Whatever It Takes: Top 25 Degrassi Characters

High school: I lived it, you lived it, we all lived it. Some of it was good and some of it was kind of a living hell at times. You know what was even better than our own personal high school drama? TV shows that revolved around high school drama. I don't know about you but I would much rather indulge in thirty minutes of fictional characters dealing with the every day hardships of the teenage life. Of course at the end of the day we do have to face our own problems, but we can't deny that shows like Saved By the Bell, Beverly Hills 90210 and even Dawson's Creek had a major impact on lives and helped people through their own personal struggles. While those shows were entertaining in their own ways, the show I connected to the most was Degrassi.

If you're not familiar with Degrassi, think of the shows I previously listed and strip down the fourth walls, big cell phones, James Dean hairstyles, Paula Cole theme songs and move it up to Canada. In my opinion, it was the show that truly captured what life as a teenager was really like and it didn't shy away from major topics that many teens face like drugs, pregnancy, sexual identity, abuse and suicide. Degrassi covered it all and to show my appreciation for the Canadian teen drama that helped me through my own teenage years and gave me The Zit Remedy, The Dot and Morty the hearse, I've compiled a list of some of the most memorable characters and moments. From The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi: The Next Generation to the latest installment of Degrassi: Next Class: this franchise always taught us that whatever it takes we will always make it through.

WARNING: Spoilers may ensue.

Before I crack open the Top 25, I'd like to throw in a few honorable mentions.

Also, I'd like to add that I will be doubling up on the honorable mentions because there are over a hundred freaking characters from this franchise so bear with me.


Maya Matlin/Zoe Rivas

I should note that I'm not familiar with the latest installment Next Class and the last few seasons of The Next Generation as much but I did do my research before I decided to write this. With that being said, I did discover two of the most interesting characters from those: Maya Matlin and Zoe Rivas. These two make the perfect Betty and Veronica of the Degrassi circle. Maya is your blonde, sweet, girl-next-door who has a passion for playing music and Zoe is the sassy brunette who just happens to be a famous soap opera actress and wants to live the normal teenage life. The two often clash but soon realize that there's more to life than just boys.

Alex Nunez/Jay Hogart

Alex Nunez and Jay Hogart were basically the tough teens you didn't want to bump into at school or they would probably throw you in a dumpster. They first started off as a couple and caused a lot of trouble together until Alex discovered Jay was fooling around and caused a bit of an outbreak. Once they went their separate ways, Alex did some self discovery once she became close with Paige Michalchuk and Jay still kept causing more trouble for others until he met Manny Santos and they actually became quite an adorable couple.

Declan Coyne/Fiona Coyne

As Degrassi was reaching its ninth season, it was starting to get a little stale. I'm still not into the later seasons much but when rich twins Delcan and his sister Fiona stepped foot in the hallways it was like a breath of fresh air. Declan used his money and his charm to woo girls and Fiona lived for fashion and even claimed Let the Right One In as her favorite movie. What really made these twins interesting was when Fiona's jealousy of her brother's relationship with Holly J. Sinclair made her do something a bit outrageous that I had to make sure I was watching the same show. Thankfully, that incident was put in the past and Declan went on to star in a Twilight knock-off sequel of The Howling series and Fiona gave up drinking and fell in love with Holly J. herself.

Erica Farrell/Heather Farrell 

Here we have another set of twins, except these two are actually related in real life. Erica and Heather are from the original Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High days and what was so wonderful about them was that they got along with pretty much everyone. When another character had a problem, these two were always there for support. While they might look alike, both girls had totally different personalities and that's usually what made them butt heads. Erica was the romantic and Heather was the realist. It was always boys, boys, boys getting in the way of their problems but they would always come around because sisters always come first.

Ashley Kerwin/Toby Isaacs

Now I go from siblings to step-siblings. I wanted to mention Ashley Kerwin and Toby Isaacs since they come from the original Next Generation but they were two that just kind of fell through the cracks and you almost forgot that they were even living in the same house. Ashley went from the most popular girl in school to Miss Doom 'n Gloom after taking LSD at her party and making all of her friends upset. Then she had an on and off again relationship with both Craig Manning and Jimmy Brooks but music always seemed to her one true love. As for Toby, he was the whiz kid. You could basically play a drinking game during an episode he was in and take a shot every time you saw him near a computer and by that time you would need to seek medical attention. He was sweet though and I wish he could've grown more as a character instead of always being labeled as J.T.'s best friend.

