From Robin Levinson King of the Toronto Star:
8 Degrassi stars who made it big
Shed a tear for the final season of Degrassi, which is set to begin July 20. MTV announced Thursday that the show would not be renewed for another season. But the classic teen soap opera will live on in the hearts and minds of fans, as through the Instagram profiles of the show’s famous alumni. Continue reading.
From Anne T. Donohue in the Globe and Mail:
Degrassi graduates: after 14 seasons the series comes to an end
With news this week that MTV is pulling the plug on the television series after 14 seasons, an important chapter of original Canadian programming has closed. Considering the Degrassi franchise began in the 1980s with a show starring a boy named Joey Jeremiah and his collection of hats, it’s a miracle that any franchise (let alone one born and bred in Canada) managed to sustain a reboot that was a mix of pure soap and increasingly dark teen melodrama, and populated by a revolving door of characters who became more compelling (and sometimes even unbelievable) than the last. Continue reading.
The doors are closing on Degrassi High … at least for now. The long-running teen drama will come to and end in Canada on MTV and in the U.S. on TeenNick. The second half of Season 14 begins on Monday, July 20, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV and will conclude with an hour-long series finale preceded by a special entitled “It Goes There, Degrassi’s Most Talked-About Moments.”
“Thank you to Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn, and all the cast and crew at Epitome Pictures for delivering Bell Media with 14 years of creative and engaging content that truly captured the spirit of Canadian youth through truthful and provocative stories,â€Â said Phil King, president of CTV, Sports and entertainment programming. “We are immensely proud of Degrassi, and our longstanding partnership with Linda and Stephen. We wish the entire Epitome team the best of luck, and look forward to working with them again in the future.â€
“Few producers are as blessed as we have been, working with so many talented and creative individuals at TeenNick for 14 seasons of Degrassi; including 385 episodes and over 100 pieces of original short-form web content,” executive producer Stephen Stohn stated. “We thank all those at TeenNick who have worked so hard over the years to help us create a television series that changes with the times and continues to authentically connect and interact with the youth audience.â€
But later in the day came this intriguing statement from DHX Media, apparently keeping the door open for more Degrassi: “Degrassi is one of DHX Media’s marquee brands and we expect to be able to provide an update in the days ahead for fans, the media and the market. The Degrassi fan base runs deep worldwide and the longevity of the series speaks for itself.  Stay tuned for further developments regarding Degrassi.â€
Is Degrassi being shopped around to other networks—like the DHX-owned Family Channel—or will it head online as a web exclusive? Stay tuned.
The Degrassi franchise celebrated its 35th anniversary this year. Co-created by Linda Schuyler, the series has won accolades and awards—including two International Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award— for telling no-nonsense stories of teen love and angst through an unflinching lens.
The latest incarnation has churned out an impressive list of cast members who have moved on to careers in the entertainment industry, including rap superstar Drake, Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries), Declan Coyne (Terra Nova), Shenae Grimes (90210), Stacey Farber (Saving Hope) and Justin Kelly (Between). Current cast include Eric Osborne, Ana Golja, Sara Waisglass, Andre Kim and Ainslinn Paul.
The franchise began with The Kids of Degrassi Street (1982-86), followed by Degrassi Junior High (1987-89) and Degrassi High (1989-91).
From Carys Mills of Canadian Geographic:
9 TV shows that highlight Canadian geography
Arctic Air
CBC’s Arctic adventure series, which was cancelled in 2014 after three seasons, is about an airline based in Yellowknife and the family running the business. While much of the show was shot in Vancouver, the crew went to Yellowknife as well, authentically capturing the north’s landscapes, wildlife and people. Continue reading.
From MTV:
‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’ Creator Explains How She Handled A TV Rape Story The Right Way
Perhaps no series in recent memory has crafted a rape story line as carefully as “Degrassi: The Next Generation.†In its second season in 2003, the Canadian teen soap aired “Shout,†a moving two-part episode in which one of its female characters, Paige Michalchuk, gets raped at a high school party. The scene was haunting — Paige, confused, scared and crying — and its aftermath, powerful. The story line stayed with her through seasons two, three and four. Continue reading.
