ChapterZero

I know this makes me a total dork, but I’m stoked about the fact that Degrassi: The Next Generation is going to be airing on the CW (KTLA 5 on Sats, 12n-2:30pm for those of you in the LA area). Ummmm… a weekly dose of five episodes of my favorite Canadian high school drama.

Looking back, it’s amazing how the original Degrassi was considered sensational and racy, dealing as evenhandedly as it did with controversial issues like teen pregnancy and drugs. Now, after shows like the OC and One Tree Hill have tired of these subjects and moved onto more adult diversions like murder, the only aspect of the show that might make viewers uncomfortable is the fact that the actors actually look the ages of their characters. So, instead of a 10th grader being played by Chad Michael Murray (who can’t act, btw), an actual 10th grader plays the part?! Shocking!

DNG would certainly be shocking if it was simply One Tree Hill with the current actors replaced by age appropriate actors. It would be downright freaky, in fact. Luckily– maybe it’s the fact that the show is Canadian– it’s a lot more grounded in reality.