'DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION' Teen show focuses on tough issues

The Canadian 'Degrassi' series began in 1982.
WASHINGTON POST
It's like bumping into childhood friends you never expected to see again.
The faces are vaguely familiar, and so are many of the names -- Spike, Caitlyn, Joey. "Degrassi: The Next Generation" gives faithful fans a chance to catch up with the characters they watched struggle through adolescent angst more than two decades ago.
"Next Generation," which begins its fourth season Friday, is the most recent addition to a Canadian series that began in 1982. The show features many of the same actors who starred in "The Kids of Degrassi Street" and "Degrassi Junior High." Like its predecessors, "Next Generation" deals with some of the most controversial and taboo topics facing today's young adults -- from their perspective.
"It's about what happens to you in that time between being a child and an adult and testing the two simultaneously," said creator Linda Schuyler.
"Degrassi Junior High" aired in the United States from 1986 to 1991 on PBS and touched on teenage pregnancy, abortion, racial discrimination, drug addiction, abuse, relationships and other issues facing kids of that decade.
Today's "Next Generation" is shown on the N -- Noggin's "tween-to-teen" prime-time lineup -- on Fridays at 8 p.m. Beginning this week, episodes from previous seasons will air Saturday through Thursday at 8 p.m. (The network is available to digital and satellite subscribers.)
Difficult subjects
"Next Generation" has dealt with date rape, teenage pregnancy, abortion, school shootings, cutting, drug abuse and sexual orientation.
"'Degrassi' gives [teenagers] the tools to potentially deal with these situations. The show gives the audience the respect to realize they're ready to deal with these topics and issues," said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, vice president of programming at the N.
Besides being entertaining, Schuyler said the show also aims to "educate and enlighten," a mission that brings a great deal of responsibility.
"There are some issues you have to be careful about," she said. "One is always afraid of copycat behavior.
"We just finished production on an episode involving violence in the school. You want to make sure you're getting it right. Whenever we deal with sensitive topics, [the scripts] are always vetted by experts," Schuyler said.
"At the end of the day, we hope we've put out the most responsible piece" possible.
That includes offering parent discussion guides (available online at www.discussion. the-n.com), which feature questions and tips to accompany episodes.
XInterested in winning a guest spot on an episode of "Degrassi: The Next Generation?" Visit www.the-n.com for details. Entry deadline is Friday.