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The Degrassi Digest # 29 July 1st 1998- Happy Canada Day!
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Happy Birthday to my Father and to Canada!
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UPDATE: Thanks to Wendy Furtenbacher for an update. She saw Andy Chambers (Luke) talking on a morning TV show called Vancouver Breakfast. He was talking about his own production company called Too (Two)-Small Productions.

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****Dear Degrassi Fans! (From PrincessPaige)***** Wouldn't you like to write your own stories about Degrassi, and make up your own characters? Then head on over to http://www.gurlpages.com/tv/princesspaige to write about a new set of characters.
Check out the last post for details.
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Degrassi World Fan Fiction Episode #10 can be found after this weeks posts, written by Natalie J. Earl
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YOUR POSTS:

Re: Ravi's Comments
Re: "Mary-Beth Furneaux"
degrassi quotes
Hey..
Just out of curiosity
maya
Degrassi and Dawson's Creek
Re: The Degrassi Digest #28 - Maya and children
Maya
Ready Or Not
Degrassi 2005
Ready or Not on US Networks?
Degrassi 2005-write your own
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From: "Angela ."
To: webmaster@degrassi.org
Subject: Re: Ravi's Comments
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 16:39:10 EDT

Hi Gang,
I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying the Degrassi Digest. I
miss seeing the show, and the digest is nice for keeping up on what
other fans are thinking. I also like the fiction that is posted each
time. One of these days I'll get around to submitting one myself! I
would like to take up, however, for the author of the story thst
involved the character of Maya marrying a non-disabled fellow. I think
that Ravi got a little too worked up about a minor part of the story. I
don't think that the author was stereotyping anyone, I think that s/he
was simply clarifying. "Non-disabled" was a discriptive term used to
help the reader visualize Maya's husband. It was no more discriminatory
than saying he had blue eyes. Settle down a little bit! You can't be a
very happy person if you go through life thinking that every single
thing is discrimination, and that everyone is out to get you. If you
want to get technical, I think the comment about her husband shows a lot
of what Degrassi stood for as far as acceptance and progressiveness: It
showed that Maya met a man who was willing to accept her for who she
was. And of course every child is a blessing, but I can't think of
anyone who would want their child to have a life any more difficult than
it has to be. Everyone wants their children to be healthy and able, and
it's ignorant and selfish to say otherwise. It isn't a negative thing
to have a disabled child, if it happens that way, but if you have the
opportunity to lessen the chances of that happening, you would take it.
Parents who go ahead and get pregnant even when there is a huge chance
of the child having major birth defects (based on genetic tests) are
selfish people. And I am not discriminating against anyone, either. No
one should be sterilized against their will, but I think people need to
make responsible choices. And that goes for everyone, disabled or
otherwise.

That's about all I have. Ravi, I hope I didn't offend you any further.
If I did, I am sorry, but those are my true feelings. Take them as they
are and don't take the easy way out by assuming I am a prejudiced
person. Thanks.

Angie
*Mark* Thanks for your comments.
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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 22:16:53 -0500 (CDT)
From: sheryl
To: webmaster@degrassi.org
Subject: Re: "Mary-Beth Furneaux"

Ready or Not was created in a time when there were not many shows on air
that were aimed towards a female audience. It was created during the time
of The Wonder Years and Fresh Prince of Bel Air that were aimed towards
males. They had to make the show different from Degrassi so it would not
always be compared to Degrassi, knowing that it would be hard to live up
to it. There was enough shows for a male audience that the producers knew
that they had to aim towards a younger female audience.

> My husband and I both tune in (Tuesdays on Global I think...) and it's been
> lumped with the horrid "Dawson's Creek" (American Degrassi too-slick,
> too-hip wannabe).

I find Dawson's Creek a very entertaining show. It could be because I am
just at few years older than the characters so I can still remember what
it was like in high school. You have to admit that Dawson's Creek is
nowhere nearly as slick and wannabe as Beverly Hills. All of my friends
who grew up relating their lives to the Degrassi characters are now
addicted to Dawson's Creek. Sure, it isn't Degrassi but it would be hard
to make a show like it these days. I think that it does eactly what you
complained Ready or Not didn't do. It explores both the male and female
characters in the show and has a very large audience of both males and
females.

> I am the Degrassi queen of the household.

