The Kids of Degrassi Street is a Canadian children's TV show that aired from 1979 to 1986, and is the first in the Degrassi series, about the lives of a group of children living on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Canada. It grew out of four short films: Ida Makes a Movie, Cookie Goes to the Hospital, Irene Moves In and Noel Buys a Suit, which originally aired as after-school specials on CBC Television in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively. The show was acclaimed for its realistic depiction of every day children's lives and tribulations, and remains memorable to many Canadians because of this. Kids of Degrassi Street featured many of the same actors who would later appear on Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, including Stacie Mistysyn, Neil Hope, Anais Granofsky, Sarah Charlesworth and others. However, their character names and families were different, so this series cannot technically be seen as an immediate precursor to the later shows.
Robin ""Griff"" Griffith is having trouble with schoolwork. He'd rather be drawing pictures than studying, and when his friend Danny, the crossing guard, asks for a caricature of himself, Griff is determined to make it his best ever. But Danny suddenly dies of a stroke, and Griff just can't stand that he didn't finish the caricature in time.
The Yearbook needs pictures. Lisa sees her chance to spend some time with Griff when Casey comes up with a brilliant plan - Griff can draw caricatures of everyone!
Nobody wants to be different from everyone else, and Martin is horrified to discover that he's going to have to wear a hearing aid. And it certainly doesn't help that everybody starts acting so weird around him.
Ryan is always making up stories, and it's hard to know when he's telling the truth. But his best friend Benjamin is convinced of Ryan's tales of treasure when Ryan produces evidence - he actually has a gold coin he found! Even though he's grounded, Benjamin sneaks out to a construction site to investigate with Ryan, and ends up falling down a hole and can't get out.
Money is on everyone's mind as the yearbook is in desperate financial straits. But Karen's not remotely interested in the yearbook's problems, or in the class voting itself a nuclear- free zone. She's found a pair of roller skates that are destined for her feet - all she needs now is the money to buy them.
Connie has her eye on Candy, the popular captain of the baseball team, but he doesn't even know she exists. She'd do anything to catch his eye, and everyone has advice to offer, but being a ""lady"" is tough for a tomboy like Connie who'd rather be playing baseball.
Rachel is very keen to be her school's representative to the new City Hall Youth Council. She's interested in the issues and is ready to work hard. But Billy's break dancing and Pete's campaign management have put Billy well in the lead.
Martin can't believe the Pirates from Boulton Ave. want him as area lieutenant for their expansion to Degrassi Street - they're the toughest gang around! But he's not sure that he's that tough.
When Connie returns five dollars Casey has dropped on the floor, Casey thinks Connie is contributing her share for the present for their teacher, and doesn't pay attention to Connie's explanations. Connie's not worried - she'll be collecting for her paper route on Wednesday, anyway, and she can pay up then. But the paper goes on strike, and Connie finds herself in more trouble than she thought.
Liz finds she has her hands full when she takes on a babysitting job with two lively kids, and one who refuses to have anything to do with her. How will she ever get Martin on her side?
Samantha can't wait for her city slicker cousin, Lisa, to arrive for the weekend. She's so sophisticated now she just knows that Lisa will be impressed.
No one really like Griff - after all, he used to be a Pirate - but it doesn't matter much to him, until he meets Lisa, just back from Vancouver.
Jeffrey is supposed to be the smartest kid in the class, and he's mortified when Connie, who claims she never studies, beats him on a math test - in fact, she bets that she can beat him on the next one, too.
When a new survey line goes through the pen of the rabbit Casey and Lisa share, too much arguing over rights makes them lose sight of their responsibilities - to look after Rabbit.
When both divorced parents want to come and watch her at the gymnastics meet, Catherine gets involved in some fancy footwork to prevent them from making a scene in front of the whole school.
Chuck has told Tina his dad's a pilot, but Pete insists on inviting their father to the school play. How can he hide the fact that his father's actually finishing up his time behind bars, except by un-inviting him?
Billy and Pete want to to grown up things, without Billy's pesky little brother, Benjamin. They finally get rid of him, but Billy has second thoughts when it looks like they might have gotten rid of him forever.
Lisa simply doesn't want to leave Degrassi Street and move to Vancouver, but it seems no one will listen to her feelings on the subject. In fact, her feelings are so strong she's having trouble listening to anyone else's.
Pete always has his eye out for a money-making proposition, and he knows he's found a winner, but he just needs a little capital. However, his ""investment"" costs him more than he expected, when he puts his friendships on the line.
Billy knows it won't be luck that sends him to hockey camp, it will be his own hard work. Then a bad-luck chain letter comes to him, and while he hesitates about passing on the bad luck, disasters begin to occur.
Sophie gets Chuck to help her out at her parent's store, but the cash is out by $20 at the end of the day. Chuck's father is in jail, so it must be like father, like son, right?
When Irene comes to live on Degrassi Street, Ida thinks she's just a little too friendly with Cookie. But Irene's not the only newcomer to Degrassi Street. Reports are circulating that Bigfoot has been seen in the neighbourhood.
What Lisa needs to make her newspaper is a real scoop. But when she does find some real news, she has to decide which is more important - the truth or family loyalty?
When Noel's dad decides to get married again, Noel isn't so sure he likes the idea. Gayle is running everything, changing the house around, and she doesn't like the terrific checked suit Noel has bought for the wedding.
When Ida's movie on garbage wins first prize in a competition, but the judges commend her film on war, she has to decide between accepting the prize, and owning up to the truth.
When Ida's movie on garbage wins first prize in a competition, but the judges commend her film on war, she has to decide between accepting the prize, and owning up to the truth.
The Kids of Degrassi Street is a Canadian children's TV show that aired from 1979 to 1986, and is the first in the Degrassi series, about the lives of a group of children living on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Canada. It grew out of four short films: Ida Makes a Movie, Cookie Goes to the Hospital, Irene Moves In and Noel Buys a Suit, which originally aired as after-school specials on CBC Television in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively. The show was acclaimed for its realistic depiction of every day children's lives and tribulations, and remains memorable to many Canadians because of this. Kids of Degrassi Street featured many of the same actors who would later appear on Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, including Stacie Mistysyn, Neil Hope, Anais Granofsky, Sarah Charlesworth and others. However, their character names and families were different, so this series cannot technically be seen as an immediate precursor to the later shows.
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