Canadian Drama Degrassi: And You Thought Your High School Had Drama

The biggest problem many people faced in high school was losing homework but, the students at Degrassi Community School deal with issues that makes getting an F look like straight A's. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian based show is a continuation of the television shows, The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High.

In 2005 Degrassi celebrated its 25th year of being apart of Canadian television that "goes there" as the network puts it, illustrating problems that many teenagers find themselves dealing with now, from dramatic break-ups to venereal diseases. Now in the sixth season Degrassi: The Next Generation continues to have plots that stretch the limits, as graduates of Degrassi are now dealing with problems of their freshmen year in college and the senior class of Degrassi is getting in to some hard core situations like the season's premier where a student now faces jail time.

Degrassi puts American teenage dramas to shame due to their more realistic plots and the cast consist of actual teenagers. American dramas usually had casts of 20-something's that look 30-something. (Remember Beverly Hills 90210). Unlike "reality show" Laguna Beach, Degrassi is filled with characters who most teenagers can relate too. The adult main characters are teachers or parents who were once the teenagers of the Degrassi's from the past or had something to do with the show's past.

As a matter of fact, Degrassi: The Next Generation actually comes out of the child that the character "Spike" had while on Degrassi High. The adult characters guide the teenager to a degree but, for the most part the students at Degrassi try understand what they are going through and come up with their own solutions. Each season the kids of Degrassi take it up a notch. Emma, Manny, J.T., Toby, Liberty, Danny, Sean, Ellie, Paige, Alex, Darcy, Spinner, Peter, Derek, Jimmy, Craig, Marco, Dylan, Jay, and, Ashley are the main characters that bring the drama each episode.

Soon it will be time for the more of the core characters to graduate from Degrassi but, it is too soon to predict if the show will continue though the eyes of the characters many have grown to love, or if a totally new cast will be brought in; hopefully Degrassi: The Next Generation won't be canceled as Degrassi High was in the eighties leaving the students in their junior year with unanswered questions. If it is canceled maybe there is a chance that it will be picked up again for the next to come next generation.

Degrassi may be a Canadian show but the situations are universal for most teens. In addition to being entertainment Degrassi can be a teaching tool for a teenager that is if their parents or teachers purchase the special question and answer DVDs available online. For the most part Degrassi is the show for high school students and/or adults who have fallen into the storyline. Americans are able to watch Degrassi: The Next Generation on cable channel Noggin during a segment they call "The N" where teenagers can watch other dramas like Instant Star, South of No Where, Beyond the Break, and Whistler.