25. Lucy Fernandez

Lucy Fernandez was probably the most outspoken character of all and that's something to really appreciate about her. She was a normal girl that wanted friends and a love life like every teenager does but she wasn't afraid to say no to something that wasn't right. She was also a director and got to film not only The Zit Remedy's first music video but also a feminist slasher film! Sadly, those dreams would be cut short after an accident in the first Degrassi film titled School's Out but Lucy didn't let that stop her from being one of the strongest students that ever went to Degrassi High. 

24. Jane Vaughn 

Jane was just like one of the guys: she played football, sang in a band and called everyone "dude" a lot. She was a tough chick and a great match for Spinner Mason but broke our hearts when she got a little carried away with a preppy rich kid. Still one of the most heartbreaking episodes of Degrassi is when we learn more about her personal life and why she has such a complicated relationship with her father. The eighth and ninth seasons are a bit of a downer but Jane was certainly a bright light.

23. Drew Torres

If Degrassi had its own Ken doll it would be Drew Torres. He had the nice looks and probably the largest dating record. Everyone wanted to be with Drew even another student's mother. Yuck. Anyway, he worked his way up being a great character by always having a big heart despite not having the biggest brain at times. He didn't let that stop him though and that's something that makes him even more likable and adorable.

22. Imogen Moreno

Imogen is another character that it took me some time to appreciate. She first started off as being almost like a stalker of Eli Goldsworthy and tried to get him to forget his feelings for Clare Edwards. Did I mention Degrassi got really weird at times? Thankfully, she got over it and got to express herself more with her spunky style loaded with hair buns and cat dresses. She kinda became a comedic side character at times but you really felt for her in the episode when she found out her father is diagnosed with a disease. She was bright and bold on both the outside and inside and we totally love her for that.

21. Jimmy Brooks

I know Jimmy has become more of a meme now that the guy who played him became a famous rapper in real life but he was so much more than that. He was a laid back guy who dreamed of being a basketball player and almost had that all taken away from him. The school shooting episode is still unsettling to watch. Jimmy never gave up though and discovered his love for art and even fought hard to find a way to walk again.

 20. Adam Torres

Adam was Drew's brother and the first transgender character on Degrassi. While he struggled with others not accepting it at times, Adam didn't give up hope that one day that would change. He was kind and caring to everyone he met and it was one of the most heartbreaking moments when we lost him.

19. Stephanie Kaye

"All the way with Stephanie Kaye". Boy, what a crazy way to start the first season of Degrassi Junior High. She was the girl that everyone wanted to be like or be with. Always had a way of making herself seem more mature despite the fact she would have to put on make-up and change to her revealing outfits in the girl's restroom. Even though her stay at the school was short-lived, Stephanie certainly had a long-lasting impression.

18. Sean Cameron

Sean Cameron would be your Rebel Without a Cause. The guy could never catch a break from getting in trouble. Even though he had a bad temper at times, he did manage to work through it with the help of his girlfriend Emma Nelson. He also saved many lives by stopping Rick when he showed up to school with a gun. It took some time for Sean to finally get his life back on track but joining the Army seemed to steer him in the right direction.

17. Holly J. Sinclair

The younger sister of the infamous and never seen on screen before, Heather Sinclair, Holly J. proved herself to be the next Queen Bee at Degrassi. She was smart, witty and wasn't afraid to whip you with her snobish remarks. Of course it was all just a cover to hide the fact that she was insecure and afraid of being in her sister's shadow, but she did get over herself and became a very likable character towards the end of her run.

16. Liberty Van Zandt

Liberty, Liberty, Liberty. Sorry, now I get that insurance jingle stuck in my head when I see her name. Liberty Van Zandt was the smartest girl at Degrassi and she held that trophy with pride. She also loved J.T. Yorke and their exchanges were like a couple from an old sitcom. At first, it was fun and cute until they got older and had to face new challenges but their love for each other was always true. She went through a lot after losing the people she loved most but she was able to work through it all and rise to the top.

15. Eli Goldsworthy  

The Next Generation was looking for its emo boy and they sort of went in that direction with Craig Manning, but Eli Goldsworthy was really true to the phase. He was Hot Topic and all. Even drove a hearse named Morty and crashed it after he had his heart broken by his true love, Clare Edwards. The guy certainly wore his heart on his sleeve and on his tight, black jeans too.

