Entertainment Weekly’s latest article reminds us all that Degrassi’s about to hit a milestone…it’ll reach the 300 episode mark at some point during Season 12. I believe ep 1223 is the 300th episode, so we probably won’t get to see it until this fall.
We also get the names of all the new characters: Campbell (grade 10), Mike (grade 12) and siblings Luke & Becky (grade 11). It’s looking like Demetrius Joyette and Dylan Everett will be playing Campbell and Mike (still not sure who is playing who yet), while Becky will be played by Sarah Fisher and Luke will be played by the guy on the far left of the picture below:
The article also mentioned the return of Holly J for the finale In The Cold Cold Night, but hardcore Degrassians already knew that. Almost 6 months ago when The Stohn posted a picture of the finale script all it took was a little photoshopping to see the page underneath the cover, which confirmed Holly J appearing and having lines.
–
–
Kary's Degrassi Blog 
I wonder if the Coyne’s are going banrupt or they cut Fiona off her trustfund?? Yes I still ship FollyJ.
LikeLike
I wonder if Declan will be back, now that Terra Nova is canceled.
LikeLike
I’m seriously puzzled as to why they would add a senior at this point. Glad we’re getting a sophomore… Though it’s really odd to make Campbell the only one.
LikeLike
Hopefully they’ll actually develop these characters. The A,B, and C style is making it difficult to care about any of the current characters. Maybe if it was an hour long show Degrassi could do it. But not in less than 22 minutes.
LikeLike
they shouldve made all the new people sophmores, dylan could pass as a freshmen
LikeLike
Honestly, there are WAY too many characters for season 12. How the hell are they going to manage to give decent screentime to TWENTY-FIVE characters? Inevitably, a handful of regulars will be rarely seen and will not get any plots. This is ridiculous, man. Degrassi is starting to suck. And one more thing, the only new BLACK character is brought in as a senior in a HALF a season? They do this crap on purpose. I am so DONE with this damn show.
LikeLike
It’s actually 27 :/ I agree with you though, it’s very unnecessary. The way I see it, new characters should only be added if either a) everyone is moving up a grade and they are needed to fill the gap of graduated Seniors or B) a character is leaving and they’re bringing in a replacement, but even then the person taking over should be an already recurring character. It amazes me how instead of promoting Julian to regular status, they bring in a completely new senior who will most likely only be around for one season! Then we only get one sophomore? Okay… They could have just brought Jess back and made Luke & Becky sophomores along with her and Campbell. It’s just strange how insistent the writers are on adding so many upperclassmen! I mean we’ll have
4 Freshmen
1 Sophomore
9 Juniors
11 Seniors
2 Adults
I have no intention to stop watching the show, as I love Degrassi & am still very tuned into the story, I just don’t know how they can keep things running smoothly by adding 4 completely new characters in both halves of every new season.
LikeLike
Honestly, why do they bother adding characters if they never bother to develop them?
LikeLike
I agree with you. There really is no point in adding characters that they aren’t going to develop or give decent screentime to. Think about it. TWENTY-FIVE characters are going to be in season 12. The writers can only either:
Divide the screentime and plots equally amongst them which will give EVERYONE limited screen time and hardly any development at all.
OR
Pick a handful of “fan favorites” and give all of the glory(plots and development) to them while using the remaining….IDK…..FIFTEEN characters as a bunch of “extra Chantays”.
Obviously, I ain’t going to like either option. 14-16 characters per season is ENOUGH. What the hell…..
LikeLike
Agreed.
LikeLike
The worst part is that we have characters like Wesley, Bianca, Adam, Connor, and lately Ali, KC, and Dave who don’t get nearly as much screentime as say Clare, Drew, Jake or Katie do despite their popularity and when they do get the screen time its usually to serve someone elses b-plot.
The one thing an ensemble should NEVER do is favor some characters over others. It leads to resentment of other characters, a good bit of Clare hate comes with how shes basically the shows lead in a show that shouldn’t have leads. Every main character should get at least 1 A-Plot per season or you shouldn’t consider them a main character. Its not like they don’t have enough episodes. The older seasons where great at balancing screentime. Even when characters like Hazel, Ellie, or Toby didn’t get A-Plots, they certainly got a fair amount of screentime. Hell Hazel had more screentime in 2 seasons than Wesley has had in almost 4. There is really no excuse for that unless its actor availability, which isn’t the case here.
