Product Description

Studio: Wgbh Wholesale Release Date: 02/01/2005 Run time: 338 minutes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55759 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-02-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 338 minutes

Amazon.com
Welcome to the Degrassi universe. Popular in Canada and on American public television, the Toronto-set Degrassi Junior High kicked into gear in 1987 as a follow-up to the short-lived The Kids of Degrassi Street, then morphed two years later into Degrassi High. Several specials followed, leading to Degrassi: The Next Generation, still going strong since 2001 and featuring some of the original teen actors from the first series, their characters now parents and teachers. Degrassi Junior High: Season One is the ideal way to begin exploring many years of Degrassi's slice-of-life fare from longtime co-creators Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood, who positioned the early series as a realistic yet entertaining alternative to frothier sitcoms set in schools.

The first thing one notices about the show is that the cast members look like real kids: largely unformed, physically awkward, short, initially indistinguishable from one another. This less-than-idealized picture of flowering youth perfectly suits the dramedy's sometimes unflattering if sympathetic portrait of adolescent experimentation and angst. Degrassi's characters frequently act before they think, leading to embarrassment and dilemmas over values, such as a decision by 8th-grader Steph Kaye (Nicole Stoffman) to run for class president at the same time she's tarting up her wardrobe and allowing every boy around to kiss her. Confusing one type of popularity for another, Steph grows uncomfortable and experiences a loss of esteem. In "The Big Dance," Steph and three friends get drunk before a school hop; in "The Experiment," Yick Yu (Siluck Saysanasy) deals with academic despair by copying another student's old assignments; and in "Smokescreen," Rick Munro (Craig Driscoll) tries to impress a girl by joining an anti-pollution committee despite having little interest in the subject. On the other hand, Degrassi's students often do the right thing for the right reason. In the sweet "Rumor Has It," Caitlin (Stacie Mistysyn) denies that her favorite teacher is gay, only to confide in that same teacher that she dreams, too, that her friends perceive her to be gay as well. Whether the subject is teen pregnancy, child abuse, or body development, Degrassi Junior High has a way of tackling tough material in an enjoyable, family-friendly, and unusually forthright manner. --Tom Keogh

From the Back Cover
Go to school with the show in a class by itself--and get real! Hailed as "groundbreaking," "powerful," and "totally authentic," Degrassi Junior High confronts it all-friendship, puberty, rumors, sports, studies, and more-with a refreshing ensemble cast and a unique teen's-eye-view of life. Sometimes moving, sometimes shocking, but always believable, "Degrassi Junior High" is a classic for teens of all ages. All your favorite characters and storylines are waiting-find your seat-school's open!

Includes all thirteen episodes of Degrassi Junior High from Season 1: "Kiss Me, Steph;" "The Big Dance;" "The Experiment;" "The Cover-Up;" "The Great Race;" "Rumor Has It;" "The Best Laid Plans;" "Nothing To Fear;" "What A Night;" "Smokescreen;" "It's Late!;" "Parents' Night;" and "Revolution."

Customer Reviews

Degrassi Junior High Season 1 Review
Degrassi Junior High was the ground breaking series that aired in the late 80's on PBS. This series featured teens that real teens could identify with. These teens dealt with real life issues like sex, dating, teen pregnancy, parental abuse, divorce, shoplifting and other serious issues were addressed in a realitic manner. This groundbreaking series has never appeared on DVD until now.

All of the kids on the show were memorable characters. There was Steph, the popular girl who had her fair share of problems. There was Voula, the girl with the strict parents who wanted so badly to just fit in. Wheels has to deal with the fact that he was adopted and Lucy seems to have it all but her parents aren't there for her when she needs them. Joey, was a popular kid who was dedicated to his band. Kathleen is the quirky girl with a big crush on Snake. L.D. is the tomboy and Caitlen is a little on the prissy and proper side. These kids were so regular this could have been any junior high in the world.

One of the most memorable storylines on the show was the relationship between Spike and Shane. These opposites attracted and as season 1 comes to a close Spike has to deal with the fact that her period is late and she may be pregnant. This story line carries on throughout the seasons. Most of the Degrassi story lines weren't completly solved in the half hour format. Each characters story was well developed and viewers wanted to keep watching. One such storyline was of Wheels and the fact that he was adopted. This storyline was very important to the series, and in one episode during season 1, Wheels comes face to face with his birth father-who also happens to be a musician.

Season 1 of Degrassi Junior High arrives on three discs. Each disc is enclosed in it's own protective case. Season 1 includes 13 episodes.

If you are a teen, you will enjoy taking a trip back in time to the 80's and watching how teens back then dealt with many of the issues that you may be facing today.