14. Clare Edwards

Clare Edwards was a character that grew up naturally throughout the show. She's the younger sister of Darcy who went from bookworm schoolgirl to being a strong and independent young lady. She also went through a lot too but didn't let that stop her from chasing her dreams of attending university. That's the Degrassi spirit.

13. Craig Manning

Oh, Craig Manning. He was probably one of my major crushes as a teen but what girl didn't have one on him? He had the shaggy hair, the leather/jean jackets and the guitar. He had a way with words that won him over and also screwed him over. The guy was great at music but not so much with relationships. That didn't seem to matter much though because when in doubt, you always kiss Craig.

12. Derek "Wheels" Wheeler 

My heart always breaks for Wheels. He started out as a very sweet and comforting character but after losing his parents, he began making bad choices that also made him lose his friends. Just a young man who was lost but when he made a special appearance in The Next Generation series, it seemed he was able to patch things up with his Zit Remedy bandmates. Sadly, the actor who played him, Neil Hope, passed away back in 2007. We will never forget our Wheels.

11. Emma Nelson 

Emma Nelson actually came from Degrassi royalty. All of her parents were of the Degrassi alumi: her mother was Christine "Spike" Nelson, her father was Shane McKay and her step-father was Archie "Snake" Simpson. How cool is that? She was very outspoken and cared about saving the planet. She also had a habit of falling for bad boys like Sean Cameron and even married another former bad boy student we definitely were not expecting. Love life aside, Emma always fought and stood up for what she believed in and we thank her for that. 

10. Paige Michalchuk 

"New year, new look, new Paige". Oh, could there be a character introduction more iconic? I think not. Paige was the ultimate Queen Bee of Degrassi. Many have tried but could never hold a candle to her. She had style, wit and so much charisma. Though she seemed like a total bitch, Paige really cared for others and even helped those she never really saw eye to eye with through their darkest times. If she called you "hon", you knew she was looking out for you.

9. Marco Del Rossi

Who didn't love Marco? He was everyone's best friend. He was also the first main character on Degrassi to come out as gay. What I really appreciated about the early Next Generation seasons was that they tried to write their characters in a realistic way and not over dramatize their situations. It took Marco time to come out to his friends and family. It was great in a way where we got to watch him grow and become the confident person he is.

8. Ellie Nash 

I loved Ellie. She was a character I related to a lot on a more personal and fashionable level. She was Degrassi's goth girl. She didn't care about the way she dressed and wasn't afraid to tell somebody off. Behind the eyeliner, skirts and boots was a girl that was sad and lonely because her home and love life weren't always the best. Still, she found a way to work past that and towards a happier path with a career in journalism.

7. Caitlyn Ryan

Caitlyn Ryan was Degrassi's girl-next-door. She was sweet, smart and simply beautiful. I'd say Emma Nelson even took a few tips from her because Caitlyn also cared about saving the enviornment and falling for boys that were usually trouble. She was independent though and didn't put up with something that she didn't feel was right. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Joey Jeremiah. 


6. Archie "Snake" Simpson

Oh, that slithering Snake. He was actually a total sweetheart and it's no wonder why girls like Spike and Melanie fell for him. He was also smart and played guitar in the most important band of all time, The Zit Remedy. Snake was usually always caught in the middle of things whether it was between his buddies fighting or girls wanting him for a date. Being the caring person that he is, it was no surprise that he followed in Mr. Raditch's footsteps and ended becoming a teacher. There he taught all of The Next Generation kids and then eventually bumped to principal towards the end and going into the next series Next Class. No matter what, Mr. Simpson always made sure his family and students came first.

5. Gavin "Spinner" Mason

Spinner Mason lived and breathed Degrassi much like Mr. Simpson. He was one of the longest running characters throughout the Next Generation series and certainly one of the characters that went though the most changes. I'm not just talking about his hairstyles. He went from being a troublemaker to finding Jesus to fighting cancer to getting married and running the local hot spot, The Dot. It took a lot of ups and downs for him to get there too but he learned that if he could survive through that then he could survive through anything.

4. Manny Santos

Manuela Santos was another character that went though many changes during her time attending Degrassi. Best friend of Emma Nelson, Manny started out very dearing then decided she was tired of always being just cute. In came the infamous "thong" scene and her life was forever changed. She struggled with being labeled as the school's slut because of her looks and coming in between a few relationships. She was able to learn from her mistakes and finally put a better focus on herself. Life was cuckoo bananas at times for Manny but she pushed through and followed her dreams of becoming a Hollywood actress.

