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This show takes place at Oaks boarding school in England, and focuses on nine students who reside in the one of the school's dorms, called Discovery House (which is run by its occupants, all teenagers): Anya, Miles, Chris, Beans, Jax, Bethan, Drew, Stags and Tally. Miles and Chris are brothers, and Miles always looks for ways he can stab his brother in the back; Anya is the gorgeous but delicate girlfriend of Miles (and for whom Chris has a mad crush on, which she seems to reciprocate); Jax is the rebellious one of the bunch, and Beans is her flaky best bud who lives in D.H. attic; Staggsy and Drew are also best buds, and the youngest members of the House; and Bethan is the shy, underconfident overachiever who has a passion for track, and who lives with the self-absorbed American Tally).

The stories aren't particularly heavy, but are quite entertaining nonetheless. It all comes down to the fact that the characters are so likeable (save for Miles), and the actors and actresses portraying them are so winning. Fiona Wade especially sparkles in her role as Anya Vicenze. She lights up the screen in every scene she's in, and her upscale English accent is the best and classiest this side of Daljit Dhaliwal. I'd listen to the show on radio if I had to just to hear her speak.

All in all, worth 30 minutes of your time (commercials included).

The latest, and I believe best, in the franchise that is 'The Kids of Degrassi Street,' 'Degrassi (Junior) High' and now 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' is the best of the bunch for one main reason: it has the best cast of the three shows. The cast has always been the heart and soul of the 'Degrassi' series', and the young stars of this edition are matchless. I can easily imagine a third of them going on to successful careers in film and/or television, where few if any from the old shows did. The two standouts from the show are Melissa McIntyre and Cassie Steele. Aside from being cute as buttons, both young actresses are naturals in front of the camera, and the viewer can't help but be charmed grace Miss McIntyre brings to her role as Ashley Kerwin and the ebullience Miss Steele brings to her role as Manny Santos.

The characters themselves are a lot of fun also, due in no small part to the writers but again mainly because they've been fleshed out by such great young talent. Of the newest characters (added for season two), Jake Epstein's Craig Manning and Katie Lai's Kendra Mason are the most interesting, at least early in season #2. Stefan Brogen and Amanda Stepto play peripheral characters on the show, reprising their 'Degrassi (Junior) High' roles as Archie "Snake" Simpson (as a teacher at Degrassi) and Christine "Spike" Nelson (the mother of Emma Nelson, Manny's best bud). The one other adult character seen with any regularity on the show is Mrs. Kwan (played by Linlyn Lue), but the character is portrayed in a rather cold and icy manner, which makes her seem unsympathetic and bitchy. Adults rarely fare well in 'Degrassi' shows, unfortunately.

All in all, though, it's a great show, and doesn't seem to be overly politically correct. Half the female characters on 'Degrassi High' were loudmouth feminist-types, but only Emma Nelson on this show fits that mold (and she seems to have cleaned up her act for season two). Look for Melissa McIntyre and Cassie Steele especially to have long, great careers in show business.

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.