From The Canadian Press:
Link: Degrassi: Next Class to feature Black Lives Matter storyline in season 2
The Degrassi franchise is known for its topical storylines and the second season of Next Class kicking off Tuesday re-enforces that reputation.
As headlines swirl over police shootings of black men in the U.S., the season two arc of Degrassi: Next Class focuses on racism and a Black Lives Matter protest. Continue reading.Â
From Kelly Townsend of The TV Junkies:
Link: Dark Matter: Joseph Mallozzi talks “I’ve Seen the Other Side of You”
“We sat down and broke the story over a couple of days. Paul [Mullie] wrote the script, he did a phenomenal job on it, and Steve DiMarco, this was his first directing gig with us, did a phenomenal job as well. This was one of my favourite episodes of the season. It’s a smaller episode, but I just love it.” Continue reading.
Star Trek had its legendary episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles.” Killjoys most notable Season 2 instalment so far may very well be Friday’s newest, “Shaft,” which I’ve dubbed “The Mess with Mossipedes.” Dutch, Johnny and D’Avin’s latest mission—to retrieve three fellow killjoys who’d gone missing in the Badlands—approached an explanation about Level 6, a shot across Liam Jelco’s bow and things Johnny described as looking “like an angry vagina.”
Dark and oh-so claustrophobic, “Shaft” found our trio—along with Alvis—in an abandoned mine shaft seeking three hunters who’d made an evacuation request that never made it to the RAC because Khlyen nixed the transmission. I’ve become a major fan of Turin (played by Patrick Garrow), so I’m loving the fact he’s teamed with our team. Can he be trusted? Maybe not in the long run, but he clearly isn’t a fan of Khlyen, so for the short-term everyone is on the same page.
The theme of mistrust was front and centre thanks to the mossipedes, whose gooey guts caused hallucinations first for the missing killjoys and then for Dutch, who imagined Khlyen was there, goading her and convincing her she was Level 6. The fact the hallucinogens were strong enough to cause Dutch to stab herself in the stomach was evidence of its true power. Is that really the stuff Fancy has coursing through his veins? It certainly appears so, especially since D’Avin rejected the goo and was able to turn the advancing hordes away just by gesturing at them.
Aside from the main story, Pawter and Alvis got some major screen time as well: the former outwitting Liam Jelco and escaping (only to be knocked unconscious as she approached Old Town), and the latter discovering part of the Scarback lore and rekindling his faith. I’m looking forward to Alvis’ journey this season; I was instantly intrigued by him last year and wanted to know more. Clearly we’re going to get more info moving forward; he found the monk and decrypted the runes, revealing one monk did return from battling the devil.
Is Alvis the next monk to wage war? And is Khlyen the devil?
Killjoys airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Space.
From Steve Eramo of Sci Fi and TV Talk:
Link: The Good, The Bad And The (Not So) Ugly – Interview with Dark Matter’s Anthony Lemke
“We chatted about this year and I expressed certain wishes surrounding my character to Joe. He and Paul are both masterminds and the ones who decide where Three goes. Honestly, it’s been very rewarding this year, because they’ve managed to walk that fine line with keeping Three a scoundrel and selfish jerk – which can’t go away – while also revealing his grounded, sensitive and caring side.” Continue reading.
By Stefan Brogren
So last year we were cancelled by our American broadcaster. Without much more explanation than, “We think Degrassi has run its course.†It was over. Truth is, we’ve always had a problem fitting in. We’re not a sitcom, we’re not 90210—and most of our subject matter deals with the most God-awful aspects of growing up.
Still, I was dumbfounded. Why give up a series that’s the teen equivalent to the Star Trek franchise (don’t shoot me)? It could go on forever!
OK, yes. There are a bunch of reasons to say Degrassi should call it a day and just go away (I’m rhyming, yo).
We’ve been making the show for a jillion years and for some folks that’s just annoying.
We have a serious lack of students that are vampires, werewolves, mutants or serial killers—not for a lack of trying, mind you.
And the big one. We’re unabashedly Canadian. We’re reminded of this every time the States makes a list of what makes Canada … Canada. “Poutine! Canucks! Degrassi! Trees!†I know, it’s annoying.
You could say we “recycle†the same subject matter every couple of years (drugs, sex, boners, mental health, boners, peer pressure, boners). But if you think being a teenager now is the same as the good ol’ days of Joey streaking the caf, well then you haven’t checked your effin’ Snapchat feed lately. Manny freaking out because her boobs were put on the Internet (Season 5, The Next Generation) has zero relevance to a generation that send and receive “junk pics†on their smartphones as part of the dating process. Sorry parents. They all do it. Seriously. All of them. Even the sweet ones. Boners. No one’s safe.
For lots of people (who probably haven’t watched the show in years), Degrassi is painfully earnest in its depiction of teens—and earnest equals not cool.
Skins is cool. Degrassi is … earnest.
I’m biased obviously, but Degrassi isn’t earnest in its depictions of teen life. It’s thoughtful. Our fans grow up watching and adoring shows like The Vampire Diaries, The 100 and Pretty Little Liars. They’re awesome and fantastical. Then they turn around and watch Degrassi with all the crappy, gross, embarrassing, manic, euphoric, lovely and ridiculously funny moments that come with being 17. And it feels like a friend.
So we were cancelled. And then, in what seemed like the next day, we were given new life on Netflix. The second season of Degrassi: Next Class premieres in Canada on Family Channel on July 19th and streams on Netflix July 22nd. If you haven’t watched Degrassi in a whole bunch of years, give it a shot. I promise you, we have 70 per cent more boner stories than any other show out there. Period. (And probably the most period stories too.)
Degrassi: Next Class airs Tuesdays at 9:45 p.m. ET on Family Channel.
Stefan is well known to Canadians for his six years on the television series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. He was a Gemini Award nominee for Best Actor at age 17. Stefan is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles, where he won the prestigious Michael Thomas Award for acting excellence. Stefan has made numerous television appearances, including the series Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye, Wild Card, Jonathan Cross’s Canada, Twitch City, I Was A Sixth Grade Alien and The Associates. Stefan can also be seen in the movie Too Smooth with Neve Campbell and Rebecca Gayheart. Stefan has since become a key part of the Degrassi production team taking on the role of Series Producer. Adding Director to his responsibilities, Stefan has helmed numerous Degrassi episodes, as well as the MOWs Degrassi Goes Hollywood and D: NYC – Degrassi Takes Manhattan. In 2010, Stefan won a Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series. He followed this up with another win in 2014 at the Canadian Screen Awards. Stefan has also co-produced, directed and written a large portion of Degrassi’s original digital content. In addition, Stefan was also a Co-Executive Producer and Director on the two seasons of the MuchMusic/CW series The L.A. Complex and the first season of the YTV/TeenNick series Open Heart.