If you are a parent or an educator now is your chance to get this groundbreaking television series on DVD. Priced much more reasonably than the VHS sets, this is an affordable collection that will be a great addition to your classroom. The picture quality is awesome and these episodes look and sound better than ever.

Degrassi Junior High was spawned from the Canadian series The Kids of Degrassi Street. When Degrassi Junior High ended, Degrassi High began it's run. Degrassi is still growing strong with the popular series Degrassi-The Next Generation.

The DVD also includes segments from the "Degrassi Talks" series. The "Degrassi Talks" segments seem quited dated in comparison to the series. The "Degrassi Talks" educational segments which include commentary from the shows actors and regular teens touch on subjects addressed in the show like drugs and sexuality. I love this set and can't wait for future releases.

a fantastic trip back to the 80s...
Everyone's favourite angst-ridden teens finally come to DVD in DEGRASSI JUNIOR HIGH.

All 13 episodes of the groundbreaking first season are featured in this set. The series was a bold spinoff from the short-lived afterschool series THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET, and was groundbreaking in that it approached topics like peer pressure, teen violence, suicide, sex and pregnancy with well-written and intelligent storylines. This series remains, 15 years later, quality television for the pre-teens and teens sets (adults will appreciate the writing and amazing acting from the talented cast), and stands up well to repeat screenings.

Season One introduces some of the most-loved characters like Caitlin (Stacie Mistysyn), Yick (Siluck Saysanasy), Wheels (Neil Hope), Melanie (Sara Ballingall), Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni), Spike (Amanda Stepto), Stephanie Kaye (Nicole Stoffman) and Snake (Stefan Brogren).

Episodes included:

"Kiss Me Steph" - Stephanie Kaye decides to use her newfound popularity to run for School President, personally ensuring every male vote of the school, and using her brainy best friend Voula (Niki Kemeny) to run the campaign.

"The Big Dance" - It's time for the annual Fall Dance, but Voula's father has forbidden her to attend. Stephanie gets drunk at Lucy's house and barely makes it to the event.

"The Experiment" - Yick and Arthur (Duncan Waugh) try out for the basketball team, and Joey gets Kathleen (Rebecca Haines) and Megan into trouble when he sells them some `vitamins'.

"The Cover-Up" - Joey discovers that Rick (Craig Driscoll) gets beaten up by his father.

"The Great Race" - Melanie bemoans the fact that she's flat-chested and joins LD (Amanda Cook) in some bra-shopping. The girls challenge the boys to a swimming competition.

"Rumor Has It" - Kathleen starts spreading the vicious lie that Miss Avery (Michelle Goodeve) is a lesbian, and Caitlin considers her own sexual orientation.

"The Best Laid Plans" - Wheels musters up the courage to accompany Stephanie on a date...but will they or won't they?...

"Nothing to Fear" - LD's life turns upside down when her father has to go to hospital, stirring up a lot of old memories about her mother's death.

"What a Night" - Voula discovers why Lucy's (Anais Granofsky) wardrobe is so stylish. When the two are arrested shoplifting, Voula's relationship with her father becomes even more strained.

"Smokescreen" - Rick starts taking an interest in the school environmental group, and Caitlin decides to take him under her wing.

"It's Late!" - Spike's period is late, following a night of recklessness with Shane (Bill Parrott).

"Parents' Night" - Wheels must confront a lot of old demons when his birth father shows up virtually out of the blue.

"Revolution" - In order to get Wheels' attention, Stephanie appoints Joey as the new Sports Rep., despite the fact that he's completely wrong for the job (it's a 7th grade post and Yick's dream job). The 7th grade starts a revolt on Miss Stephanie Kaye...which may end in her downfall as School President. This episode also marked the official debut of The Zit Remedy, Degrassi's legendary rock band sensation!

For it's legion of 80s' fans who used to race home from school every afternoon for their daily dose of DEGRASSI drama, knowing the series is now on DVD is a dream come true.

Pure goodness...

Ahhh, my childhood would have never been the same without being able to come home from school to this classic teen drama. What made it so good? Well the issues it dealt with seemed real and not sensationalized mixed in with reoccurring characters who all gave a generally believable performances. It's great to be reacquainted with all the characters and story-lines again. However, in the first season of a show time is usually spent working out the kinks of how the show will flow and who the centre of focus is. This is no exception here as some of the subplots involving Arthur and Yick are very "Kids Of Degrassi" but the dark undertones are still in the series particularly the biggest major turning point in the series; Spike's pregnancy.
It's a shame they don't show this on television anymore, so few shows today exude a sense of genuine concern for its characters as Degrassi did.