TORONTO – With the airing of this Friday’s episode, MuchMusic’s Degrassi will surpass The Beachcombers as the longest-running English language drama in Canadian history. The 300th episode airs Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET and also marks the 400th episode of the entire franchise since it debuted in 1980 on CBC. Until now, The Beachcombers’ 387 episodes which ran from October 1, 1972 to December 12, 1990 had held the title of longest-running Canadian series.
“Very few television series have had an impact on multiple generations the way Degrassi has,” said Catherine MacLeod, Vice-President, Specialty Channels. “Degrassi is still as relevant today as it was thirty years ago, and we’re proud to be a part of this moment in television history.”
“How rare and wonderful it is to have an opportunity to tell 300-plus stories about teenage life,” said Linda Schuyler, Executive Producer, Epitome Pictures. “This is a testament to exceptional teamwork with our cast, crew, writers and our longstanding partnerships with CTV, MuchMusic and TeenNick.”
Friday’s episode marks the 300th episode since the revamped series was added to the CTV schedule in 2001. After nine seasons on CTV, Degrassi began broadcast of its 10th season on MuchMusic in 2010. “Recognized for its willingness to discuss controversial topics such as teen pregnancy, drug use, bullying, sexuality, and sexual identity,” Degrassi continues to stay sharply relevant throughout its many seasons on the air says MuchMusic.
The series’ impact has been recognized with a Peabody Award in 2011, seven Gemini Awards, and two Teen Choice Awards. Degrassi has also received nominations for some of the industry’s most coveted awards, including two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and four GLAAD Media Award nominations.
To celebrate the 300th episode of Degrassi, Much’s 70,000 MuchCloser members have the chance to earn access to an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip. To claim this limited reward, MuchCloser members have to answer a trivia question about the 300th episode or they can check-in via the Degrassi Chat app.
