If you’re still a follower of this blog, you know it’s been pretty quiet here for a while.
No, I haven’t given up on Degrassi…not even close. As a matter of fact, I’ve spent this year transitioning over to Youtube as Degrassi Corner. The fan engagement over there has been awesome…as awesome as it used to be over here. The online Degrassi community is different than what it was just a few years ago, and if Degrassi’s 35+ years of existence have taught me anything, it’s that evolving is necessary and change isn’t a bad thing.
I started DegrassiBlog.com because I wanted there to be a central place where fans could find information about Degrassi, similar to the great Degrassi fansites that existed when I first started watching this show back in 2004. But with the transition of the series to Netflix as “Degrassi: Next Class,” we’ve witnessed a major shift in Degrassiland. This series is a generational show, one where the average fan comes and goes after a few years for a myriad of reasons, and Season 14 was a natural place for fans to leave the series if they wanted to.
DegrassiBlog.com in 2010.
We’ve also entered an era where there’s simply very little information about Degrassi in general over the course of a calendar year. Degrassi news has been the backbone of so many Degrassi fansites over the years. For 14 seasons we only went maybe a few months in between Degrassi news cycles/promos/episodes, but today’s binge format means we’re going 6 months in between blocks of episodes. We now spend a majority of the year without any substantial Degrassi goodness…you know, the type that can breathe life into an online community that becomes a barren wasteland during hiatuses.
Hell, we can barely get the broadcasters to actually promote Next Class, and despite there being well over 500 Degrassi episodes in existence, if there’s nothing new happening fans typically act as if “there is nothing to talk about.”
So DegrassiBlog.com has pretty much become an archive of what I consider to be the Degrassi online community’s golden era. There was no better time to be an active fan online than during Seasons 10-14. It could get messy at times, but we were supplied with what felt like an endless number of Degrassi episodes and innovative bonus content. Now, we’re currently sitting around in the midst of will be well over a year-long hiatus, hoping our beloved show isn’t canceled (it’s not…Stephen Stohn himself has hinted at new episodes).
This site was originally called “Degrassi TV.”
I’m forever grateful for all of you who’ve read this blog over the years. I never expected this place to get millions upon millions of views; it did because of you. However, we’ve reached the point where the era this place thrived has come to an end, so it’s time to look forward.
Just know my old ass is still out here doing Degrassi things. I’m still active over on Twitter, and I’m making videos regularly over at Degrassi Corner (and if major news happens I’ll probably post it here as well), If you’re jumping off this Degrassi train I totally understand; we’ve all got places we’re trying to be.
Kary's Degrassi Blog 
Still here!! 💜
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The end of an era! Kary – your blog has been such an amazing resource for us Degrassi superfans over the years, and I’ll greatly miss it. Thank you! I started watching Degrassi back in 2001 (can’t believe I’m 30 and still watching…). Feels like I grew up with the show, and it’s been awesome to have this website to turn to after so many fan sites folded over the years. I’ll still be following you on YouTube and Twitter until Degrassi’s dying days and beyond. Wishing you all the best for 2018!
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I’m still here too Kary :)
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I like the YouTube but I like just reading things too.
But has Stohn said anything else other than in that video about his book, cause his cryptic statement there sounded like he was hinting at a TV movie coming next. Which wouldn’t be exciting. Or is the next thing to come a message about not being on Netflix anymore and they have found a new regular USA tv channel.
I loved the Netflix seasons but 20 1/2 hour episodes over a year is ridiculous even though that helped increase the quality. If they were staying on Netflix I dunno why there would be a huge break plus no set date announcement for season 5. So I would have to think they are off Netflix, and hopefully onto a decent cable channel in the USA, with hopefully either more episodes per season, or 10-15 hour long episodes and I guess they can be weekly. And not wait 6 months between seasons.
Do you know anything about the situation?
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It’s really sad about Netflix and the whole situation. I’ll always be watching the reruns but would love for the show to continue.
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still here!
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Thank you so much kary for being there as a sorce for thoes awful hiatus and the times where they had confusing plotlines i had to read your opinion for reassurance . I will continue to support you on YouTube and i wilm continue to stick strong thru the long hiatus
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Thank you Kary for the dedication you poured into the best fansite of the fandom. Though I’ve been watching Degrassi since Season 3, it was only Season 12 when I became a passive DTC and then the end of Season 13 when I was all in. I can’t thank you enough for keeping us all together. See you on your YouTube channel!
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I check in every now and then, but mostly due to how much easier the comment section here is compared to, you know, youtube.
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I may be the oldest Degrassi watcher ever – I’m 52 and will be 53 in February! I caught it on I believe what was still the N in 2004 or so and then was able to watch the reruns on there to see the year before that and MANY of the 80’s Degrassi Jr. High, etc., shows in rerun! It was a fun time to become a Degrassi fan, and then find out a lot of my daughter’s friends watched it (but never my daughter, strangely enough!). I have never stopped watching and have watched most of the last 8-10 years online instead of on tv. Have enjoyed your blog and your Youtubechannel!
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Don’t worry man, I’m still here bud lol. I drop by the site every now and then to check up, but it felt like when they switched to Next Class, it felt like as you say, they were switching up their target audience from millenials to the generation z crowd. I get it, if a show is to stay alive and remotely hope to thrive, then they need to adapt with the times to a certain point. That’s just the way showbiz works, and I also want to congratulate you on the success you’ve had since switching over to YouTube. I’m happy for ya man!
I’ll leave off with a question that has lingered since Degrassi debuted on Netflix:
Don’t get me wrong, Netflix is the current “place to be” for many shows hoping to survive and “live another day”. Saying that, there’s certainly nothing wrong w/ Netflix at all, but I’m curious how much smaller their audience may have shrunk since going there from an actual tv network? Sadly, I don’t believe there’s any info to either back up or contradict that thought, so I’ll leave you with this Kary. Do you think that Degrassi will ever have a legitimate chance of getting back on an actual tv network here in the US?
I’m just curious for the simple sake of the show’s exposure. Since they made the jump to Netflix, there’s been almost no discussion/buzz about this show, regardless of how good or bad it has been since making the switch. Having a literal “media blackout”, like the one they’re have currently as of May 2018, makes me a bit nervous as to the show’s sustainability if its literally hiding for close to a half a year at a time.
Thanks again for all the hard work you’ve done here and on YouTube bud!
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