co-creators of ESP, a paranormal teen drama in development with CTV and Landscape Films.

SNAP MEDIA, Online Partner
Raja Khanna (President) and Roma Khanna (Executive Vice President) and their creative team from Snap Media Corp. in Toronto are working closely with the Degrassi team to create innovative interactive experiences. Founded in Toronto in 1995, Snap Media is a provider of interactive media, consulting and production services. Their core team of interactive strategists works closely with their award-winning production team to create cutting-edge entertainment content for convergent media. Snap Media's client base is spread throughout North America
and includes TV broadcasters and producers such as YTV, Teletoon, Nelvana and Savoir Faire Productions, as well as RealNetworks, TD Bank, Sony Music, HMV and IcebergMedia.com to name just a few.

THE CAST

SARAH BARRABLE-TISHAUER as Liberty Van Zandt
Birthdate: July 6, 1988
From: Toronto

DANIEL CLARK as Sean Hope
Birthdate: October 14, 1985
From: Toronto area

LAUREN COLLINS as Paige Michalchuk
Birthdate: August 29, 1986
From: Toronto area

RYAN COOLEY as J.T. Yorke
Birthdate: May 18, 1988
From: North of Toronto

JAKE GOLDSBIE as Toby Isaacs
Birthdate: August 8, 1988
From: Toronto

AUBREY GRAHAM as Jimmy Brooks
Birthdate: October 24, 1986
From: Toronto

SHANE KIPPEL as Gavin "Spinner" Mason
Birthdate: June 4, 1986
From: Toronto

MIRIAM McDONALD as Emma Nelson
Birthdate: July 26, 1987
From: Toronto area

MELISSA McINTYRE as Ashley Kerwin
Birthdate: May 31, 1986
From: St. Catharines area

CHRISTINA SCHMIDT as Terri MacGregor
Birthdate: September 16, 1987
From: Kitchener/Waterloo area

CASSIE STEELE as Manuella (Manny) Santos
Birthdate: December 2, 1989
From: Toronto area

ADDITIONAL CAST

STEFAN BROGREN as Mr. Simpson (returning cast)

ANAIS GRANOFSKY as Lucy Fernandez (special only)

PAT MASTROIANNI as Joey Jeremiah (special only)

STACIE MISTYSYN as Caitlin Ryan (special only)

AMANDA STEPTO as Christine (Spike) Nelson (returning cast)

DAN WOODS as Principal Raditch (returning cast)

THE CHARACTERS

JIMMY BROOKS - Grade 8, Age 13
Tall, lean, strong and handsome, Jimmy is one of Degrassi's top junior athletes - and boyfriend to Degrassi's top girl, Ashley. The only child of very rich (and very absent) parents, Jimmy's never had to struggle for anything in life. Except his parents' attention, of course - but like the other kids say, Jimmy's the luckiest student at Degrassi. He's a laid-back gifted boy, who has everything he wants in life - including an entire collection of the latest snowboarding clothing and equipment. But deep down Jimmy worries that maybe, just maybe, life isn't always going to be this easy…

SEAN HOPE - Grade 7, Age 14
Dark and brooding, Sean is too withdrawn from Degrassi society for any of his peers to peg him. His "look" has his fellow students believing he's either a rebel or a misfit, but those who Sean trusts know there's more to him than that. If aggravated, Sean has a tendency to explode with anger culled from a deep, dark place. Last year, Sean's parents moved to Wasaga Beach to live, but Sean fell in with a criminal crowd and had to be sent back to Toronto. He's currently living with his brother while he repeats Grade 7. It's a drag, but Sean's not embarrassed. He doesn't worry about what Ashley Kerwin and her clique thinks.