I think the biggest problem the show has now its balance, this is evident by the C-Plots. They don’t seem think they have enough time to give everyone screentime so they shove a usually pointless c-plot for comic relief, that if it isn’t funny, just throws the episode off balance. We need to go back two just two plots per episode and we should give every main character an a-plot, we also need light hearted episodes again. When every episode has something dramatic in it, it cheapens the drama, which is why the season finales have been lacking, when ever episode has some big dramatic event, why is this so special?
I fear season 12 is going to be season 8 all over again.
LikeLike
Why wouldn’t they make any of the new characters freshmen?
11 SENIORS?! Someone’s going to have to be staying behind, or get killed off. Cripes, past graduating classes have included 5-6 main characters.
LikeLike
11 seniors and 12 juniors, they shouldve made mike, the twins, and campbell 10th graders with jess and sadie
LikeLike
12 Juniors? We’re only getting 9 of them.
LikeLike
Looks like Fiona gets a new friend . If so why? Imogen and Fiona are awesome.
LikeLike
Really not liking this apparent “revolving door” of characters on the show now.
LikeLike
I think it is likely that more than one character will stay behind, I would guess Bianca, Drew, and possibly Owen cause all of them are dumb enough or don’t go to school enough to fail
LikeLike
Kary can you look at my fanfictions please
1)http://degrassi.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Degrassiman4497/Degrassi:_The_Hidden_Baggage
2)http://degrassipathershigh.wikia.com/wiki/DegrassiPathersHigh_Wiki
3)http://skyhighfanfic.wikia.com/wiki/Sky_High_Fanfic_Wiki
4)http://totaldrama.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Degrassiman4497/Total_Drama_United_(2nd_redo)
#1 and 4 aren’t ready, but #2 has 7 episodes up, and #3 has the promo up, id appreciate any feedback
LikeLike
I kind of hope they do a storyline where a senior or a few seniors even get expelled but then get to come back the next school year just like Spinner did. Drew’s a likely candidate to be held back since they’ve been doing the whole bad grades thing with him since he began the show but I’d rather get to know some of these underdeveloped seniors or have more time with the developed ones then have new characters filling their places. The 16 2 part episodes we are getting for the first half of season 12 is not enough for these characters!
LikeLike
Anyone else notice that two of the new characters were already on a show together called Wingin It? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1479978/
LikeLike
For once, I REALLY wish they wouldn’t just drop new characters on us so abruptly. Half a year is left for the Seniors, and I’m having a hard time swallowing the bitter pill that most of the Grade 12’s we know JUST came in during the first half of Season 11. WHY SO MANY SENIORS? Honestly, the safest space to fill is the sophomore slot, which is virtually unpopulated. Seriously. There’s A LOT of room to develop if we can get them in at LEAST Grade 10. I feel like a good majority of the cast is left with the apparent need to be developed. I think 20 main characters tops is manageable for all 4 grades. 25+ is just pushing it. Sadie was SUCH a good forerunner to be the Sophomore HBIC, and I’m so upset that she got deported to the Degrassi Bermuda Triangle. Also, WHERE are Wesley and Hannah? Their nerd love is adorkable beyond belief and I’ll be mad if they just end up in the triangle with Sadie. And Liam made all of ONE appearance this half season. I wish he were a year younger, that way Maya could’ve been promoted to a higher level music class and they would’ve fallen for each other because they’re such music lovers. And if Adam doesn’t get an A-Plot in Season 12, heads will roll. I know it sounds like I’m complaining (mostly because I am) but I’m just dreading a cycle of underdevelopment. I don’t know how I feel concerning this sort of Lakehurst-esque divide of the school. But hey, at least Eclare is endgame. ;) <3
LikeLike
Looking over this post again, I wonder if Holly J, Declan or Fiona’s mom will be at Fiona’s grad.
LikeLike