3. J.T. Yorke

It's impossible to think of James Tiberius Yorke (yes, that was his full name) without getting a little emotional. He was known as the class clown at Degrassi. People loved him not only for just his humor but for his gentle heart as well. At first, J.T. used his jokes to gain popularity and girls but as life moved on and got more serious so did he. He fell in love and help take care of the girl who drove him nuts as kids when they found out they were expecting a kid. Unfortunately, J.T.'s life was cut short and that moment changed the show forever. Things certainly weren't the same after his death but he always brought a smile every time he appeared on the TV screen.

2. Christine "Spike" Nelson

First off, let me just say that Spike is my favorite Degrassi character. I felt she was the one that I really connected to the most from the early Degrassi Junior High/Degrassi High days. No, I wasn't a teenager in the '80s (I wish!), but I did listen to a lot of punk and new wave music growing up and dressed in a lot of band shirts. Spike's outfits and wild hairstyle drew lots of attention but it was her becoming pregnant at the age of fourteen that got it the most. She had to deal with the fact that the parents of other students wanted her to leave the school because they felt she was a bad influence. Also, the father of the baby wasn't able to be there for her after he took some acid and fell off a cliff. Despite the difficulties of being a single mom, Spike worked hard and graduated. She also followed in her mom's footsteps by becoming a hairdresser and eventually married her high school crush, Snake, by the time the Next Generation was in its second season. Way to go, Spike!

1. Joey Jeremiah

Joey Jeremiah: rad dude, leader of The Zit Remedy, ladies' man and always at your service. Well, at least in his mind he was. Nah, Joey was a cool guy. He had the charm and always tried to lighten the mood when things would get tough. Sometimes it was a shield to hide his own personal problems like his relationship with Caitlin Ryan. He was a jokester but could be a really caring friend even to his high school enemies like Dwayne. Joey had it all and I personally believe the show would not have taken off the way it did if it weren't for him. I have to tip my fedora in honor of the greatest Degrassi character of all-time. 

So there you have it, twenty-five characters who went to the school that has lasted through generations and showed us the important struggles of the typical teenager. If a show ever went there, it was definitely Degrassi. 

We Rule the Night: Top 10 Awesomely Bad Heavy Metal Music Videos

Heavy Metal: It's loud, in your face and sometimes it's just downright funny. Here are ten awesomely bad music videos to prove that.

10. Hear 'n Aid - Stars

Back in the '80s, it seemed like everyone was recording a song to raise money for a cause. In Canada they had "Tears Are Not Enough", in England there was "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and here in America we had "We Are the World". It seems though some don't remember that the metal community also took part in help raise awareness when metal legend Ronnie James Dio and his bandmates wrote the song "Stars". They managed to form Hear 'n Aid, a one-time collaboration that featured just about every member from an '80s metal band that were big at the time: Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe), Don Dokken (Dokken), Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.), Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot), Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche), the guys from Spinal Tap, among many others to help record the song. The best part is that they made a music video for the whole recording. Watching '80s metal musicians sing and play their hearts out and look glamorous all at the same time for seven minutes is truly astounding.

9. Eudoxis - Metal Fix

I don't know much about Eudoxis other than they are from Canada and they put out this little thrash metal video. The song is awesome and the video doesn't really have much to it. All you see is them playing their instruments and headbanging, but what else would you expect from a heavy metal music video? What makes this video so entertaining are the band's outfits. These guys made sure that they were covered in spiked body armor from head to toe. They even added some spikes to the drums to complete the look. Another part that makes this video so enjoyable are the close-ups of the lead singer. He looks like he couldn't decide if he wanted to be in a heavy metal or a new wave band. If you are ever in need of a "metal fix", then I highly suggest checking out this video.

8. Halloween - What a Nice Place

Heavy metal and horror really do go together like peanut butter and jelly. This band Halloween is a good example. These guys were like the love child of glam and doom metal with their big hair, black make-up and spooky lyrics. To call yourself Halloween, you better live up to the name and they sort of did all thanks to their music videos. Let's just say "What a Nice Place" was their "masterpiece" out of the two or three videos they made. First of all, it begins with the "Silver Shamrock" theme from Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Now I don't know about you, but that's enough for this gal to get excited about a music video. We also get to see the band playing in dungeon full of skulls, the drummer using gigantic bones for drumsticks and a newlywed couple being chased in a house by what looks to be extras from the 1984 horror film Rocktober Blood. Talk about a pure '80s metal cheesefest. It's a shame Halloween weren't big back in the day, because I think they just might be one of the coolest bands to ever grace this planet.

