Degrassi: The Next Generation (season 8)

Degrassi: The Next Generation
(season 8)

Degrassi: The Next Generation (season 8) intertitles
Country of origin Flag of Canada.svg Canada
Network Flag of Canada CTV
Flag of the United States The N
Original run 5 October 2008 (2008-10-05) –
No. of episodes 22
Previous season 7

The eighth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on 5 October 2008,[1] and will consist of twenty-two episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although it will air during the 2008–2009 television season, it depicts the 2007–08 school year because season seven occurred during the second semester of the 2006–07 school year.[2] Thirteen actors have been added to the ensemble cast, while fourteen cast members have either left the series or been dropped from the main cast to recurring roles. The season will focus heavily on the new, younger students of Degrassi Community School, although it will include storylines about the school seniors, and those who have graduated and gone on to university.[3]

Season eight airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m. on CTV, a Canadian terrestrial television network.[1] Episodes are repeated on CTV's sister cable speciality network, MuchMusic, on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. In the United States, the season began on 10 October 2008 and airs in its usual timeslot on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. on The N, a digital cable network aimed at teenagers and young adults. Unlike seasons six and seven, which premiered in the U.S., "Uptown Girl Part One", this season's premiere episode, was broadcast in Canada first,[4] with "Uptown Girl Part Two" airing a week later; in the U.S., however, both parts aired together as an hour-long special.[5] As well as airing on television, the season's episodes will also be streamed for free on the websites of CTV and The N,[6] and registered users of the Canadian and U.S. iTunes Stores are also able to purchase and download the season for playback on home computers and certain iPods.[7]

Also this season is another "Halloween special", titled The Curse of Degrassi, which CTV aired on 26 October 2008 and The N aired it 28 October 2008. This time it deals with the anniversary of Rick Murray's death and his haunting former classmates.[8]

Production for the season began in May 2008 at Epitome Pictures' studios in Toronto, Ontario, and was to be completed in October.[9] The final episodes of the season were filmed in part in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California,[6] and were written and directed by Stefan Brogren, who plays Archie "Snake" Simpson.[3]

Contents

Cast

Some of the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation at the eTalk Festival Party, during the Toronto International Film Festival

For the eighth season, twenty-four actors have star billing and appear in the title sequence, an increase of four over the previous season. Stefan Brogren, Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, Shane Kippel, Miriam McDonald,[10] and Cassie Steele, all original cast members, return in their respective roles as Archie "Snake" Simpson, Liberty Van Zandt, Gavin "Spinner" Mason, Emma Nelson, and Manuela "Manny" Santos.[11] Returning cast members introduced in later seasons are Jamie Johnston as Peter Stone,[12] Paula Brancati as Jane Vaughn, Marc Donato as Derek Haig, Dalmar Abuzeid as Danny Van Zandt,[13] Nina Dobrev as Mia Jones, and Charlotte Arnold as Holly J. Sinclair.

Since season six, Jake Goldsbie, portraying Toby Isaacs,[14] has been a recurring cast member, and is only credited in the episodes in which he appears, during the opening credits after the title sequence. Beginning in this season, Amanda Stepto, Aubrey Graham, Mike Lobel, and Adamo Ruggiero as Christine "Spike" Nelson, Jimmy Brooks, Jay Hogart, and Marco Del Rossi, respectively,[15] have also been dropped to recurring status, as well as Lauren Collins (Paige Michalchuk),[16] who also appears in Life with Derek, Stacey Farber (Ellie Nash),[17] who has signed on to appear in a new series for the 2008–09 television season, 18 to Life,[18] and Shenae Grimes (Darcy Edwards),[12] who has taken a leading role in the new American television series 90210, which premiered in September 2008 and is filmed in Los Angeles, California,[19]

Following the departure of Melissa DiMarco (Daphne Hatzilakos)[20] at the end of season seven, Kevin Jubinville is playing the new Degrassi principal, Mr. Shepherd ("The Shep"), previously the principal of Lakehurst before the merger of the two schools.[21] Other actors from season seven not returning this season are Deanna Casaluce as Alex Nuñez, Melissa McIntyre as Ashley Kerwin, Mazin Elsadig as Damien Hayes, Steve Belford as Jesse Stefanovic, Nathan Stephenson as Griffin Pierce-Taylor, and Marc Minardi as Lucas Valieri.