If you wait around for a show to come out like Degrassi was you are going
to wait a long long long time because nothing will ever be the same as
it. i know everybody here loves Degrassi (I am the biggest Degrassi fan I
know) but we can't wait around forever for a "New Degrassi" to emerge we
just have to live with the few episodes we have.

Just a little note: Tim from Degrassi was in Ready or Not as one of the
people in Busy's band (I think they might have called him Liz. Another
person in the band was Johnny from the Canadian show Catwalk.

Sheryl
*Mark* Thanks Sheryl for writing.
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Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 15:23:11 -0500
From: Rachel Cherwinski
To: webmaster@degrassi.org
Subject: degrassi quotes

I'm sure you have this one because it is said at least 5 or 6 times in
one episode:

Joey: "Trust me" or "You can trust me"
Joey: "Have I ever lied to you?"
Wheels: "It's not my fault"
Arthur and Yick: "What a broomhead"
Kathleen in reference to Caitlan: "little miss Perfection"
Dwayne in refrence to Joey: "Cockroach"
Mr.Raditch in reference to Yick: "Yu the disorganized"
Joey in reference to getting Caitlin to date him: "I don't wanna screw
up this time"
Joey in reference to Caitlin: "I really like her."
*Mark* Thanks Rachel for your quotes. I will add them to my quotes page as soon as I can, and give you credit.
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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:30:26 -0400 (EDT)
To: post@degrassi.org
From: KaTe ViNcE
Subject: Hey..

I'm really new to the whole "Degrassi Scene" (if you will).... I was
wondering.. Does anyone know a channel in the NY area that shows reruns
regularly???

Thanks...

-KATE
*Mark* Check out previous Degrassi Digest issues at http://www.degrassi.org/Degrassi-Digest/archive.htm
Anyone in the NY area, please post. Thanks
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To: post@degrassi.org
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 00:15:24 -0700
From: "Madaline Hunter"
Subject: Just out of curiosity

Do Mark Polger and Natalie Earl have to obtain special permission to use the words "Degrassi" in their domain URLs. Also do you guys get paid for doing this? What are the qualifications to join the Degrassi Web Ring?

*Mark* Natalie or myself do not get paid for our websites. I design both of them, and I do not get paid for the work, as they end in "org"
The mailing list, and webring are created by me. The only legal issue that I cannot infringe on is to distribute copywritten material to subscribers.

These websites are non-profit organizations. When one buys a domain name from the Inter-Nic, then gets a company to host
their virtual (or physical) domain, they can purchase any name they want.

The Degrassi Webring was created by me. The point of the Webring is to have all Degrassi related Websites together in a ring-like order, so fans can get to them easier.
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From: Pat
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 00:39:26 EDT
To: webmaster@degrassi.org
Subject: maya

mark,
i have heard maya say that on the "all nighter" episode.

Pat
*Mark* Thanks everyone for the flood of responses.
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Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 22:33:07 -0700
From: Papool Chaudhari
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Degrassi and Dawson's Creek

Hey everyone again. One fellow fan commented on Dawson's Creek, a hit American
show on the WB network. My fellow fan called it horrid, a too hip Degrassi
wannabe.

Although Degrassi is my favorite show of all time, I don't think it is fair to
call Dawson's Creek a Degrassi wannabe. Degrassi was a Canadian show for
Canadians, while us foreigners (Americans) can relate to the show almost every
way. Dawson's Creek is an American show for American viewers. Growing up in
America I can relate to Dawson's Creek. It is easy to say Dawson's Creek is
unrealistic, but I know many people, who I thought would love Degrassi, hated
it. I'm talking of my fellow Americans of course. They found that in almost
every episode, there was big problem. Pregnancy, abortion, AIDS, domestic
violence, lukemeia. I told them the show was based on life in school, but they
didn't see it that way.

I first thought Degrassi aired on Canada's version of public TV, if it exists.
I was shocked to find out it was a CBC show, and was #1 in Canada. I guarentee
you Degrassi wouldn't have made the Top 100 in America if it aired on on
primetime Network television.

Yes, I respect all your opinions. I like Dawson's Creek, some of you hate it.
I'm not trying to tell you to like it in any way. But calling it a bad
Degrassi wannabe just isn't right. I mean, after all, it is not trying to copy
Degrassi, like 90210 did. It's a different kind of show altogether. It is like
saying Home Improvement is a wannabe Brady Bunch. Why? Because Brady Bunch was
the pioneer of the family shows, and Home Improvement is a ripoff.(See how
ridiculous this becomes?) You can't compare every teenage show with Degrassi,
especially American shows. Maybe 90210 because it was supposed to be Fox's
American Degrassi, but that's about it. I just thought I had to set the record
straight. I don't wanna start a fight, just a discussion. Thanks!