 

7. Judas Priest - Hot Rockin'

If you have ever seen the 1986 documentary Heavy Metal Parking Lot, you know by now that Judas Priest is the best. Doesn't matter if they go roller skating through Central Park, sing a song about being someone's "Turbo Lover" or even make a silly music video from time to time, these guys are true heavy metal legends. Not sure who thought of the idea for the music video for the track "Hot Rockin'" off the band's 1981 album Point of Entry, but someone clearly wasn't thinking straight that day. It starts off with all the guys in Judas Priest working out. Maybe it's just me, but I think Judas Priest would be one of the last heavy metal bands I would ever expect to see at a gym. It then cuts to the band singing in the showers (Hello, Glenn Tipton) while lead singer Rob Halford hangs out in a sauna, because you know saunas are very metal. For the rest of the video we pretty much see the band performing, but all of the sudden all of that cheesy greatness returns when the speakers explode and Rob Halford begins to light everything on fire with his microphone. Judas Priest wanted to give us a "Hot Rockin'" music video and they did only adding a little extra cheese to it.

6. Voivod - Ravenous Medicine

If you've never heard of Voivod, you will definitely become a fan after watching this. You might even watch it over and over again. Between Snake's hilarious facial expressions, a guy dressed as a chainsaw maniac as well as a doctor holding a syringe full of "AIDS" and using cheap green screen effects, these Canadian thrashers managed to make one of the best "so bad, it's good" music videos of all time for their anti-animal experimentation song "Ravenous Medicine". It's obvious these guys didn't have much money to make their video, but that didn't stop them from making sure that the song's message got across. Stop animal slaughter and stop ravenous medicine!

5. Thor - Anger

Alright, so it might be considered the worst music video ever made in heavy metal history. So what? It's Thor! If you're a fan of Thor then you know that their music videos have always been made on a low budget (watch "Lightning Strikes"). Heck, even frontman Jon Mikl Thor is best known for starring in low budget horror films such as Zombie Nightmare and Rock 'n Roll Nightmare. As you can see in "Anger", these guys didn't need thousands of dollars to make an entertaining music video. All they needed were some cheap effects, swords and Jon shirtless (Eat your heart out, Fabio). Thor should've changed the lyrics to "Awesome is my middle name", because this music video definitely is.

4. Manowar - Gloves of Metal

"We wear leather, we wear spikes, we rule the night". Damn right you do, Manowar. You know what else rules? This music video. With their long hair and furry loincloths, these guys certainly look like they could be extras in Conan the Barbarian. There's not a whole to the video other than the band riding horses and playing on a big stage in front of their fans that don't really look like Manowar fans. Oh, and towards the end they bring out the swords and fight off a bunch of cavemen showing that us they are indeed true metal warriors. Yes, it's a corny music video, but there's no denying that it might even make you swoon.

3. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King

First of all, I just have to say that this song kills. Once you hear Criss Olivia's opening guitar riff you are immediately hooked. Also have to mention Jon Olivia's incredible vocal range. That evil laugh of his gives me chills every time. With an eerie song comes an even more eerie music video. Okay, maybe not. It just has a dwarf running around a cave to try to steal gold from the so-called Mountain King with the help of vocalist Jon Olivia. At the end, the dwarf makes it out with a treasure box that contains a cassette of Savatage's Hall of the Mountain King. Now that's how you promote an album.

2. Venom - Nightmare

Venom rules. Not only are they pioneers of both the thrash and black metal genres, but these guys are also comedic geniuses. You can definitely see that in their video for "Nightmare", which is basically about a woman who keeps having nightmares about a creepy, old lady chasing her around. It's silly, but it's really the band that makes this video so hilarious. It's almost like watching This Is Spinal Tap!. They tried so hard to look mean and frightening, but it just wasn't paying off. Obviously it was all just for shits and giggles and that's why I love bands like Venom. They don't take themselves too seriously. They're all about having fun and entertaining the fans. Oh, and if they ever make a movie about them, they should get either Joseph Gordon-Levitt or James McAvoy to play Cronos.

