Degrassi

Degrassi is a Canadian teen drama television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. Spanning five main series from 1979 to 2017, it follows the lives of youths in Toronto. With the exception of the first series, the franchise takes place in the same fictional timeline, with the titular school as the central setting. Outside of television, the franchise comprises companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works.

From 1979 to 1992, Degrassi was a non-union production by the independent company Playing With Time and was broadcast on the CBC. This period was marked by the use of non-professional actors and entirely on-location shooting. The first entry, The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979–86), focuses on the lives of children living on the namesake Toronto street, but is unrelated to all other entries. Degrassi Junior High (1987–89) and its sequel series Degrassi High (1989–91) followed the lives of students attending the fictional titular schools and gained widespread acclaim for their portrayal of adolescence and social issues. Degrassi's original run officially ended with the controversial television film School's Out (1992), which received a mixed reception from fans and critics alike and also featured the first use of the word "fuck" on Canadian television. Hood was not involved in future Degrassi series, which were produced by Schuyler and Stephen Stohn through their new company Epitome Pictures.

Throughout the 1990s, Degrassi maintained a cult following through re-runs and syndication, and following a successful televised cast reunion, the franchise was revived and continued with Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–15), which originally aired on CTV in Canada and The N in the United States. Marked by higher production values and the use of studio sets, it focused on a new generation of teenagers, including the daughter of original character Spike (Amanda Stepto), while featuring Spike and other previous characters as adults. It received rave reviews and was particularly successful in the United States. The Next Generation notably launched the careers of musician Drake and actress Nina Dobrev. After a brief cancellation in 2009, The Next Generation returned on TeenNick simply as Degrassi and with a telenovela-style format. After five more seasons, it was cancelled in 2015. Degrassi: Next Class, a direct follow-up and soft reboot aimed at Generation Z, released on Netflix in early 2016 and ran until 2017, with its cancellation only confirmed in 2019. In January 2022, a new series was announced for HBO Max in which Schuyler would not be involved. Following months of silence and speculation, it was confirmed to be cancelled in November 2022. WildBrain, the current owner of the property, later indicated that there are still plans to develop the new series.

Degrassi is regarded as one of Canada's greatest television achievements and is one of the most successful media franchises in Canadian history, receiving numerous awards and honours over its timespan, including numerous Gemini Awards, an International Emmy in 1987, and a Peabody Award in 2010. Each entry has received widespread critical acclaim for its approach to controversial topics and age-appropriate casting. The franchise has courted controversy on several occasions for episodes depicting teenage pregnancy, abortion, and LGBT issues, with episodes from nearly every entry facing some form of editing or censorship outside of Canada. The franchise was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in December 2023.