TOBY ISAACS - Grade 7, Age 12
Short and wiry and asthmatic, Toby's body hasn't caught up yet with his brain - which is smart, swift and slightly devious, especially when it comes to his new "step-sister" Ashley. Although his parents' divorce was difficult, he's relieved they're no longer married - they can't fight when they're not together. And although living with Ashley is a huge drawback, life with his father's girlfriend actually isn't that bad. Toby is hopelessly in love with Emma who, much to his chagrin, regards him more as a cool little brother than a romantic possibility. Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride…

ASHLEY KERWIN - Grade 8, Age 13
Thinking Jennifer Lopez meets Britney Spears? Think Ashley Kerwin: student council president and self-declared trend-setter at Degrassi. She's beautiful, she's at the top of her class, and she's dating the best-looking boy at Degrassi. In short, her perfection can be overwhelming - and it takes a brave soul to question her rule. Which makes her geeky new Grade 7 "stepbrother" Toby - who's determined to undermine her at every turn - a constant source of irritation. But underneath Ashley's arch exterior is a girl who has been truly hurt by the divorce of her parents. And who's determined to make the world a better place - the world just better follow her lead…

TERRI MACGREGOR - Grade 8, Age 13
The plain-Jane sidekick to Ashley Kerwin - at least, she's convinced herself she's plain. When in fact, Terri is a pretty girl who just needs the patience to grow out of her baby fat. In the meantime, she's obsessed (and totally insecure) about her body image. And views her friendship with Ashley as the only validation of her worth at Degrassi. But as the series progresses, and as Terri realizes she's got talents that Ashley (and all the other Britney-clones) lack - like an amazing singing voice - Terri will slowly, but surely, come out of her shell. But will her friendship with Ashley survive this process?

GAVIN "SPINNER" MASON - Grade 8, Age 14
Spinner is Degrassi's poster-boy for Ritalin. This boy is literally spinning out of control. A natural bully, Spinner compensates for his lack of brains by being mean to anyone weaker than himself - especially Grade 7s. Jimmy's right-hand man, he is the yin to Jimmy's yang: ugly, brutish, and a total failure with the girls. But, like most bad kids, there's something masochistically appealing to Spinner's brazen personality - it's hard not to like him.

PAIGE MICHALCHUK - Grade 8, Age 13
Determined to keep her enemies close to her, Paige is "best friends" with Ashley and Terri. Friendly and pleasant on the surface, underneath she is manipulative, cunning and out to claim Ashley's spot at the top of the Degrassi food chain - by whatever means necessary. Like her personality, Paige's pretty looks are constructed and only skin-deep.

EMMA NELSON - Grade 7, Age 12
A rebel in training, Emma is brimming with passion and a no-nonsense self-reliance that some kids find a bit intimidating. She's got an alternative fashion style and a unique hairdo that changes with her mood. Her marks are very good, showing particular aptitude in creative writing and media studies. The environment and animal rights are Emma's current obsessions. But Emma's individualism gets her into trouble every now and then - especially when she stubbornly refuses to listen to any views that might oppose her own. Like any kid her age, Emma's going through some growing pains in her relationship with her mother - a relationship that, up until now, has been more sister-sister than mother-daughter.

MANUELLA SANTOS - Grade 7, Age 12
Manny's a bright girl with a wildly romantic sensibility. Self-assured and spunky, at school she's a chatterbox - always giggling with friends and gossiping about the boys. But at home she's a dutiful daughter. Born in the Philippines, raised in Canada, Manny is caught between two worlds. Though respectful of her heritage and all that it entails (like the fact that her parents already have a husband picked out for her), the older she gets the more her two worlds collide. It helps that Manny has a kind of "innocence" - she's oblivious of the latest fads and trends, while retaining her high morals. Due to her disdain materialistic things, Manny has managed to find an ally in Emma.

LIBERTY VAN ZANDT - Grade 7, Age 11
A year younger than all her peers, Liberty skipped from Grade 5 into Grade 7, which makes her an outsider at Degrassi from the get-go. Unfortunately for Liberty, her rabid competitiveness and determination don't help. She's an irritating thorn in everyone's side. Though she does do a lot of thankless work at Degrassi - she's on every committee, edits the Degrassi Grapevine, and is the Secretary to the Students' Council President - her peers see her blind ambition exactly for what it is.