 

1. Candlemass - Bewitched

That moment when Messiah Marcolin rises from the coffin during his "funeral", you know you're in for a real treat with this music video. The video is mainly Marcolin walking around hypnotizing people once he points his finger at them and shouts "You are bewitched". With that afro and those Kate Bush-like dance moves, you can clearly see why he calls himself as the master. Also, I'm pretty sure that this is the only music video to ever feature a guitarist playing a solo with a broken hand. To top things off, Marcolin introduces everyone to the most metal dance ever (the Doom Dance or whatever you want to call it). Soon Messiah Morcolin and his hypnotized headbangers whip into a Doom Dance frenzy that eventually sends him back to the grave. If that doesn't entertain you, then I really don't know what else will. It's the best worst music video of all time.

Let's Talk: Top 10 After School Specials

Oh, the After School Special. In case you're not familiar with the term, these were short made-for-TV movies that dealt with teen social issues such as drug use, pregnancy, abuse and illiteracy just to name a few. The series began when ABC Afterschool Special made its debut in 1972 and ran for a total of 25 seasons until 1997. CBS also had a very similar program called Schoolbreak Special that ran from the early '80s to the late '90s. Although they had that low budget quality, After School Specials did help raise awareness of the problems that teenagers are still facing to this day. Can't forget to mention that these programs also brought us some familiar faces: Ben Affleck, Jodie Foster, Rob Lowe, Helen Hunt. Now that we're stuck in the "reality TV" days, it really makes you wish that shows like the After School Special were still around. To show my love for these cheesy specials, I've decided to share some of my favorites.


(Spoilers may ensue)

10. Between Two Loves

Playing violin has always been Susan Adams' (Karlene Crockett) dream. When she arrives at a new school to pursue her dream, she meets another violin player named Doug Henshaw (Lance Guest). With sharing the same passion it's obvious that Susan and Doug fall in love. Trouble soon arrives though when they have to compete against each other for a scholarship. Susan is torn between her career and her relationship. I would be too if my boyfriend was Lance Guest. With the help of her teacher Mr. Forbes (Robert Reed), Susan learns that she needs to please herself instead of trying to please others. Now that's a lesson I think everyone should learn.

 

9. Did You Hear What Happened to Andrea?

 

 

A girl named Andrea (Michele Greene) is raped after hitching a ride from a stranger. She is having a hard time trying to cope with the assault and her family isn't making it any better. Her father is going crazy trying to find her attacker and her mother just acts like nothing ever happened. Andrea feels totally lost and doesn't what to do, but soon finds out that talking about what happened will help her find the support that she needs to overcome it. Did You Hear What Happened to Andrea? is a great special that really shows us about the dangers of hitchhiking. I guarantee you want to walk or take a bus after you watch it.

 

 

8. Have You Tried Talking to Patty? 

 

 

Patty Miller (Mary Vreeland) is a teenager who has trouble being accepted by others because she is hearing impaired. When her friends start getting asked out on dates, Patty feels that she will never have a boyfriend due to her condition. So she decides to give herself a makeover. Patty is happy that her new look is helping her get attention from the boys, but later learns that it is not for the right reasons. Changing her image has only made things worse for Patty. At least it helps her understand that those who are close to her love her for who she is and that it has nothing to do with her hearing problems. Those who can't see that well... screw 'em! Have You Tried Talking to Patty? is one of those specials that I'm glad was made in the '80s. Gotta love the sad saxophone music, the characters that look like they're ready to audition for a Billy Idol music video and the use of the term "heavy". Also, if you're a fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise like myself be sure to keep an eye out for Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Wes Craven's New Nightmare) and Mark Patton (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge).

 

 

7. First Step

 

 

First Step aka She Drinks a Little is the perfect example of an After School Special. It deals with an issue that has been tackled many times before: alcoholism. Cindy Scott (Amanda Wyss) is a teenager who doesn't want to face the fact that her mother Miriam (Bonnie Bartlett) is an alcoholic. After being embarrassed at her school play, Cindy decides that she's tired of making excuses for her mother. She also decides to join Alateen after her friend and major cutie Mitch (Michael LeClair) begs her to go. Like Cindy, his parents are also alcoholics. Together they learn that they can't make them stop drinking. They can only hope that one day their parents will see what harm it's doing them and want to seek help. Out of all the specials that deal with this topic, I will say this is definitely the one to watch. It shows a more honest side to what's it's like living with an alcoholic. Just watch the ending. You will want to go roller skating afterwards.

