A New Start (Degrassi High)

Last updated

"A New Start"
Degrassi High episodes
DH-ANewStart.jpg
A CBC promotional poster for A New Start
Episode nos.Season 1
Episodes 1-2
Directed by Kit Hood
Written by Yan Moore
Cinematography byPhillip Earnshaw
Editing byRobert de Lint
Production code101-102
Original air dateNovember 6, 1989 (1989-11-06)
Episode chronology
← Previous
—		Next →
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"
List of episodes

"A New Start" is the two-part premiere episode of the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi High . It aired on CBC in its hour-long form on 6 November 1989, and on PBS in the United States on 13 January 1990. [1] The episode was written by Yan Moore and directed by Kit Hood. It is the first of three episodes of Degrassi that depict abortion, followed by 2003's "Accidents Will Happen" from Degrassi: The Next Generation and 2017's "#IRegretNothing" from Degrassi: Next Class .

Contents

In the episode, which revisits the cast of Degrassi Junior High as they begin high school, Erica Farrell (Angela Deiseach) discovers she is pregnant following a summer romance and contemplates an abortion, and her anti-abortion twin sister Heather (Maureen Deiseach) becomes torn on supporting her. In the sub-plot, Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni), Archie "Snake" Simpson (Stefan Brogren) and Derek "Wheels" Wheeler (Neil Hope) are hazed one-by-one by Joey's former enemy Dwayne Myers (Darrin Brown) and his cronies. The episode was made in reaction to the abortion debate of the late 1980s. The writers of Degrassi had thought of making an episode on abortion as early as Degrassi Junior High but were unsure about it due to the polarisation around the topic. Angela Deiseach extensively prepared for the episode, including visiting a real abortion clinic where she was heckled and called a "whore".

The episode aired to a largely positive reception for its even-handed and direct portrayal of the abortion debate, and Angela Deiseach's performance as Erica was singled out for praise by some critics. Several newspapers called Degrassi High "gutsy" in tackling the subject matter and not "copping out", and the episode generated commentary in the Canadian media. However, in the United States, PBS removed the final scene in which Erica and Heather fight through a crowd of anti-abortion picketers; a decision which drew pushback from the showrunners and led to Hood's name being removed from the credits at his request.

Plot

Part one

While getting prepared for their first day at Degrassi High School, Erica Farrell (Angela Deiseach) suddenly becomes sick and runs into a bathroom to vomit as her sister Heather (Maureen Deiseach) expresses her excitement at the new school. At Degrassi High, many of the students from junior high school reunite with each other. As Erica and Heather approach the school, they are met by Christine "Spike" Nelson (Amanda Stepto) and Liz O'Rourke (Cathy Keenan), the former of who is now taking her daughter Emma to a daycare nearby the high school. Although Heather is excited to see them, Erica looks on, emotionless. In school, Grade 10 students Dwayne Myers (Darrin Brown) and his friends Tabi (Michelle Johnson-Murray) and Nick (George Chaker) express their dismay at the influx of the younger students and they decide that "initiation" should be brought back "unofficially". Erica and Heather meet up with Lucy Fernandez (Anais Granofsky) and L.D. (Amanda Cook), where Heather tells them that Erica had a romance over the summer; a camp counselor named Jason. Erica, not amused, says Jason was a jerk and leaves. Heather explains that the two had a fight and broke up before they left the camp and then tells them that Erica lost her virginity to him, despite having only known him for two months. After Joey, Snake and Wheels meet their junior high teacher Ms. Avery (Michelle Goodeve), Dwayne bumps into Joey and then blames him, Snake and Wheels for burning down the school and explains his plans to initiate the three of them despite the school having banned initiation. After noticing Erica's behavior at school, she consoles her back at home and the two decide to buy a pregnancy test. Back at school, Snake is targeted in the initiation He later returns to Joey and Wheels covered in white powder as Joey and Wheels run away. As the twins wait for the pregnancy tests, Erica suggests having an abortion, which Heather disagrees with, telling her abortion is wrong. The results come back and she tests negative. Later at school, Erica says her period is still late and decides to buy another pregnancy test which Heather agrees with. In the halls, Wheels is next for initiation and returns to Joey and Snake in the cafeteria covered in shaving cream. Snake and Wheels tease Joey, who is next. Back at home, Erica awaits her test results.

