'Degrassi: The Next Generation' Cancelled After 14 Seasons
It's time to say goodbye.
Jesse Ferreras— The Huffington Post Canada
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It's time to say goodbye to "Degrassi."
The long-running high school drama series will reach its end with a two-week finale this summer, TeenNick announced in a statement quoted by Variety on Thursday.
The final season will have 12 half-hour episodes starting July 20, said a news release from Bell Media.
An hour-long special titled "It Goes There: Degrassi's Most Talked About Moments" will lead into its finale on July 31.
It will bring former cast members to talk about the show's history.
"For an incredible 14 seasons, 'Degrassi' has been a groundbreaking show tackling so many important topics that real teens face in their everyday lives," Keith Dawkins, SVP and general manager of TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Jr., said.
"In the final episodes on TeenNick and through the hour-long special and social activations, we hope to say goodbye in a way that is both fitting to the show and 'Degrassi's' passionate fan base."
Social media lit up with reaction to the cancellation on Thursday.
The "Degrassi" universe began in 1979, with the airing of "The Kids of Degrassi Street," which ran until 1986.
It was followed by "Degrassi Junior High," which acquainted audiences with popular characters such as Caitlyn Ryan (Stacie Mistysyn), Christine "Spike" Nelson (Amanda Stepto), Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni) and Archie "Snake" Simpson (Stefan Brogren). It ran from 1987 to 1991.
The franchise was rebooted in 2001 as "Degrassi: The Next Generation." It featured some of the original "Degrassi" actors but also introduced audiences to students such as Spike's daughter Emma (Miriam McDonald), Lauren Collins as Paige Michalchuk and, of course, future rapper Drake as "Wheelchair" Jimmy Brooks.
We can think of at least one "Degrassi" fan who won't take the news well.
"Clerks" director Kevin Smith has long professed to loving the series, so much that he appeared on numerous episodes of "The Next Generation."
A two-part episode had Smith filming "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!" at Degrassi Community School.
We can only hope he and Drake make it for the hour-long finale.
Yes, heartthrob Joey lost his flowing locks. He's also struggled to find acting gigs. Though he also played Joey on "The Next Generation", he's had only small parts in TV and movies since then. Otherwise, he's made ends meet through work at restaurants and his father's construction business. He most recently shared a play-by-play of his kitchen renovation on his Twitter account. (credit:Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Amanda Stepto- Spike(03 of20)
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Amanda Stepto- Spike(04 of20)
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Stepto came back for "TNG" to play a grown-up Spike, this time as a mother to Emma. She also had a few other bit parts in movies. She has a degree from the University of Toronto and DJs on Saturday nights at Toronto bar Disgraceland alongside fellow cast member Stacie Mistysyn. Her DJ name? "DJ Demanda".NOTE: A previous version of the slide stated that Emma Nelson was 15 in "TNG", a fact that implied she was that age when the show started. We've since taken that detail out to be more clear. (credit:Facebook)
Stacie Mistysyn- Caitlin(05 of20)
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Stacie Mistysyn- Caitlin(06 of20)
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Mistysyn also reprised her role for "TNG", in which she last appeared in 2008. You can find her spinning beats as "DJ Mistylicious" alongside Stepto at Disgraceland. (credit:Facebook)
Stefan Brogren- Snake(07 of20)
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Stefan Brogren- Snake(08 of20)
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Snake has been a familiar sight on "TNG" as a principal and media teacher, and Brogren directed and produced several episodes of the show. He's also responsible for a Halloween-themed "Degrassi" episode called "Degrassi Of The Dead", which came out in 2007. (credit:George Pimentel via Getty Images)
Neil Hope- Wheels(09 of20)
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Neil Hope- Wheels(10 of20)
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Unlike some of his co-stars, Hope wasn't so lucky. The actor died in 2007, alone in a Hamilton rooming house. Estranged from his family and friends, they didn't learn of his death until 2012. The screenshot is from an interview he did on CTV's W5 in 2005. (credit:YouTube)
Maureen And Angela Deiseach- Heather and Erica Farrell(11 of20)
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Maureen And Angela Deiseach- Heather and Erica Farrell(12 of20)
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Angela is now a Grade 1 teacher in Toronto as well as a flamenco dancer with the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company. Both she and Maureen attended Ryerson University and the University of Toronto at one point, and Maureen was once a dancer with the company. No one's exactly sure what she does now.Both actresses appeared in one episode of "TNG" and on the TV movie "School's Out." (credit:Angela Deiseach)
Anais Granofsky- Lucy Fernandez(13 of20)
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Anais Granofsky- Lucy Fernandez(14 of20)
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Granofsky has had several roles in movies and TV, including "La Femme Nikita" and "Fast Track". More recently, she became a director, steering films "On Their Knees" and "The Limb Salesman." She also directed an episode of Canadian show "Da Kink in My Hair." (credit:Degrassi Wiki)
Nicole Stoffman- Stephanie Kaye(15 of20)
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Nicole Stoffman- Stephanie Kaye(16 of20)
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After Stoffman left "Degrassi: Junior High" Season 2, she mostly moved on from acting. She currently studies fundraising management at Humber College in Toronto and has worked as a jazz musician, political fundraiser and event planner. She lives in Toronto. (credit:Facebook)
Dayo Ade- BLT(17 of20)
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Dayo Ade- BLT(18 of20)
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As one of the few characters that went on to have a successful acting career, Ade has had roles in "Lost", "CSI: NY" and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D". He also recently starred in the CBC show "Cracked". (credit:Sonia Recchia via Getty Images)
Cathy Keenan- Liz O’Rourke(19 of20)
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Cathy Keenan- Liz O'Rourke(20 of20)
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Cathy Keenan, who played the animal-loving, pro-life Liz O'Rourke, is now a yoga teacher and acupuncturist in Toronto. She also made a guest appearance in a few episodes of "TNG".CORRECTION: A previous version stated that Liz was pro-choice. We regret the error. (credit:Facebook)
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