 

 

6. The Great Love Experiment

 

 

Before Clueless and She's All That, there was The Great Love Experiment. Jen Robbins (Tracy Pollan) has it all with her good looks and popularity. To make her senior year more exciting she decides she wants to do a human experiment to see if giving someone a makeover and lots of attention will help them become popular just like her. Jen's target: Maude Harris (Kelly Wolf). Maude is your typical geeky girl who focuses a lot on school and doesn't dress to impress. After a few hangouts, Jen notices that her "experiment" is working as Maude starts getting attention, especially from the boys. Can't forget to mention that some experiments do come with problems, but in the end Jen realizes that she did gain something from it: a great friend. I guess the lesson we learn from this special is to not use people like guinea pigs.

 

 

5. Face at the Edge of the World

 

 

Also known as A Desperate Exit, you can only guess that this special is about suicide and how it affects everyone. After hearing that his best friend Charlie (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) commits suicide, Jed (Rob Stone) is left trying to figure out why. As he starts to find answers, Jed realizes that he didn't really know his best friend as much as he thought he did. He feels guilty and wishes that Charlie would have talked to him about it instead of taking his own life. You might want to grab a few tissues before you watch this one.

 

 

4. The Day My Kid Went Punk

 

 

Band geek Terry (Jay Underwood) is in a rut and he wants out. He's tired of feeling like a nobody and thinks that dressing like a punker will help him get noticed by his peers. Well, it works. He's now cool with the kids, but not so much with the adults. They pretty much think he's a freak and even some find him dangerous. Terry doesn't understand and tries to show everyone that he's not that kind of person. We learn several lessons in this special. First, you should never judge a person by their appearance. Second, you should always be yourself. Third, if you're going to dress like a "punk" you better play some punk music. Okay, I might've made up that last one, but I think Terry was going for more New Wave. That's just me. Oh well, at least that's what makes this episode so much fun. 

 

 

3. One Too Many

 

 

In this special, a night turns to tragedy for four friends Annie (Michelle Pfeiffer), Eric (Val Kilmer), Beth (Mare Winningham) and Tim (Lance Guest) as one of them decides to drive drunk. While it may have a simple plot and twisted ending, this special does carry a strong message about the dangers of drinking an driving. It's funny to me that Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, Grease 2) and Val Kilmer (Real Genius, Top Secret!) did this around the time they had already starred in big motion pictures. It's also funny that they would later go on to star in Batman movies (Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns, Kilmer as Batman in Batman Forever). If there's one anti-drunk driving movie everyone should see it should be One Too Many.

 

 

2. Hear Me Cry

 

 

Hear Me Cry is another special that deals with the topic of suicide. This time it involves two people. David Goldman (Lee Montgomery) is popular with his good looks and athletic skills and Craig Parsons (Robert MacNaughton) is a loner who makes good grades. When they're paired up for an assignment in science class, the boys discover that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Both of them are going through hard times in their lives and are looking for a way out. They see suicide as the only solution and decide to make a pact to end their lives together. Hear Me Cry does a great job at sending a clear message to viewers about suicide without trying to romanticize it. Again, you'll probably need to grab the tissue box when you watch this one. I know listening to T.S.O.L.'s "Flowers by the Door" hasn't been the same for me since.

 

 

1. Ace Hits the Big Time

 

 

There's nothing cheesier than an After School Special that involves gangs. Well, if that's what you want to call them. Horace "Ace" Hobart (Rob Stone) starts his first day at a new school that is supposedly run by a young group called the Purple Falcons. At first, Ace is so terrified of running into the gang that he pretty much starts to have hallucinations. One minute there's a gang member in his closet and the next minute there's a whole group of them that look like they're from Fame performing a dance routine out in the streets. I swear I'm not making this up. Once he meets the real Purple Falcons, he learns that they're not as bad as everyone says. They actually seem to be more intimidated by Ace, because he wears an eye patch. They don't know that he's only wearing it to hide a pimple on his eye. Things even get more weird for Ace and the Falcons when they are offered a part in a movie. This leads to another gang in town called the Piranhas to challenge them to a fight just because they're going to be in a movie. Ace thinks that making a cake for the Piranhas will help make amends and it does. Not sure if there's anything to learn from this episode other than members of street gangs like to dance and eat cake. It doesn't even matter though, because it's the most entertaining After School Special I have ever seen.