*Mark* Thanks for your opinions on Dawson's Creek. I heard the show revolved too much around sex. I think that although most shows are copies of each other (or re-combinants of each other), each TV show has its own flavour and style. Thanks for pointing out some points about Dawson's Creek.
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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 01:21:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ratbat
Subject: Re: The Degrassi Digest #28 - Maya and children
To: Mark Aaron Polger post@degrassi.org

I do indeed remember Maya's commments about children, and it is indeed
from THE ALL-NIGHTER. I think someone even offers a comment right
before Maya's line that they thought that she couldn't have sex or
children (I'm not sure, but I seem to remember the line at least
inferred it), and Maya goes onto tell us all that she can.

Ratbat
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To: post@degrassi.org
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 17:54:20 -0400
Subject: Maya
From: (Margaret A Cassidy)

Just wanted to confirm what "evol" posted to the last digest - in "The
All-Nighter", Maya does say that she has spina-bifida. I'm also in the
States, so I saw the episodes, apparently uncut, on PBS.

Question - isn't it a little weird that the episodes had to be cut in
Canada? The show was produced there - why make the episodes too long for
commercial television? It would make sense only if the shows were
produced specifically for non-commercial PBS, and then the Canadian
commercial television picked them up, but I thought they were originally
produced for the CBC. Just wondering. I'm glad to know I've been able
to see the uncut versions.
*Mark* Sorry but I see the episodes with commercials. CBC has to have commercials, so the shows can be funded by the advertisers. It was like when Skippy Peanut Butter and Cleartech Zit Cream were shown on Degrassi, it was CBC making a deal to advertise the merchandise DIRECTLY on the show. This would give PWT (Playing With Time) a better deal when they bought airtime from CBC. PBS does not need commercials, because viewers make donations, and that keeps the program running.
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From: "Olivia Mongard"
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Ready Or Not
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 12:09:57 -0700

Hey everyone!
I know this kinda has nothing to do with Degrassi, but I would just like to say that I love watching Ready or Not and it still can be seen (in BC that is) on Global TV @ 2:00 and 8:00 Pacific Time. And to make this post more Degrassi related, don't you think that the girl who played Caitlin on Degrassi looks alot like Sarah McLachlan, but thats just my opinion. Bye !
Olivia

*Mark* Well both are Canadian and they both sing, but Sarah is 30 years old, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She lived in Vancouver, B.C. and is now married to her drummer Ash Sood. Stacie Mistysyn is born July 23rd,1972, I think. She grew up in Toronto, and is now in the United States, (California I have heard) pursuing an acting career. Thanks for mentioning the informatiom about Ready or Not.
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From: "Paige Daydream" <paige@degrassi.org>
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Degrassi 2005
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 15:26:07 PDT

Guys, what's up? Has no one been inspired to write characters for
Degrassi 2005? I'm really getting worried that i might have to take the
site off the net, cuz no one is/has responded.

I'll give it 2 more weeks, or else it'll go somewhere dumb.
We need your help to make an interesting new Degrassi 2005- written
totally by you, the viewer/readed/fan!

BTW- if anyone here is wondering the difference between my Degrassi
2005, and Oren's the fact is, the scripts on my site will be written by
YOU! So, there will be more of a variety of stories and stuff. But,
they can't be written until we have characters.

So, please send your character idea's to mee! paige@degrassi.org (props go to
http://www.degrassi.org for the e-mail)

Remember, if there is no feedback by July 16th, then the site will be
closed down. If there is something wrong with my site, and/or you
think it's stupid, please e-mail me and tell mee. ( paige@degrassi.org
)
Thanks. I really wanna know why I'm not getting any replies.
~Paige
*Mark* To all subscribers: please refer to the last post of DD#29 to see more information about Paige's site.
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To: webmaster@degrassi.org
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 1998 21:06:58 -0700
Subject: Ready or Not on US Networks?
From: (jay cheung)

Is Ready or Not on any TV stations in the United States currently .

thanks

jay
*Mark* If it were on in US networks, then it can only be seen on private cable networks, not mahor networks like NBC, ABC, or CBS. This is a general rule. Check out Nickelodeon, Showtime, Life, A&E, and The Family Channel.
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From: "Princess Paige"
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Degrassi 2005-write your own
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 22:57:50 -0400

****Hello Degrassi Fans!*****
Wouldn't you like to write your own stories about Degrassi, and make up
your own characters? Then head on over to
http://www.gurlpages.com/tv/princesspaige to write about a new set of
characters.... friends of Emma, Spike's Daughter!