J.T. YORKE - Grade 7, Age 12
J.T.'s the class clown with a wry street-smart sense of humor he exploits - either in making himself the center of attention or in escaping from sticky situations. A bright boy who resolutely refuses to apply himself at school, J.T. believes he's destined to be a showbiz millionaire. But at the core of J.T. is a loneliness that comes from being the child of alcoholics. He masks his embarrassment with humor, and is determined that no one - not even his best friends - know about his true home life.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS

PRINCIPAL RADITCH - 42
Formerly a teacher at Degrassi Junior High and a vice-principal at Degrassi High, Mr. Raditch is now the principal at Degrassi C.S. He has embraced media and the Internet, and it's his vision that has resulted in all of the computers, video equipment and the Media Immersion programme at Degrassi. While he knows his way around basic e-mail, the rest of his e-knowledge is suspect. But he tries. And his heart is in the right place. Fortunately, one of his ex-pupils in now specializing in Media studies, and ready to return to his alma mater at Mr. Raditch's request.

MR. SIMPSON - late 20s
Since graduating from Degrassi, 10 years ago, Archie (Snake) Simpson, attended University with the hopes of following his father's footsteps to become a surgeon. He excelled in his theoretical studies, but when it came to the practical work, Snake just could not face the realities of the operating room. He switched to education and found himself a natural teacher. He couldn't believe his good fortune when Mr. Raditch approached him about an opening at the new Degrassi. Enthusiastic, humorous and patient, he's popular with his Grade 7 & 8 students in his Media Immersion course. His students have learned a trick though, if they ask Mr. Simpson about what it used to be like at Degrassi, he can go on for hours, and forget about his lesson plan!

MR. ARMSTRONG - early 40s
Mr. Armstrong teaches gym and math at Degrassi. Although he has a dry teaching style and some old-school disciplinary tendencies, the kids in his class respect him because they always know where they stand with him. After school, he is the coach of the basketball team. Just as you'd expect from his classroom persona, as a coach he has high expectations of his players, guiding them in a very firm but ultimately supportive manner. Like many guys who grew up as athletes, he is comfortably physical and frequently gives pats on the back. He may even sling an arm around a player in a moment of triumph.

MISS BHOPAL - late 20s / early 30s
Miss Bhopal is the Grade 8 homeroom and English teacher at Degrassi. A relatively new teacher, she has a warm, open manner. She makes her students feel comfortable enough that many of them confide in her about their lives. Ms. Bhopal is very enthusiastic about literature and drama, but her emotional teaching style sometimes breeds chaos in her classroom. A soft-spoken woman, she can't always bring the class back to order as quickly as she ought to.

MRS. O'CONNER - mid-late 40s
Mrs. O'Conner teaches history at Degrassi. After 20 years of teaching, she's a real veteran and it's tough for the kids to get much past her - there's the sense that she really has seen it all. She's an enthusiastic organizer and prides herself on being involved in many student activities as an advisor. She's also a bit of a Luddite and is intimidated by all of the technology finding its way into schools today - she's finding it especially difficult since Degrassi has stepped up programs like Media Immersion.

CHRISTINE (SPIKE) NELSON - late 20s
Spike wonders where the time has gone. It seems like only yesterday that she graduated from Degrassi, and now, her 12-year-old daughter is enrolled in the new Degrassi C.S. Over the last 10 years Spike has built up a loyal clientele at her trendy downtown hair salon and bought her first house. With hard work and shrewd money management, she has juggled her work and responsibilities as a single mom. She's taught Emma to stand up for herself, and not be afraid of having opinions. As Emma is on the verge of becoming a teenager, Spike is questioning that she might have over done it a bit!