To replace the outgoing actors, seven new characters have been introduced to the series. Melinda Shankar plays Allia "Alli" Bhandari, Sav's younger sister,[22][23] AJ Saudin plays Snake's godson, Connor,[24] and Sam Earle plays K.C. Guthrie.[25] The three characters, and Clare, are new ninth graders attending Degrassi Community School's new Gifted Students program. Judy Jiao[26] and Jordan Hudyma play Leia and Blue Chessex, new eleventh grade students,[27][28] Argiris Karras plays twelfth grader Riley Stavros,[29] and Evan Williams plays Smithdale University freshman Kelly Ashoona.[30][31] Raymond Ablack, Samantha Munro, Jajube Mandiela, Aislinn Paul, Natty Zavitz, and Scott Paterson, who previously held recurring roles as Sav Bhandari, Anya MacPherson, Chante Black, Clare Edwards, Bruce, and Johnny DiMarco.[32][6]

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, who both made guest appearances in seasons four and five,[33] and former cast members Jake Epstein (Craig Manning) and Daniel Clark (Sean Cameron) will return with "many [other] guest stars" for a four-part season finale, which is set and filmed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.[6]

Crew

Season eight is produced by Epitome Pictures in association with CTV. Funding is provided by The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, the Canadian Television Fund and BCE-CTV Benefits, The Shaw Television Broadcast Fund, the Independent Production Fund, Mountain Cable Program, and RBC Royal Bank.

Linda Schuyler, co-creator of the Degrassi franchise and CEO of Epitome Pictures, serves as an executive producer with her husband, and President of Epitome Pictures, Stephen Stohn. Sara Snow is also credited as an executive producer.[31] David Lowe is the producer, and Stephanie Cohen the supervising producer. As well as playing Snake Simpson, Stephen Brogren also serves as the creative producer, and, for the first time, will direct episodes,[6] after previously previously writing, producing, and directing the exclusive online series Degrassi Minis. The casting director is Stephanie Gorin, the editor is D. Gillian Truster.

The executive story editor is Sarah Glinski, and Matt Heuther the story editor. The script supervisor is Nancy Markle. Episode writers for the season are Duana Taha and Brendon Yorke. The director of photography is Jim Westenbrink, and directors are Phil Earnshaw.

Reception

The season premiere was watched by 398,000 Canadian viewers,[34] a figure almost 200,000 fewer than season seven's premiere of 585,000 viewers.[35] When reporting on the figures in his blog, Bill Brioux, the television columnist for The Canadian Press, was surprised that Degrassi: The Next Generation had reached its eighth season with such poor ratings, asking "What other show in the history of Canadian or American television has so consistently drawn so few viewers yet gets renewed year after year?"[34]

