You're so flat the walls are jealous!

Such is a biting insult from one Joey Jeremiah to a girl on the swim team in an episode of Degrassi Junior High. Typical guys, right?

For the past 31 years in Canada, the United States, and around the world, the television program "Degrassi" has been airing in some form.  First there was "The Kids of Degrassi Street."  Then "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High."  Now we have "Degrassi: The Next Generation."  The show is a trailblazer and has been hailed by critics and viewers alike as groundbreaking, realistic, and extremely insightful into the problems faced by teenagers then and today.

The original cast of 90210

While the cast has changed, the problems have remained the same.  Nothing is off the table for these Canadian students who navigate the halls of Degrassi Community School.  Abortion.  AIDS.  Substance Abuse.  Sexuality. School shootings.  These themes and topics have been dealt with on American television shows like "One Tree Hill" and "Beverly Hills 90210," but never in such a realistic manner.

The original series followed Caitlin Ryan and Christine "Spike" Nelson along with a host of other characters including Joey Jeremiah and Archie "Snake" Simpson.  For the next generation of Degrassi, the child Spike has on the original show being of high school age is the impetus for the program.

Caitlin Ryan, played by Stacie Mistysyn

Aaron Spelling was so enamored with Degrassi, its characters, and themes, that he wanted to buy the American rights to it but co-creator and executive producer Linda Schuyler, a former Canadian teacher, said no.  That's when Spelling decided to make "Beverly Hills 90210" with 20 and later 30 year olds portraying high school and college students.

The new cast of 90210.  Kind of like when they made a new Degrassi.  Pattern anyone?

Those of us who grew up with 90210 remember that the problems were overdramatic and that the the age of the actors playing the characters was always a running joke.  Not so with Degrassi, where teenagers who are actual teenagers portray the students.  For a Canadian show the acting, writing, and production value are actually pretty good.

Claude, rejected by Caitlin

The series has never shied away from controversial topics. In the episode "Showtime, Part 2," a depressed student commits suicide after being rejected by a girl and is found in the bathroom by another student. This shocking episode resonated and struck a chord. It began a national dialogue both in Canada and the United States, and awareness of depression in teens was finally discussed as a real problem. Use of suicide hotlines and other resources to help teens with depression skyrocketed.

"Degrassi Talks" hot button issues and consequences for teens.

In two other episodes, one in "Degrassi High" and more recently in "Degrassi: The Next Generation," two of the characters both decide to go through with abortions. Both episodes did not initially air in the U.S., but eventually aired in severely edited forms that detracted from the gravity of the situation. The latter show's episode depicted the girl who went through with it as showing no remorse, another comment on morality. 

That's not to say the show is not without its funny moments.  It can be lighthearted just as quickly as it can get serious.  But the writing is great and it's a show that offers great lessons without commentary and without being preachy.  It's a great show so check it out.  It airs on TeenNick and the CW. 

Lastly, interesting Degrassi trivia:

Aubrey Graham (aka Drake), Shenae Grimes, and Lauren Collins ("Paige Michalchuk")

Notable Degrassi alums: Drake ("Jimmy Brooks," played by Aubrey Graham); Shenae Grimes ("Darcy Edwards" on Degrassi; "Annie Wilson" on 90210), and Nina Dobrev ("Mia Jones" on Degrassi; "Elena Gilbert/Katherine Pierce" on The Vampire Diaries).

Kevin Smith is also a huge Degrassi fan and references it in his movies.  For example, in "Mallrats," Shannon Doherty's character is wearing a Degrassi jacket.  In "Chasing Amy," Jason Lee's character says he would rather stay in watching "Degrassi Junior High" rather than going out, and the scene in the rain between Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck is a reference to the end of the Degrassi episode "Twenty Bucks."

Finally, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes did a three episode arc on Degrassi TNG entitled "Jay and Silent Bob go Canadian, Eh?"