Part two

Her results return and Heather jokes she can finally use the washroom. When she is out of sight, Erica appears to be stunned, implying that the test came back positive. Back at the school, Erica and Heather meet Spike and Liz again. Erica asks Spike how horrible it was being pregnant, which Heather feels is an offhand question. Spike explains that she felt like an outcast and had no social life but that she still loved Emma. In communications class, Erica sparks a class debate about abortion, which Spike refuses to participate in, feeling that because it was wrong for her, it did not mean it was wrong in general. Later on, Erica goes to an abortion clinic, where she is swarmed by anti-abortion protesters. She is led inside the clinic by a worker, who explains the procedure to her. Joey continues to hide from the initiation. At home, Erica reveals she lied to Heather about the results of the second test, that she had a third done at the clinic and that she's made an appointment for an abortion. Heather vehemently disagrees and despite Erica pleading her to come with her, a panicked Heather refuses. Joey is later caught and undergoes initiation; while he is being dragged up a ramp while rolling a banana under his nose, the three leave, just as Joey is approached by Mr. Raditch (Dan Woods), who tells Jeremiah that he is the new vice principal, and takes him to his office for a "little chat". After class, Heather pulls Spike aside and asks her if she'd ever thought about having an abortion. Spike says that she did and that she felt it was wrong to have one but clarifies that it was her choice and Erica (who Heather doesn't name) feels it is right for her. Spike tells Heather: "Y'know, it's great to have high ideals and stuff but when you're in that situation, right and wrong, they can get really complicated." Back at the clinic, protesters are still circling outside. This time, Heather is with Erica and the two go together, where they are swarmed (and in Erica's case the second time) by the protesters. As they make it to the top of the stairs, one protester holds up a plastic fetus and the two are led inside by the woman.

Cast

Credited in order of original broadcast: [2]

Production and broadcast

Prior to "A New Start", Degrassi's writers had been reluctant to deal with abortion due to the polarisation surrounding it. [3] An episode on abortion had been considered as early as Christine "Spike" Nelson's pregnancy in Degrassi Junior High , [4] but head writer Yan Moore feared the reaction to such a storyline and felt that "there was no way we could possibly do it". [3] As the cast matured and the producers had done further research, Moore changed his mind, and creators Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood felt that the actors were emotionally mature enough to handle the topic. They selected twin sisters Erica and Heather Farrell (Angela and Maureen Deiseach), as it was felt that they would be perfect for portraying both sides of the debate. [3] [4]

Schuyler felt it was appropriate to deal with abortion at the beginning of the season as they could explore the effects of the situation throughout the subsequent episodes; in 1989, she told the Toronto Star; "The issue is not over with in this show. There are three or four subplots which show the angst isn't over with. You just can't put something like this at the end of your season - well, you could but I don't think it would be responsible. The issue doesn't stop and start in an hour." [4] During the pre-production acting workshops, held before the filming of each season, the actors were instructed to read, with conviction, monologues espousing views on both sides of the abortion debate. [4] Several actors shared the opposite viewpoint from the provided script; for instance, Cathy Keenan, who played the anti-abortion Liz O'Rourke, was pro-choice in real life, [4] with Schuyler later commenting it was a "real stretch" for the actress. [4] The polarisation was such that some actors refused to read what had been written for them. [4] Catherine Dunphy called the tension in the room during the initial readthrough "palpable". [5]

Angela Deiseach, whose character Erica has the abortion, spent weeks extensively preparing for her role in the episode. She watched a video about a teenage girl who chose abortion, which made her cry, [5] discussed the subject at length with Maureen, [5] and eventually asked to visit an abortion clinic alone. [5] There, she was recognized from the show and heckled by anti-abortion protesters. [5] At the clinic, Deiseach attended a counseling session undercover. [5] Afterwards, Deiseach went into an elevator, where she was called a "whore" by a man. [5] [6] Principal photography of "A New Start" took place in the spring of 1989 and wrapped on 24 May. [7] The Deiseach twins recalled later that the filming of the scene in which Erica has to face her pregnancy reduced Kit Hood and everybody in the room to tears. [5]