Episodes

Season # Series # Title Canadian airdate U.S. airdate Production code
1 144 "Uptown Girl" Part One  5 October 2008 10 October 2008 801
Degrassi gets a new principal for the new school year, Mr. Shepperd (or "The Shep"), whose laid-back style is popular with the students, but surprises Snake Simpson. The Shep establishes and coaches the Panthers, the new football team captained by quarterback Danny Van Zandt. On the first day of school The Shep decides to cancel classes and hold a fashion show for the football team's new uniform, and Mia begins to form a friendship with new student Leia. At the fashion show, Mia grows close to Danny when she models with him, and she is spotted by an agent who offers her a place on the books of a modeling agency. When she attends an audition with T-Bombz's star QB Tom Blake, Mia thinks she performed badly, especially after seeing another model flirting with him. She visits his apartment late at night to convince him she should get the job, and when he makes sexual advances towards her, she does not fight back. Meanwhile, Emma, Manny and Liberty arrive at Smithdale University, but Emma is upset to learn that they will not be rooming together. After speaking to the Housing department, Emma gets them into a room together with a male named Kelly – whom she thought was female. While Manny and Liberty throw themselves into the fun and activities of orientation week, Emma is disappointed that their relationship with each other is changing, until Kelly shows her how to have a good time without them. 
2 145 "Uptown Girl" Part Two  12 October 2008 10 October 2008 802
Clare, K.C., Alli and Connor begin their Gifted Program classes, but Clare finds it difficult to make friends with the others, believing she is more intelligent than them. K.C. challenges Clare when she tells them she does not care what people's opinions are of her, but after performing a hymn in the cafeteria and gets booed, jeered, and food thrown at her, she runs out upset. After eating lunch with Connor in the Media Immersion classroom the following day, K.C. makes attempts to build bridges with Clare, who reveals that she feels as if she is always in the shadow of her older, and more popular sister, Darcy. Meanwhile, Mia is offered the T-Bombz modelling job and takes Leia with her to the press conference where the official announcement is made. Tom Blake invites them to a private party that night, and while Mia is more than happy to engage in their activities, such as drinking alcohol and group sex, Leia is not, and after chastising Mia, leaves the party. The following day Mia arrives late for school, and while her social status is gaining strength among the hierarchy of Power Squad members Anya, Holly J., and Chante, Leia is disgusted, especially after finding out she slept with Blake. When Danny asks Leia if she thinks he has a chance of being Mia's boyfriend, Leia is forced to tell him the truth. Mia is angry after discovering she was going to be offered the job before she slept with Blake, and upset when Danny tells her what he thinks of her. 
3 146 "Fight the Power"  19 October 2008 17 October 2008 803
Jane loves football and wants to play, but since there is no girls' team, her only other option is playing with the boys, which isn't easy. As Jane makes the team, the boys make her life hell. When a game starts, she is the best of all, but Derek makes the team lose. He blames it on Jane, causing the rest of the team wonder if Jane can play football. Peter hosts an after party, but he is disappointed with Darcy, who couldn't make it due to a four-month trip she tells him about at the last minute. Mia falls for Peter and shows him comfort. The next day at practice, Jane complains that she had nothing to do with the team losing. After practice, Derek and Bruce attack Jane, leaving her in pain and Spinner angry. Peter and Mia start a casual relationship, but he secretly still has feelings for Darcy. Jane returns to practice the next day, saying she is as part of this team as anyone else is. Sav, Danny and everyone else sticks up for her except Derek and Bruce. 
4 147 "Didn't We Almost Have It All"  2 November 2008 24 October 2008 804
At Smithdale, Liberty decides to join a sorority. At first she is bound to join her mother's former sorority but then is recruited by a member of a sorority called Pi Gamma Pi. The heads of the sorority begin to stereotype Liberty, assuming that she is from an underprivileged background, that J.T. died in a gang-fight, and that she is good at hip-hop dancing. She is reluctant at first, but then she begins to try the party-girl lifestyle, and anything to join the sorority. When she is accepted and another fellow black girl is not, Liberty realizes that the sorority just needed a token. Meanwhile, The Shep has given Holly J. the presidency of the student council, and she tells Danny not to complain and he gets the secretary job. At Power Squad practice, Chante makes a comment about Anya and Sav losing their virginity to each other, and Holly J. becomes desperate. She then tries to lure a new student, Blue, who is exceptional in art. 
5 148 "Man With Two Hearts"  9 November 2008 7 November 2008 805
Peter's life cannot get any better. With a new girlfriend, Mia, and an awesome guy-friend, Riley, to play video games with. However, when Riley drops a smooch on Peter, Riley tries to hide his sexuality. At first, when Peter tries to bring things back to normal between them, things turn harsh when Riley tries to attack him. He later makes a snide remark about Peter and his sexuality when Derek and Bruce come up. Peter begins to reveal Riley's secret, but he stops, and Riley finally begins to come to a understanding with Peter. Meanwhile, Connor, Clare. K.C., and Alli are working on a robot project in media immersion. In order to snoop around in their teacher's house, Alli pushes that Connor host the next study night. Alli ends up persuading Clare to go with her into the Simpsons bedroom, and they find a vibrator. Spike tells them that she knows what they were doing, since she was once their age. The girls hide it in Clare's bag, and it goes off during class. When Clare is sent to The Shep, Clare's mother is called in. After thinking she was being to harsh to her about the incident, Mrs. Edwards decides to have "the talk" with her, which Clare later uses the knowledge to embarrass Holly J. in front of the school. 
6 149 "With Or Without You"  16 November 2008 806
 
