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The Degrassi Digest # 41 September 20th, 1998 --My B-day in 5 days
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NEWS: Happy New Year Jewish subscribers! I am in the process of taping School's Out for you. Please be patient. I am still accepting new tapes. Send them directly to my home address with sufficient postage.
Check out Degrassi World Fan Fiction #22 after this week's posts, written by Natalie Earl.
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I N S I D E :

SCHOOL'S OUT and character using
Revisitations....
comments
Re: Degrassi Digest #40
degrassi's technical qualities
(No Subject)
the scare tactic...(in response to the sex=pregnancy question)
Re: Degrassi Digest #39
(No Subject)
Regarding the fate of Stephanie
Snake
Re: Degrassi News September 14th, 1998
Nick and Tabby
Dipps/Bronco in Levi's commercial ?
Maureen Mckay
Australian Schools out tapes
Degrassi in Australia
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Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 08:19:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ratbat
Subject: SCHOOL'S OUT and character using
To: post@degrassi.org

I think SCHOOL'S OUT really did have to concentrate on just a handful of characters. I mean, it was only what? Under two hours long? If everyone had been given equal footing, they would have only had a few minutes each, or the film would have lasted, like, *ages*! :) It also does seem to me - but this could just be my memory playing tricks that as DEGRASSI HIGH neared the end of its life, that it was starting to 'narrow its field' with respects to prominent characters, so if that's troo, it makes a lot of sense that the final film could only handle a handful (try sayin' *that* three times fast). And of course my tuppence on Joey's cheating: Yup, he was bad, and he was dumb for it. (Although it was *really* funny when he was rubbing it into the other Zits how much sex he was having and they were just bored of it.) Curious too that Tessa - previously all but an extra in the scheme of things made it up to 'star status' to be the object of Joey's infidelity. I guess any other character was too much part of our in crowd' to really make it work, even if it would have given them more air time - it wouldn't have been nice to turn them into a plot device. (Caitlin screaming, 'You were f_cking Bartholemew Bond?!' Hmm, perhaps not.) Ratbat (Who'll cling forever to her 'Wheels and Spike - Secret Siblings' silly theory.)
*Mark* I guess it is true that the demand was really for the popular characters...When it comes down to it, viewers do not want to know what has become of the extras in the show...I do not know why Kirsten Bourne (Tessa) got such a large role in the film.
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Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 08:25:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ratbat
Subject: Revisitations....
To: post@degrassi.org

Was it just me (or just my memory) or was there a very strong tendency to 'revisit' plot ideas or themes or issues between JUNIOR and HIGH? Only, of course, in HIGH, it would be much more...full on,I suppose ye'd say. The suicide example is the one that most readily springs to mind. In an episode of DJH, Stephanie wanders around being depressed for an episode, and there's some suicide conversations as well. That was The Suicide Episode. Then, later on in DH, the new Suicide Episode comes up, this time illustrating it as Claude actually does take his own life (in one of the best story arcs the series ever did). Did anyone else notice this with other themes, or is my mind playing its tricks again? Ratbat (They never did transgendered students as an issue either...hmm...covered nigh everything else, mind you)

*Mark* I guess some of the plots were re-visited from a different perspective, like Stephanie in season 2, being depressed and considering suicide as a cry for help and attention, and Claude, doing it for more deep rooted reasons. (also for attention, pity, etc...)
They did not touch on many topics, and transgendered students was one of the topics discussed....These days you can discuss anything...There are a larger array of adolescent problems that Degrassi did not discuss, (youth gangs, rave culture, hard drugs, prostitution, murder, rape)
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Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 11:39:25 -0500 (CDT)
From: sheryl
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: comments

shauna- i think the the reason that the degrassi characters got pregnant after having sex is because this was an education show and they tried to discourage sex instead of encourage it.

cheryl- your high school sounds a lot like my high school. everything you said happened in your high school happened in my high school.

did anybody notice that susie is also at alexa and simon's wedding?

sheryl

*Mark* I never saw Susie...I will look out for her.
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Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 12:56:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Vivian Bejerman
To: Mark Aaron Polger <post@degrassi.org>
Subject: Re: Degrassi Digest #40

hi Mark
i liked the digest..i guess u feel good about the comment from the guy who liked you degrassi pilgrimage!
Love, Vivian