"A New Start" premiered in its hour-long form on CBC Television in Canada at 8:30pm, the same time slot as its predecessor, on 6 November 1989, [8] pre-empting the American sitcom Designing Women . [9] In Australia, the first part premiered at 5:30pm on 15 May 1991, on ABC-TV's The Afternoon Show, a day after Degrassi Junior High's series finale, "Bye-Bye, Junior High", with the second part airing the day later. [10] Reportedly, to avoid pre-broadcast controversy, the CBC asked the media not to reveal much details of the episode, including the outcome of the storyline. [11]

Reception and legacy

The episode was generally acclaimed by critics upon its original broadcast, with praise going to its even-handed and nuanced portrayal of the abortion debate. Despite their fears of a major backlash towards the episode from anti-abortion groups, negative reception was minimal; [12] Linda Schuyler said in 1990 that they "maybe had five negative letters on the abortion show". [13] Yan Moore remarked in 2012 that they only received "the occasional postcard" from a "religious guy [..] telling us we were all going to hell in a handbasket." [12] Bob Remington, writing for the Edmonton Journal , felt the episode handled the issue of abortion responsibly, portrayed every view point on the subject, and unlike other television series which addressed the same issue, there was no "miscarriage cop-out". [14] Lynne Heffley of the Los Angeles Times declared that the episode still proved Degrassi as being one of the "most gutsiest shows on television". [15]

Writing for The Toronto Star , Antonia Zerbisias acclaimed the episode, asserting that it was "a gutsy show, particularly in the light of the current political and emotional climate [of the 1980s]", and singled out the exploration of both sides of the abortion topic. Furthermore, she quipped that if the show was an American prime time show, "the whole thing would turn out to be a hilarious mix-up. We'd have lots of eye-rolling, sophomoric one-liners about burgeoning bellies and then ooops! Turns out the smart alec kid brother merely murdered the bunny for a school science project." [16] Ian Warden of The Canberra Times particularly praised actress Angela Deiseach, whom he felt "exquisitely and touchingly" portrayed Erica, and suggested that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation sell video tapes of the show in their stores, as "no high school, and perhaps no home with pubescent children rattling around it, should be without them". [10] Angela Deiseach's performance was also noted by Catherine Dunphy of the Toronto Star, who stated that when "Erica breaks down and weeps - really weeps; she is gasping for breath and her shoulders shake - it is an electric jolt. Her pain burns through even the cool medium of television." [4]

A mixed review came from The Province's Lee Bacchus. While agreeing that the episode continued to demonstrate the show's willingness to tackle contentious social issues, Bacchus felt that it simplified the issue of abortion to "the bumper-sticker level of righteous moralism" and "lofty platitudes". [8] On November 11, 1989, Starweek (the entertainment section of the Toronto Star) ran a piece in which two individuals, one anti-abortion and one pro-choice, offered their opinion on the episode. The anti-abortion viewer stated Degrassi High was "fundamentally dishonest" in its portrayal of abortion, and that Erica "has no choice at all since she is totally unwilling or unable to look her situation squarely in the face". [17] Meanwhile, the pro-choice viewer felt the episode was Degrassi's best, "poignantly presented" the emotional decisions involved and did not simplify the complexities of abortion, and that by doing so, it "did a service to compassion and tolerance". [18]

Reader's Digest Canada's Brett Walther ranked the episode and its storyline on his list of "10 Times Degrassi High Was the Best Thing on Television". [19] Like contemporary critics, Walther shared the sentiment that the abortion plotline was "sensitively and intelligently handled", and that the episode still felt "relevant more than three decades on". [19] Walther also singled out a quote from Spike: "It's great to have, you know, high ideals and stuff, but when you're in that situation, right and wrong—they can get really complicated.", [19] as being "fantastic" and "could just as easily serve as the series' manifesto". [19] He concluded that the episode didn't have a happy ending, but rather the moral of the story being that "most people are inherently decent, doing the best they can in a world that's often unfair." [19]

PBS scene edit controversy

An anti-abortion protester holds a plastic fetus up towards Erica and Heather. This scene was controversially cut from the PBS broadcast in the United States. DH-ANewStartProtesters.png
An anti-abortion protester holds a plastic fetus up towards Erica and Heather. This scene was controversially cut from the PBS broadcast in the United States.