7 150 "Money For Nothing"  23 November 2008 807
 

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Premiere episode". CTV Television Network. CTVglobemedia (2008-09-18). Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Linda Schuyler Created Degrassi For You". The-Mary (host); The-Seth (host). The N-Sider. The N. 2007-01-26.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Demara, Bruce (2008-10-05). "DeGrassi enrols a new class", Toronto Star (Toronto, Ontario), Torstar. Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  4. ↑ Dowling, Amber (2008-08-18). "'Degrassi: The Next Generation' returns". TVGuide.ca. Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
  5. ↑ "Degrassi". The N. Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "New season begins Oct. 5 on CTV". CTV Television Network (2008-09-29). Retrieved on 2008-09-30.
  7. ↑ Epitome Pictures. "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (Note: Requires iTunes software). The N. iTunes Store. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  8. ↑ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061126/degrassi_schedule_061126/20081022?s_name=degrassi2006&no_ads=sky
  9. ↑ "In Production". Ontario, Canada: Ontario Media Development Corporation (2008-09-12). Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
  10. ↑ "Miriam McDonald on Growing Up Degrassi", Dose.ca, Canwest (2008-10-03). Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  11. ↑ Ellis 2005, pp. 48–49, 52–53, 70–71, 74–75, 80–81
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ellis 2005, p. 87
  13. ↑ Ellis 2005, p. 86
  14. ↑ Ellis 2005, pp. 66–67
  15. ↑ Ellis 2005, pp. 46–47, 68–69, 85, 78–79
  16. ↑ Ellis 2005, pp. 56–57
  17. ↑ Ellis 2005, pp. 64–65
  18. ↑ "ABC picks up CBC sitcom '18 to Life'", The Canadian Press, Canoe.ca (2008-07-28). Retrieved on 2008-09-22. 
  19. ↑ Strachan, Alex (2008-07-31). "Toronto-born actress living it up in 90210", Canada.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-22. 
  20. ↑ Ellis 2005, p. 90
  21. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Kevin Jubinville". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  22. ↑ Lofaro, Tony (2008-06-27). "Ottawa actress lands principal Degrassi role", Ottawa Citizen, Canada.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-22. 
  23. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Melinda Shankar". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  24. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – AJ Saudin". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  25. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Sam Earle". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  26. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Judy Jiao". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  27. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Jordan Hudyma". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  28. ↑ "Local talent shines bright on hit show", Thunder Bay Television (2008-10-06). Retrieved on 2008-10-14. 
  29. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Argiris Karras". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  30. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Evan Williams". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 PR Newswire (2008-09-25). "Get Ready As A New Class Of Degrassi Students Enroll On The New Season Of The N's Hit Teen Drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation,Friday, Oct. 10, At 8:00 P.M. (ET)". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
  32. ↑ "New Cast Members for Season 8 – Aislinn Paul". Degrassi.tv. Retrieved on 2008-09-22.
  33. ↑ CTV (2005-02-07). "Kevin Smith lives out his Degrassi fantasy". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Brioux, Bill (2008-10-06). "Degrassi: The Lost Generation". TV Feeds My Family. Retrieved on 2008-10-14.
  35. ↑ Brioux, Bill (2008-01-23). "The Degrassi Myth". TV Feeds My Family. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.

References

External links

Degrassi
History
Awards and nominations
Locations
Toronto · De Grassi Street · Other locations
Music
Bands · Songs from Degrassi: The Next Generation · The N Soundtrack
The Kids of Degrassi Street
Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High
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Characters · Episodes · Degrassi Talks · School's Out
Characters
Stephanie · Joey · Snake · Wheels · Mr. Raditch · Lucy · Shane · Caitlin · Kathleen · Melanie · Erica · Heather · Spike · Nancy
General
Episodes · Season 1 · Season 2 · Season 3 · Season 4 · Season 5 · Season 6 · Season 7 · Season 8 · Books · Quotes
Characters
Emma · Jimmy · Terri · Ashley · Liberty · Manny · Mr. Simpson · Toby · Spinner · J.T. · Paige · Sean · Mr. Raditch · Joey · Craig · Ellie · Marco · Hazel · Spike · Caitlin · Jay · Alex · Danny · Darcy · Chante · Peter · Ms. Hatzilakos · Derek · Mia · Damian · Johnny · Clare · Holly J · Jane · Anya · Sav