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS (SPECIAL ONLY)

CAITLIN RYAN - late 20's
Vancouver-based Caitlin has become a great success. Her prime time nature show with an environmental bent is the sleeper hit of the season, and has even won her a Gemini. But her heavy work schedule leaves little time for a personal life. So, when aspiring movie director Keith Barra takes an interest in her, Caitlin doesn't think twice about the possibility of marriage. Hey, why not? She's almost thirty. Invited to the reunion as the key note speaker, Caitlin is also looking forward to introducing her old friends to her fiancé. One old friend in particular is not convinced that Caitlin has made the right romantic choice.

JOEY JEREMIAH - late 20's
Former high school scam artist Joey, is now the manager of Jeremiah Auto Sales - New and Used. He's also the doting parent of a four year old girl. Although he has dealt with his wife's death a few years ago from cancer, he has not yet begun dating again. When he gets the invitation to the reunion, he doesn't want to go. Who wants to hear old friends repeatedly say that 'they're sorry'? At a small pre-reunion get together Joey has great difficulty being civil to Caitlin's arrogant movie style fiancé from the West Coast. But hey, her love life is no longer his problem, right?

LUCY FERNANDEZ - late 20's
Lucy Fernandez' high school dream of becoming a movie producer was put on hold during the long recuperation period after the accident with Wheels. While in therapy, both physical and emotional, Lucy slowly continued her studies in Kingston. She has just completed her undergraduate degree. It's taken a while, but Lucy feels that she's ready to put the past behind her and face her future. Attending the reunion is an important step in Lucy's recovery. And, the fact that Wheels won't be there, makes it that much easier.


THE WEB SITE

The Degrassi School web site is intended to create a "virtual school", in which viewers "virtually enroll." They are assigned a "student number" and "locker" (space to create their own web pages). It has the appearance of a real school web site, where, thanks to newly developed software, the fictional students from the series will interact with the new, "virtual" students created solely for the online world (who can also interact with each other). It will be as if the school were real.

From the School main page -- which might also contain a "Board of Trustees", "curriculum" and "parent/teacher" information -- viewers find the following content sections:

o Registration - Viewers can register to become students of their favorite school!
o Locker Assignment- Like the characters in the show, members are assigned lockers where they can design their own home page.
o Community Areas - Members can view and exchange messages through a variety of ways.
o School News and Announcements- This page has the latest-breaking news on the twists and turns within the online series plots, as well as any updates on new Degrassi School developments.
o Online Stories and Content - Online stories can develop through the personal content of the characters' web pages, school news and announcements, and email newsletters.
o School Clubs and After School Activities- Viewers will have access to a variety of clubs and activities.
o Guidance Counselor - This is the part of the site that reinforces the very core message of
"Degrassi: The Next Generation": "You are not alone." It's through this door that students can leave the world of fiction and effect change in their lives. The Guidance Counselor's office offers information on, and links to, personal and academic resources and support groups. Here our
young viewers can get information and answers to questions pertaining to their own lives.

In association with Snap Media, CTV and Epitome have developed six different methods of online storytelling, so that each viewer can enjoy the sensation of interacting with the television characters as if the viewer and the characters were all actually attending the same school together.

Each viewer's experience of the story will be different, as it will be pieced together like gossip running through the school corridors. The stories told via the two components, television and the Internet, will be related, but not the same. Importantly though, they will be in timed relation--as the stories and characters develop via the television component, the online stories will develop in tandem. While the web site is intended to be primarily fun and entertaining, with clubs and games along with the storytelling, one vital component of the online experience will be the ability to navigate the Degrassi web site "down the hall" to the office of the Guidance Counsellor. There, the viewer will have access to assistance on a variety of issues.

THE DOCUMENTARY COMPANION

In addition to the new Degrassi series, CTV will air a companion, youth-oriented mini-documentary series that will air opposite the drama, as a "package." The documentary series " DEGRASSI.TV", will further explore the central issue raised in each show.