"A New Start" was the subject of a minor spat between Degrassi High's producers and PBS when the episode made its United States debut on the network in January 1990. The final scene, in which Erica and Heather are accosted by anti-abortion picketers as they make their way up to the clinic, was removed, [23] [20] with the episode instead ending on a shot of the twins looking on before they do so. Kate Taylor of WGBH, who was also involved in the series' production, stated that the choice to cut the scenes was an "esthetic decision", [21] that had been undertaken to create a "more powerful, more poignant" ending to the story. [20] This change was condemned by director and series co-creator Kit Hood, who accused Kate Taylor of bringing a "personal bias" into the decision. [14] Hood also remarked that they had given the episode "an American ending, happy, safe but incomplete..." [14] In protest, he requested his name be taken out of the credits of the PBS version. [21]

Linda Schuyler noted that the removed portion included a shot of a picketer holding up a plastic fetus, something that was to be recalled in a later episode. [22] Edmonton Journal's Bob Remington defended PBS's decision, arguing that it did not avoid the issue "or take the easy way out" as had been insinuated, and that the producers were overreacting over something arguably minor. [14] Ivan Fecan, then the programming chief for the CBC and a supporter of Degrassi, stated that the network had no hesitations in showing the unedited episode, stating: "If you do something responsibly and well, it is fine and right to show it". [4] He also opined that the United States did not give Degrassi the respect it deserved and that they "have no idea of what a strong show they are missing". [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Degrassi Junior High</i> 1987 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi Junior High is a Canadian television series created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. The second series in the Degrassi franchise and the first to be set in a universe that has spanned multiple decades, it aired on the CBC from 18 January 1987 to 27 February 1989, and on PBS in the United States starting from September 1987. A non-union show, it was primarily produced by Playing With Time with involvement from WGBH. Although not generally acknowledged by the mainstream, it has been frequently referred to as a pioneer of the teen drama genre that prefigured later and better-known series such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek.

<i>Degrassi</i> Canadian teen drama franchise

Degrassi is a Canadian television franchise, created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler, that began with the children's series The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979. Since 1987, it has been a teen drama, with each subsequent series set in the same timeline. Outside of television, the franchise comprises companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works. Having won numerous awards, nominations, and honours across its four-decade run, Degrassi is regarded as one of Canada's greatest television achievements and one of the most internationally successful franchises in Canadian history.

<i>Degrassi High</i> 1989 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi High is a Canadian television series created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood. The third entry in the Degrassi teen drama franchise and the direct continuation of Degrassi Junior High, it aired on the CBC for two seasons from November 6, 1989 to February 28, 1991 and on PBS in the United States starting from January 13, 1990. Like its predecessor, it was produced by Playing With Time with involvement from WGBH.

<i>Degrassi Talks</i> 1992 documentary television series based on the Degrassi franchise

Degrassi Talks is a Canadian non-fiction documentary television miniseries and part of the Degrassi franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood. Running six episodes from February 29 to March 30, 1992, it featured actors from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High taking the role of journalists and conducting interviews with other teenagers and young adults across Canada on various topics addressed by the series such as abuse, substance addiction, homophobia, and teenage pregnancy. It combined candid and man-on-the-street interviews as well as relevant archive footage from the television series and on-screen statistics. Each episode was hosted by an actor whose character had some relation to the focused subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Stepto</span> Canadian actress

Amanda Felicitas Stepto is a Canadian actress who is best known for her role as Christine "Spike" Nelson in the Degrassi television franchise, which she portrayed from 1987 to 1992, and again as an adult from 2001 to 2008. Having no previous acting experience, Stepto rose to prominence as Spike in the critically and commercially successful CBC series Degrassi Junior High (1987–89) and its follow-up Degrassi High (1989–91).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Hope</span> Canadian actor (1972–2007)

Philip Neil Hope, better known and credited as Neil Hope, was a Canadian actor who was best known for portraying Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the CBC teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991, and Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986. He also reprised the role of Wheels for two episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 and 2003.

