The Kids of Degrassi Street

In this series one sees Degrassi in its original form: classroom videos for little kids; and this was the form and the audience it should have stuck to. The more popular follow-up show remained the same, except for ever-growing pretensions to a significance in excess of its powers, and an ever-growing tendency toward salaciousness, which culminated at last--in the one chance the show received to sit up late amongst the grown-ups--in the series' house princess (along with her opposite number, a butter-wouldn't-melt little minx) losing her cherry. And who knows but what that had been the writers' covert object all along, even as far back as Degrassi Street? I'm reminded of a comment by one of the women in John Huston's life about another, whom he had raised from a child: something about the appeal to a man of seeing a girl grow to ****able age before his eyes. Such matters aside, the Junior High/High/School's Out episodes never graduated from the Degrassi Street level: they featured the same diagrammatic plots, the same tendentious conversations, the same cardboard performances (and the same cheap-looking production). In this initial series those things were only to be expected, since after all, that's what educational TV is like. But at 18 the cast remained as blank and flat as at 8, and still inhabited the same classroom toy-town universe; as if someone had carried on the Dick and Jane readers and pinned a Big Issue to each character: Dick gets AIDS, Jane gets anorexia, Baby Sally gets pregnant--but they're no more real for it. Degrassi Street was the first expression of what Degrassi had to say, and the last honest one; in those days the enterprise still had its head about it and knew its limits. Afterwards, all was overreach.

But this one doesn't do it for me. I tried, I tried to like it. Just can't.

Degrassi JR and High makes up for such a shady beginning.

Growing up in Australia I discovered Degrassi Junior High on the ABC after school and was immediately hooked. This was a show about kids struggling through issues that were relatable and educational.

As I got older I heard about this show but it was never something I was able to get my hands on until recently when it popped up on Amazon Prime.

My excitement was short lived as it really is not great. The filming is amateurish, the acting is almost non-existent and although I am sure the writers meant well, the issues covered are really a stretch at best.

I gave it a 6 for nostalgia reasons only. It's really only for the die hard fans that want to see where it all began.

And a humble beginning, for sure. Very low budget, very low key, and very Canadian are three ways to describe this show, the first of the 'Degrassi' ventures. The cast is made up of regular kids, not professional actors (though they did of course get paid for their work here). The slickness and professionalism of the current 'Degrassi' series (see 'Degrassi: The Next Generation') is non-existent here, instead replaced with an earnestness and realism missing from most TV shows, past and present. So realistic at times that it gets a bit boring, but overall the show is fun, mainly because of the appealing cast. The actors/actresses have always been the heart and soul of the 'Degrassi' shows, and this is no exception.

Zoe Newman, Dawn Harrison and Allan Melusi starred in the pilot, a short film from 1979 called 'Ida Makes a Movie,' and all three returned two years later when that short was turned into 'The Kids of Degrassi Street.' Some later regulars include Neil Hope, Staci Mistysyn, John Ioannou, Christopher Charlesworth and Anais Granofsky went on to star in the second 'Degrassi' series, 'Degrassi (Junior) High.' Another latter day regular, Rachel Blanchard, is now a budding film actress. The rest of the kids have been relegated to "Where are they Now?" status, but live on in immortality in TKODS, which is available for purchase on video (two to three shows per video). If you're a fan of the current series, or were a fan of the show from the late 80's/early 90's, then this show is a must for your 'Degrassi' collection. It all stated here, folks.

The kids of degrassi street was an innocent, low budget program that set out to show kids in their natural habitat from home life to the playground.

Actors consisting of regular kids dealing with staying at the hospital over night by themselves, a new marriage, losing a young sibling And trying to impress the opposite sex.

Showing many regulars like Neil Hope who would become a fan favorite and perfect their trade before junior high began.

Different from other installments in the series, the kids version was more realistic, touchy feely and at times slow in pacing. I appreciate those qualities myself since most programming today flies by so quickly you never get to know the characters or care about the problem at hand.

In a way I found the latter eps drawing me in wishing that it could last for a few more seasons or at least keep the characters the same instead of changing who they are and their backgrounds for the new series on the horizon.

For degrassi fans its a must to own as this is where it all started and without the humble beginnings their would be no current show.

While the other is more well known in terms of popularity I find this simple series to be a relaxing slice of life that helps recapture your youth and won an award for children's programming.

Anyone who buys a copy even helps donate cash to PBS or so it claims on the box and helps the likes of Arthur, sesame street and Mr. Rogers live on forever.

So head out to the street and remember what being a kid is all about.