DEGRASSI HIGH: A NEW START {FOURTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

One in this half-hour Canadian series about the problems and adventures of adolescents who attend Degrassi High School, continuing from the junior high series of the same name. In this two-part episode, the students prepare for their first day of high school, though Erica is distracted when she feels ill yet again. At the school, she and Heather greet their friends Liz and Spike, as well as Spike's baby Emma. Joey and Caitlin meet up, and Dwayne and some of the other students complain about the arrival of the younger students and ponder the need to "initiate" them to high school. Lucy reveals that she plans to make a movie, and Heather tells the other girls about Erica's summer-camp romance, though Erica says that it ended badly. Heather then privately tells her friends that Erica lost her virginity to the young man. Joey, Wheels and Snake consider renaming their band, and they run into Ms. Avery, the pretty teacher from their former school. Dwayne and the others confront Joey and his friends, accusing them of burning down their previous school and promising to make their lives difficult. Simon enjoys some newfound fame due to his magazine cover and TV commercial shot over the summer, and when Heather apologizes to Erica for mentioning her summer boyfriend, she tells her sister not to mention him again. They settle into homeroom, where they meet their new teacher, Mr. Walfish. Later that night, Heather hears Erica crying and tries to help, at which points Erica reveals that she thinks she may be pregnant.

As Joey continues to dream up band names, he thinks he hears the voice of the formidable Mr. Raditch over the loudspeaker, but Wheels dismisses his claim. Snake soon joins them covered in flour, having been "initiated" by the bullies. Heather and Erica talk as they wait for the results of Erica's home pregnancy test, and when Erica brings up abortion, Heather quickly rejects this idea, saying that it is against their religion and morally wrong. The test, however, is negative, and the girls are relieved. Mr. Walfish assigns "Lord of the Flies" to the students, and a few girls ask for Simon's autograph in the hallway, which bothers Alexa. Lucy and L.D. come across their friends Kathleen and Melanie tied to a flagpole as part of the older students' initiation, but they decline to help, fearing their own punishment. Wheels receives his own hazing, though Joey remains unscathed. Fearing a false negative, Erica does a second pregnancy test and it comes out positive, though she tells her sister otherwise. She asks Spike about the experience of being pregnant, and Spike explains that she "felt like an outcast" and now has a minimal social life. In class, when the students seem reluctant to discuss "Lord of the Flies," Mr. Walfish encourages them to discuss something else, and Erica suggests abortion as a topic. The class immediately gets into a heated debate about rights and morality, but Erica remains silent.

Alexa breaks up with Simon after seeing him surrounded by "glamorous older women" yet again. He catches up with her, however, and explains that she means more to him than his "fans" do. Erica goes to the women's clinic and is harassed by anti-choice protestors outside, who try to talk her out of having an abortion. Once inside, she asks questions and is told about the process, and the woman encourages her to talk to her parents and a counselor, if need be. Later, Erica confesses to Heather that she is indeed pregnant and says that she has made an appointment to have it terminated, and Heather is highly upset, refusing to accompany her twin for the procedure. Joey is finally caught by Dwayne and the others and forced to play a humiliating game, but they are interrupted by Mr. Raditch, now the vice-principal of Degrassi High. Heather appeals to Spike, saying that "someone" intends to have an abortion and asking her to intervene, but Spike states that it is the right choice for some people and it is a "really complicated" decision. Later, when Erica heads to her appointment, Heather catches up with her and says that she will support her even though she believes her actions to be wrong, and together they fight their way through the protestors and into the clinic. This final scene was edited out for American television. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: CBC (Canada)
• DATE: November 6, 1989 8:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:47:20
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:20146
• GENRE: Drama
• SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - Canada; Drama; Teenagers
• SERIES RUN: CBC - TV series, 1987-1991
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Angela Bruce … Executive Producer
• Kate Taylor … Executive Producer
• Linda Schuyler … Executive Producer, Created by
• Kit Hood … Producer, Created by, Director
• Yan Moore … Writer
• Lewis Manne … Music by
• Wendy Watson … Music by
• Angela Deiseach … Cast, Erica
• Maureen Deiseach … Cast, Heather
• Stefan Brogren … Cast, Snake
• Neil Hope … Cast, Wheels
• Pat Mastroianni … Cast, Joey
• Anais Granofsky … Cast, Lucy
• Amanda Cook … Cast, L.D.
• Irene Courakos … Cast, Alexa
• Michael Carry … Cast, Simon
• Amanda Stepto … Cast, Spike
• Cathy Keenan … Cast, Liz
• Siluck Saysanasy … Cast, Yick
• Duncan Waugh … Cast, Arthur
• Darrin Brown … Cast, Dwayne
• George Chaker … Cast, Nick
• Michele Johnson-Murray … Cast, Tabi
• Stacie Mistysyn … Cast, Caitlin
• Kyra Levy … Cast, Maya
• David Armin-Parcells … Cast, Claude
• John Ioannou … Cast, Alex
• Rebecca Haines … Cast, Kathleen
• Sara Ballingall … Cast, Melanie
• Dayo Ade … Cast, BLT
• Maureen McKay … Cast, Michelle
• Keith White … Cast, Tim
• Carina Annis … Cast, Lois
• Niville Diggs … Cast, Grace
• Christopher Charlesworth … Cast, Scooter
• Kirsten Bourne … Cast, Tessa
• Krista Houston … Cast, Joanne
• Adam David … Cast, Mr. Walfish
• Michelle Goodeve … Cast, Ms. Avery
• Dan Woods … Cast, Mr. Raditch
• Samantha Morrison … Cast, Baby Emma
• Meita Winkler … Cast, Counsellor
• Susan Hart … Cast, Receptionist