*Mark* :-) Thanks Viv!! I would love to make a meeting for my next trip to Toronto to meet all Toronto Degrassi fans. We can get together and go see all the landmarks. We can get to know each other and have a good day..Maybe go for lunch, or check out some more Degrassi Landmarks..
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From: "Bobi !"
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: degrassi's technical qualities
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 11:00:09 PDT

i was pleased to see that andrew sutcliffe also noticed that degrassi used various camera angles to compliment what they had to work with. though there may have been some techinical glitches, the show was pretty good for a canadian show in that time period. they had great lighting, sound and editing qualities that many shows didn't. Northwood was a bit later on you have to remember, when some newer technology was kicking around, which might contribute some to the difference in quality, but degrassi's script was far superior to that of Northwood, just look how we all remember the tiniest of details...*smiles*
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From: "Christy Hook"
To: <post@degrassi.org>
Subject:
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 15:23:18 -0600

Just so you know, I'm absolutely positive that Neve was in the Kids of Degrassi Street as an extra. I read an interview with some of the actors and they mentioned that she was an extra.

Last week:

Hi, I just wanted to respond to the person who said they were watching
Degrassi Jr High to find Neve Campbell. She was never an extra in DJH she
was only an extra on the Kids of Degrassi Street.
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Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 17:56:55 EDT
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: the scare tactic...(in response to the sex=pregnancy question)
From: Annie

personally i think that the script writers on degrassi were far too heavily against the whole teen sex thing. --they all end up pregnant. or become thoroughly EMBARASSED by someone at the shoppers drug mart. eg wheels and steph k's mom, and joey and the price check and the whole line up of elderly people giving him the eye!! i dont know about all of that. in degrassi it seems that sex is never in a loving relationship (were simon and alexa sleeping together??) it is always in some guilty (spike and that shane), or pressured (erica and her summer fling) relationship. To me it seems that none of the girls at degrassi were too interested in sex, which i find kind of hard to believe. sure they are all listening to dr. sally, but it is only the guys who are shown with some sexual drive at all-- remember how tabi and that other guy didnt believe that duane scored with penny. in general, i think girls' character on degrassi never had a bad side.( and stealing some bowz or smoking cigarettes does not count!!) sure that one scrap between one of the twins and liz, but come on... i guess i will just have to resort to fan fiction for that one. (the outsiders one made me laugh.)

annie
*Mark* I guess the show stereotyped the genders...The writer of Degrassi was an adult and he wrote from an adult perspective, even though the actors supposedly contributed to his writing.
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From: "Barry Yau"
To: post@degrassi.org
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 08:15:36 +0000
Subject: Re: Degrassi Digest #39

chrystie wolfrey wrote:

> Another thing that might interest you is that there is a true Hard core
> Degrassi fan named Mike Park. He is in numerous bands and tours
> throughout the world. He has the record label Asian Man Records. On a
> couple of his CD's he has a song called "I'm in Love With a Girl Named
> Spike". It's about how he loves Spike and about her character on Degrassi
> High. It's an awesome song, i might be able to send you a tape of it so
> you can post it on the net. It can be found on a Skankin Pickle CD and on
> The Bruce Lee Band CD (it's a hidden track on that cd). But this guy mike
> is soo into Degrassi, it's too cool. I was on his tour bus last year, and
> that's when I saw School's Out. He has all the Degrassi tapes (even the
> 'Degrassi Bloopers' and 'Degrassi Talks'). He hangs out with Spike and
> other characters from the show (i.e. LIZ). Maybe if you asked him, he
> could put in a little fan fiction!! I'm sure he has a lot of info to
> share!!

Where can I get my hands on a Degrassi Bloopers tape? Is it available for general sale?