I am aware that there IS another site like this... the "original" Degrassi
2005... but this isn't a copy, it's simply an addition to that Degrassi
section! (And, I (PrincessPaige) am the one who made the idea for
Degrassi 2005, so I'm NOT copying Oren's site at all!)

So please come on down to http://www.gurlpages.com/tv/princesspaige and
help to build a new Degrassi! Without your help, the site will close, and a
new generation of Degrassi will be lost! All because you are tooo lazy to
contribute a little bit of a script, or a small character profile!
I, PrincessPaige, will even make it easy for you.

STEP ONE- think up a cool character (you can even base it on yourself, or
friends!)
STEP TWO- make a small write up, and send the profile to:
paige@degrassi.org (props to www.degrassi.org for the e-mail)
STEP THREE- Visit http://www.gurlpages.com/tv/princesspaige in 3 days or
so, and see your character ONLINE!
*Or*, use this easy form, to make up a character!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME-
SEX-
EYE COLOUR-
HAIR COLOUR-
PHYSICAL DISCRIPTION-
EMOTIONAL DESCRIPTION-
A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER-
POSSIBLE THINGS TO HAPPEN TO THEM-
OTHER-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Voila, send that into paige@degrassi.org and then, you'll have your
very own character on-line!
Remember, once we have enough characters to make a story with, the scripts
will be made!
WOW! IT'S ALL SO EASY!
So, keep the new Degrassi Generation alive, and contribute to
http://www.gurlpages.com/tv/princesspaige
Thanx!
~PrincessPaige
*Mark* Good luck...I hope people respond.
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End of Degrassi Digest #29---I'm leaving today to Ottawa to watch the Canada Day's fireworks.
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Degrassi World #10- The Degrassi Web Masters Produce Degrassi - The Next Generation.
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In the year 2001, the Degrassi Web Masters: Natalie, Mark, AJ, David, Oren, Paige, Kim, and Sharon all move to Toronto and form a production company called Playing With Fire. They buy the legal rights to the Degrassi series and develop a sequel called Degrassi - The Next Generation. The show is aired on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and WGBH Boston. Alanis Morissette sings the theme song, a cover version of Wendy Watson's "Wake Up
In the Morning . . ." The Official Degrassi - The Next Generation Website is very high tech and interactive.

Degrassi - The Next Generation is strongly based on the original series, yet modernized to reflect current trends and social issues. Playing With Fire duplicates the exact set locations: Vincent Massey, Centennial College, Degrassi Grocery, etc. The parents and teachers are played by the original cast members. Like the original series, there is a huge repertory consisting of "real kids". However the dominate characters are Emma (Spike's daughter), Christian (Tessa and Alex's son), Sabrina (Joey and Caitlin' daughter), Shawn (Simon and Alexa's son), Bethany (Michelle and BLT's daughter), and the twins Justin and Jacob (Heather and Wheels' sons).

The pilot episode is entitled " A Fresh Start" and it takes place at the Degrassi Junior High grade 7 orientation. The kids try to act as cool as possible with their parents sitting right next to them in the bleachers. One by one, the camera zooms in on each character and we can hear the kids
thinking to themselves. Emma feels uncomfortable because she is the only girl with a nose ring, black lipstick, and knee high go-go boots. Christian, the troublemaker, is premeditating how he is going to set off the fire alarm as a prank. Sabrina is dreaming about getting the lead solo in
the dance recital. Justin and Jacob have smuggled in a Sega Game Gear. Shawn is admiring himself with a pocket mirror and scanning the room for potential girlfriends.

Playing With Fire holds an office party to celebrate their television debut. However on a low budget, all they can afford is chips and dip and music courtesy of a borrowed C.D. player. However the celebration is joyous. After ten months of chaos, fractured nerves, and non-existent sleep their vision is finally realized. They anticipate infinite work and trauma ahead. But for now they crash on the couch and bask in the glory that is Degrassi.
THE END
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