"DEGRASSI.TV"
It promises to be the swiftest, edgiest half-hour in television, tackling gritty issues and subjects related to teenagers. "Degrassi.tv" is a half-hour primetime documentary series produced for young adults. Airing alongside CTV's new weekly drama "Degrassi: The Next Generation", "Degrassi.tv" delivers real-life perspectives with stories of young Canadians.

"Degrassi.tv" offers a timely and incisive documentary report each week. The half-hour package is rounded out with news and information on current-affairs topics on issues affecting teens. It tackles the subjects teenagers are talking and thinking about. Nothing is off limits: Dating and sexuality. Drugs and alcohol. Dieting and fashion. Music and parties. Friends and parents. School and work. Technology. Money. Racism.

The groundbreaking program will be an interactive experience, drawing on the visual and written contributions of young people. "Degrassi.tv" is the first of several CTV News initiatives aimed at youth in the 2001/2002 season.

THE ORIGINAL DEGRASSI - WHAT THE CRITICS SAID …

"If all TV were as good as Degrassi High, nobody would ever leave the couch."
-- Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star

"Still proving itself one of the gutsiest shows on television." -- Los Angeles Times

"As different from the kind of homogenized, sanctified, purified family fare from American networks as a Ferrari is from a Buick… Degrassi gets on with it, tells it pretty much as it is. And because it looks and sounds like us, we like it even more. This is good TV. Degrassi is a tough, compelling slice of life." -- Greg Quill, Toronto Star

"Finally, there's a serious, realistic television program about kids for both kids and adults."
-- The New York Daily News

"If you haven't checked out Degrassi, then you're missing one of the best series designed for teens to ever come along." -- LoudMouth (teen magazine)

"The strength of Degrassi Junior High is that it looks at the students' dilemmas from their point of view." -- The Age, Victoria, Australia

"Each week as I watched these narrative patterns take new twists and turns, my cultural pride soared. My dream of a contemporary Canadian show about my life as a teen, long overdue, finally came true. For me, even in reruns years from now. Degrassi will continue to placate and soothe that inner TV child." -- Mark Foss, Globe and Mail

"Degrassi High - a series that dispenses with tidy morality and goes for the gut."
-- John Burns, New York Times

"In retrospect, it will likely be remembered as the most progressive - and controversial - television show about young people made in the 20th century."
-- Paula Todd, Homemaker's Magazine

"Degrassi High is different… (it) takes an unflinching look at contemporary teenage life. Though it's set in Canada, the situations are typical of adolescence throughout North America. The show attracts more than 10 million viewers in more than 40 countries."
-- Martha Southgate, New York Daily News

PROLOGUE - A "DEGRASSI" OVERVIEW

In the late 1980's, "The Kids of Degrassi Street," "Degrassi Junior High" and its successor "Degrassi High" were among the most popular shows on Canadian television. Over five seasons, Degrassi won nine Gemini awards, including two for Best Continuing Series, two International Emmy awards, two Prix Jeunesse awards, a Rocky for Best Continuing Series from the Banff Film Festival, and dozens of other international and domestic awards.

The Degrassi franchise wasn't just a Canadian phenomenon; The two series sold in over 100 Countries around the world, attracting fans from Israel to Australia, from Sweden to South Africa and China.

Meanwhile, back in Canada, the series was a definite hit, attracting audiences of 1,000,000 viewers per week. Degrassi would go on to conclude on a high note as "School's Out", the series finale MOW, drew 2.4 millions viewers when it aired in January 1992. All in all, a good run. And when it was over, cast and crew went on to new projects.

Ten years later, the series has lived many lives since in repeats across the world, continuing to find new fanbases and an appetite for encore presentations. On the Internet, actor sightings, news updates and speculation about "where are they now?" would not subside…

Both in cyberspace and in real school corridors across Canada, one of the most FAQ continues to be "Why can't we have a Degrassi for today, about us, without the big hair and the eighties
clothing?"