Barry

*Mark* There is no Degrassi bloopers tape, just a short video that the actors made, which is not Bloopers, but sort of like a video montage of DJH/DH and interviews. It is not for general sale.
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To: post@degrassi.org
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 18:28:21 -0700
From: "Samantha "dancer" Mehra"
Subject: (No Subject)

My name is sam and I would like to know what the characters of degrassi are doig now. I also want to clarify if the guy who played joey was on a canadian flop called "Liberty Street". Thanks,

Sam...
*Mark* Pat Mastroianni did play in Liberty Street. I think the show lasted 2 years. Check out http://www.degrassi-junior-high.org
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Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 00:16:07 -0700
From: Papool Chaudhari
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Regarding the fate of Stephanie

Hey everybody...there was a post last week asking about Stephanie and somebody said that her mom won the lottery and they moved away. I don't think this is accurate. This is what I remember:

At the end of the 2nd Term (Season) of DJH, the 8th graders (Grade 8's) learn they will have Grade 9 at DJH, so Steph decides that she will go to Borden High School instead of staying in junior high, so she leaves, and is thus not in the 3rd and final season of DJH.

I don't recall Susie's situation, but I think Rick is placed in a boarding school or something to that extent, but I cannot be positive. Susie and Rick aren't characters that really grabbed my attention at all, even though they both had episodes centered around them (Rick and the abuse he gets; "He's Back" when Mr. Colby comes on to Susie and Lucy warns her about it)

*Mark* Actually Stephanie says at the end of Season 2, "I'm not coming back here, I am going to a real high school."
I do not know why Susie or Rick left, but Voula moved to the suburbs after Season 1, and changed schools.
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From: "Wendy Furtenbacher"
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Snake
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 16:34:40 PDT

Hi Mark, Snake was called Snake, I think because he is tall and skinny, long like a snake. Wendy :)
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From: (Zee 54)
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 23:27:25 -0400 (EDT)
To: mark@degrassi.org (Degrassi Digest)
Subject: Re: Degrassi News September 14th, 1998

gasp! the drive-in movie festival sounds like sooo much fun!!! i live in New Jersey - i'm like so bummed!! say hi to Pat for us here in the states! i know, i know... "American Woman stay away from me-e!" (Canada's Guess Who) hahaha!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Degrassi site! Joey Jeremiah 4ever!

*Mark* If anyone went to the show, please post comments to the Digest.
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To: post@degrassi.org
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 20:25:01 -0700
From: "Madaline Hunter"
Subject: Nick and Tabby

Were Nick and Tabby an established couple? I thought I remembered an episode where they were kissing in front of Kathleen's locker. But in another episode Allison asks Nick to be her date to the semi formal.

*Mark* no, they were not, but in one of the first episodes of Degrassi High 4th season, they were kissing heavily, and i guess it may have been a plot idea, but it never went ahead, because they were always together with Dwayne as friends and they were not romantic after that.
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Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 14:31:05 -0700
From: Erin Baribeau
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Dipps/Bronco in Levi's commercial ?

I have a few questions.
First, I have just started to really ask myself a question after seeing each episode so many times - Tabi always had a box of Granola Dipps bars, and there was a Dipps poster up in the caf of degrassi. And in one episode Caitlin had them in the cupboard of her kitchen. Now, I remember Dipps granola bars being new and popular back then, but why were they so featured on that show ? I'm starting to guess that maybe it's all the cast ever ate. Another question, I don't know for sure - but in that new Levi's jeans commercial (the one where the 2 70's hipsters realize that after hitting the record player with her butt, it skipped and made a kewl new sound hip hop) please stay with me, at the end there's this guy who notices the sound and he looks a whole lot like Bronco would now. I was just wondering if anyone knows what I'm talking about. If you see this commercial (heavily featured on Muchmusic) look out for it. Thanks!

-Erin
*Mark* I think that when advertisers pay the network to advertise during commercial time, if the show puts their ads, like ClearTech, Granola Dipps, and Skippy Peanut Butter, Degrassi got a deal because it may have promised the network (who sells commercial time to the advertisers)....so Degrassi may have paid less for airing the show, because it advertised the commercial on the show. I do not think the cast necessarily ate the products they advertised, it was like a deal that the advertisers benefitted (because of more exposure of the product), or CBC may have encourgared PWT (Playing With Time) to advertise the product so they would be charged less for airing the show...Either way, the network (CBC) still gets the money...