<i>Schools Out</i> (1992 film) 1992 television film based on the Degrassi franchise

School's Out is a Canadian television movie based on the Degrassi teen drama franchise created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. It aired on CBC Television on January 5, 1992, and served as a finale to the series Degrassi High and its predecessor Degrassi Junior High, which are collectively known as the Degrassi Classic era of the franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Jeremiah</span> Fictional character from the "Degrassi" franchise

Joseph "Joey" Jeremiah is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. He is portrayed by Pat Mastroianni. He debuted in the first episode of Degrassi Junior High and appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, and the first five seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation. As one of the main focus characters of the original two series, his role primarily concerns his friendship with Archie "Snake" Simpson and Derek "Wheels" Wheeler, his on-and-off romantic relationship with Caitlin Ryan, and in The Next Generation, his relationship with his stepson Craig Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Ryan (Degrassi)</span> Fictional character from the "Degrassi" franchise

Caitlin Ryan is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. Portrayed by Stacie Mistysyn, Caitlin is a main character on both Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, which chronicle her maturation from a seventh grader to a high school graduate. Mistysyn returned to play an adult Caitlin on Degrassi: The Next Generation, in which Caitlin was a recurring character. Mistysyn won a Gemini Award for her portrayal of the character in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Wheeler</span> Fictional character from the Degrassi franchise

Derek Wheeler is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. He was portrayed by Neil Hope. He appears throughout Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, with two cameo appearances in Degrassi: The Next Generation. His role throughout the former two series primarily concerns his friendship with Joey Jeremiah and Archie "Snake" Simpson, and later the death of his adoptive parents in a traffic collision with a drunk driver. Throughout the series, he plays with Joey and Snake in a band called The Zit Remedy, who are always seen performing one song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Nelson</span> Fictional character from Degrassi

Christine "Spike" Nelson is a fictional character from the Degrassi teen drama franchise. Portrayed by Amanda Stepto, Spike appeared throughout Degrassi Junior High (1987–89), Degrassi High (1989–91), and the first nine seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–10). Starting as an unnamed extra before being given a name and storyline, Spike's character largely revolves around her teenage pregnancy and motherhood.

"Mother and Child Reunion" is the two-part pilot episode of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, which premiered on October 14, 2001 on the CTV Television Network. The episode was written by story editor Aaron Martin and series co-creator/creative consultant Yan Moore, and directed by Bruce McDonald. As with the majority of Degrassi: The Next Generation episodes, "Mother and Child Reunion" takes its title from a pop song, "Mother and Child Reunion", written and performed by Paul Simon.

Accidents Will Happen (<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i>) 14th and 15th episodes of the 3rd season of Degrassi: The Next Generation

"Accidents Will Happen" is a two-part episode from the third season of the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. In Canada, the first part aired on CTV on 26 January 2004, and the second part aired on 9 February. The two-part episode follows Manny Santos discovering she is pregnant and ultimately deciding to get an abortion.

Its Late (<i>Degrassi Junior High</i>) 11th episode of the 1st season of Degrassi Junior High

"It's Late" is the 11th episode of the first season of Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi Junior High. It originally aired on the CBC in Canada on April 5, 1987. After a careless night with Shane at a classmate's party, Spike fears she is pregnant. Meanwhile, Arthur gives continuously bad romantic advice to his friend Yick.

Degrassi Classic novels are a series of mass market paperback novelizations of the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. Released by James Lorimer & Co. from 1988 to 1992, the novels sometimes adapted plots from the series, but also elaborated on plots not addressed completely on the series. The books would often center on a particular character on the show, although the novel Exit Stage Left is based on the overall series. A thirteenth book, based on the characters Arthur and Yick and written by Kathryn Ellis, remains unreleased. Lorimer reprinted several of the books at the height of Degrassi: The Next Generation's popularity in 2006.

Showtime (<i>Degrassi High</i>) 10th and 11th episodes of the 2nd season of Degrassi High

"Showtime" is a two-part episode of the Canadian teen drama Degrassi High. It was the tenth and eleventh episodes of the show's second season, airing on CBC on 28 January and 4 February 1991. In the two-part episode, the titular school is thrown into disarray after Archie "Snake" Simpson finds Claude Tanner dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The episode was the first time the franchise had depicted suicide.