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From: "Ryan Burger"
To: <post@degrassi.org>
Subject: Maureen Mckay
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 14:38:21 +1000

To whom this may concern,
i have writen to serval degrassi junior high website and e-mailed the creators of the sites asking about Maureen Mckay (aka Michelle). One of them recommonended you and so now I ask you this. What has happened to Maureen Mckay, what films is she in, how is her acting career going, what is she doing these days and what has been happening after her degrassi high days. if you have any info about Maureen Mckay, i would really appreciate it if you could send me the info.
Thank You,
Ryan Burger.
*Mark* Maureen is married, and is a lawyer in Toronto. I think it may be difficult to locate her for an interview because she may have changed her last name. Perhaps Natalie Earl and I can discuss the various ways in order to find her and maybe Natalie can conduct an interview...Check out http://www.degrassi-junior-high.org for updates.
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Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 14:47:29 +1000
From: Jenelle Cleary
To: post@degrassi.org
Subject: Australian Schools out tapes
Hi there!

I am very interested in getting hold of the School's out tape that was in Australia. So I guess this applies moreso to Andrew Sutcliffe because I have had no luck in getting it from ABC shops in Melbourne anywhere! So I guess Andrew if you are interested in selling one of your 5 copies I would be very interested. Thanks heaps and keep enjoying the list!!

Jenelle
*Mark* Please e-mail Andrew privately at asutc@mpx.com.au
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From: " Jeannine Thwaite"
To: <post@degrassi.org>
Subject: Degrassi in Australia
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 08:45:06 +1100

This is to 'ANDREW SUTCLIFFE' from Australia: Are you selling your copies of 'Schools Out'?, because I'll buy one if they're cheap. My friends and I are having a sort of Degrassi Revival thing at the moment and we've got a petition going to get the ABC to run DJH and DH again. If you care, you could do the same. For a petition to be listened to you have to have 500 to 1000 signatures. And a question to Mark, was Degrassi Kids a show about the people in DJH and DH, because never watched it.
Jeannine
*Mark* Please e-mail Andrew privately at asutc@mpx.com.au
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DEGRASSI WORLD #22: Melanie takes Arthur for granted
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It was quite unexpected that Melanie and Arthur became a couple at Degrassi University because they never liked each other at Degrassi High. Back then Melanie was too obsessed with Snake and Arthur was too obsessed with Caitlin (he will never forget the kiss she gave him on the cheek). But now that Caitlin and Snake were an official couple, Melanie and Arthur decided it was time to date other people--so they found each other. Melanie was very controlling of the relationship. She wanted Arthur to shed his nerdy image so she made him work out at the gym and get a trendy new wardrobe. Arthur was basically her slave and her sugar daddy (money resource). Melanie dated Arthur for comfort and convenience. She liked driving his new BMW and charging up his credit cards. Arthur didn't mind doing Melanie's homework assignments and cleaning her dorm room, which she shared with Kathleen. Everybody said that they were an adorable couple but Melanie was just using Arthur until Snake finally broke up with Caitlin. Arthur truly loved Melanie; she was his first serious girlfriend. He could not believe that such a beautiful, enchanting woman would go out with him. Arthur's friend Yick was very envious, he begged Arthur to tell him every detail about their dates. After nine months had passed Yick asked Arthur if they had slept together yet. Arthur said no, that he respected Melanie too much too pressure her before she was ready. Yick said that now that they were twenty years old, and waited nine months, they had reached the "acceptability point". Arthur agreed. Arthur confessed to Melanie that he wanted to be intimate with her. Neither of them were experienced so he thought it would be romantic if their first time was with each other. Arthur had a fairy tale evening in mind but he wanted Melanie's approval before he made any plans. Melanie wanted her first time to be with Snake but she was afraid to lose Arthur if she did not please him. Melanie agreed. Arthur spared no detail or expense for that magical weekend in New York City. He treated Melanie to a Broadway play and reserved a luxury suite at a five star hotel. The inside of their room was filled with long stem roses: white, red, pink, and even blue! Melanie broke into tears because she truly felt like a princess. She realized that Arthur appreciated her and felt bad for abusing him. She broke down and confessed everything to him. Arthur admitted that he was wise to her manipulation but he loved her anyway. The next morning Arthur woke up to Melanie snuggling him. He never felt closer to anybody in his life. The end.

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Good luck to the lucky people who get to buy Andrew's copies of School's Out, end of issue #41 ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v
Back Issues of Degrassi Digest are archived at
http://www.degrassi.org/Features/Degrassi-Digest/archive.htm
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