<i>Spike</i> (novel) Book based on Degrassi Junior High

Spike is a novel based on the Canadian television series Degrassi Junior High. It was published by James Lorimer & Company in December 1988 as part of a series of novels focusing on individual characters from the show. The novel centres around Christine "Spike" Nelson, who deals with teenage pregnancy and motherhood and its effects on her social life. The book expands upon the storylines of several key episodes about the character.

"Bye-Bye, Junior High" is the sixteenth episode of the third and final season of Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi Junior High. It originally aired on CBC Television in Canada on February 27, 1989. It was written by Yan Moore and directed by Kit Hood. The episode takes place at the end of the school year as graduation approaches; despite the fallout from the death of his parents at the beginning of the season, Derek "Wheels" Wheeler manages to pass, but Christine "Spike" Nelson, who is raising her daughter Emma, must make up for poor grades over the holidays, something which she does not react well to. At the graduation dance, a fault in the boiler room causes a fire to spread throughout the school, razing it to the ground.

References

  1. ↑ Wloszczcyna, Susan (11 January 1990). "'Degrassi High' tackles abortion head-on". USA Today .
  2. ↑ "DEGRASSI HIGH: A NEW START {FOURTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)". Paley Center . Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Nicholls, Stephen (6 November 1989). "Abortion: Degrassi takes on explosive topic". The Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. p. 33. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Dunphy, Catherine (4 November 1989). "Dilemma At DeGrassi". The Toronto Star . Archived from the original on 24 October 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dunphy, Catherine (4 November 1989). "Twin turmoil". Starweek .
  6. ↑ Fisher, Jennifer (4 November 1989). "High school controversial". TV Guide .
  7. ↑ Zerbisias, Antonia (31 May 1989). "Researcher lives it up on camera". The Toronto Star .
  8. 1 2 Bacchus, Lee (6 November 1989). "Kids too young to call this". The Province. p. 35. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Dickens to 'Degrassi' fill week's TV viewing". The Sault Star. 3 November 1989. p. 75. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  10. 1 2 "PM's marzipan sweeter than Ms Wendt's eclair". The Canberra Times . Vol. 65, no. 20, 491. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 May 1991. p. 28. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ Nicholls, Stephen (3 November 1989). "Knees knock as Degrassi tackles touchy topic". Times Colonist. The Canadian Press. p. 44. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  12. 1 2 Bilton, Chris; Liss, Sarah (26 April 2012). "Degrassi Junior High: The Oral History (Page 3)". The Grid. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Nicholls, Stephen (1 November 1990). "Degrassi crew to close books". The Windsor Star. Canadian Press. p. 16. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Remington, Bob (6 November 1989). "Anger at PBS much ado about a minor point". Edmonton Journal. p. 32. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (13 January 1990). "TV Reviews : 'Degrassi High,' 'Wonderworks' Return to PBS". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  16. ↑ Zerbisias, Antonia (5 November 1990). "Degrassi High could give lessons". The Toronto Star . Archived from the original on 24 October 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Roberts, Diane (11 November 1989). "No choice at all". The Toronto Star . p. 114.
  18. ↑ Sweet, Lois (11 November 1989). "Honest portrayal". The Toronto Star . p. 115.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Walther, Brett (21 January 2022). "10 Times Degrassi High Was the Best Thing on Television". Reader's Digest Canada. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 "Degrassi High edited by PBS". The Ottawa Citizen. 4 November 1989. p. 37. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 3 Haslett Cuff, John (3 November 1989). "Degrassi High creators up in arms over PBS cuts to abortion episode". The Globe And Mail .
  22. 1 2 "Clipped From The Daily Herald-Tribune". The Daily Herald-Tribune. 6 November 1989. p. 11. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  23. ↑ Pai, Tanya (25 January 2016). "Degrassi, the Canadian teen soap that gave us Drake, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  24. ↑ Samuel, Ruth Etleslt (13 June 2022). "Teen Abortions On TV Are Still Taboo, But 'Degrassi' Depicted It Nearly 20 Years Ago". HuffPost. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.