A Man. And His Blog.

Special 8 of 26 (Code 404)
Date of airing: Jan 2, 1983 (CBC)
Watched for review: Feb 12, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 51/174

Another good episode. Sometimes I believe the script wanted to get more into the topic of the episode, but stayed under the limit for children, to not overcomplicate things, and to not makes this show shine, as if it was too sophisticated for its time, and for what it wanted to be. I still like the stories though, and this episode could succeed, because it took a story from the world of adults, placed it with two children, and made a moral out of it. Always exciting.

Also exciting was the fact that Lisa (Stacie Mistysyn) is still part of the show. Not that I’m counting the episodes when she is not a part of the show anymore. What a shame though that there is no development throughout the episodes. How awesome would this show be today, when it would have a bit of character development over the episodes and years, showing that the producers behind the project didn’t just want to tell stand-alone stories, but also wanted to make something out of the returning characters. Which is why I found Lisa’s involvement in the story a bit lame at the end. Amy Jo Cooper could have sent another character into the center, and into the fist of Leon (Shane Toland). To give another character a chance to interact with Pete (John Ioannou). After all, it can’t only be Lisa in the show (though I don’t have a problem with it).

Anyway, great story with Pete and his efforts to get some money. The whole craziness around the tickets wasn’t really clear to me at first, but probably because I wasn’t paying attention. I liked that he asked for some “investment” though, despite the fact that Lisa wasn’t much involved in the story than she should have been in the first place. With her money in it, she should have pressed Pete harder. Instead she just cries like Abby from THE L.A. COMPLEX (modern reference FTW – but only because I watched that show a day prior, and because Lisa’s mess reminded me of Abby’s in that show), when she gets a fist in her face. Which was kind of surprising by the way. I haven’t even expected that the threat of violence would happen at all in this show.

I wanted to see more Martin (Jamie Summerfield) though. During his joke sequence, I was kinda thinking he was being bullied. Then he said he wanted to get out of school, which I interpreted with he didn’t like school at all. Especially since the other two kids were laughing about him just now. At the end, it wasn’t a bully story at all, but it makes me wonder, if this show will get a bully story. I know the DEGRASSI franchise will have those kind of stories later on, but what about a children’s show?

The ending was predictable though. I knew that Martin would have the winning ticket. At least he can be happy now, while Pete delivered the right message to the audience (never risk your friendship for money), giving this episode a kinda sweet ending. A bit too sweet for my taste. 7/10

Pete has big plans for his future

Unfortunately they blow up with Leon's fist

Special 7 of 26 (Code 403)
Date of airing: Dec 27, 1982 (CBC)
Watched for review: Feb 10, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 50/173

Another good episode. I love how straight-forward this show is, even for kids. The stories are cut-clear, the moral is there for the whole family, and the kids actually get a solid and entertaining story. Who would have thought that the situation between Casey (Sarah Charlesworth) and Lisa (Stacie Mistysyn) would turn into a kids’ war without guns. Okay, it was a bit ridiculous at times, especially when Lisa tried to teach Casey a lesson, when she was locked in the barn, but the most part of the episode was excellent – for an 80s kids show of course. I even liked the ending. Poor rabbit.

All in all, I was missing a bit more “action” though. Like the last episode, the story only had space for two kids. I would like for the episode to have a larger cast, to give a roundtable to some more kids, like some of the earlier episodes already managed to do. The property discussion between the parents was already interesting enough, so I was a bit disappointed that only Lisa and Casey were the only kids involved in the property thing, and this just because they shared a rabbit. Their friends could have been involved in that fight (like they were at the end, but not to my happiness), and their could have been an overall message about property rights or similar, giving the children a sight into how difficult the lives of their parents can be. Maybe the property rights is not that interesting for parents at all (I surely wouldn’t make a big deal out of it), but the rabbit message, though nice, wasn’t enough for me.

But I’m actually glad the script let the rabbit die. If you don’t look after your pet, it will run away by itself and eventually run away into death. The scene with the dog was interesting, especially with that “horror score” running, and the camera cutting to a different setting, while it was clear that the rabbit was lunch for the dog. What a shame that this scene wasn’t in the middle of the episode, giving more attention to the “dramatic” ending of the story, and letting shine through how Casey and Lisa cope with their loss.

Also interesting was that the story was told in flashbacks. Nice move with the “story of the summer”, though it wasn’t really much of a goal for the story itself. It just let the audience know that the rabbit story was in the past, giving the children a small lesson about how to write and tell a story in the past tense – like the teacher was telling them in the beginning.

And finally, one more thing: I’m still surprised that Lisa is in the middle of the attention for the stories, I was actually expecting for Lisa to get a bit older for the stories, but she’s still part of the show. As if the writers didn’t want to get rid of Lisa as the main protagonist of the series, trying to get some continuity into the show. 7/10

The object of desire for two little girls

And then there's the verbal fight

Special 5 of 26 (Code 402)
Date of airing: Dec 20, 1982 (CBC)
Watched for review: Feb 5, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 24/147

Another good episode. It’s just a shame that last episode’s “proud” of having most of the cast together vanished with this episode. Only Sophie (Stacey Halberstadt) and Chuck (Nick Goddard), and it’s Sophie’s only episode. But whatever. I just had a problem that Sophie wasn’t a girl for me. She didn’t just look like a guy back then, her character was also pretty butchy for a girl. Pressing to get the money back from Chuck, about to fight him, and even sounding like a guy. For the whole episode I was just thinking “Is Sophie really a girl?” But I’m not bullying here – except the casting agency could have looked for a better young actress back then. So, I don’t mind that it was Sophie’s only episode. Not that I hated her…

The story was alright. Not as exciting as the last ones, but at least more straight-forward again. Despite the fact that THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET has lots of child labor going on (Sophie working in the store by herself?!?), I liked that it was all about the store, and how Sophie just jumped to conclusions. I knew already she was probably adding up the numbers wrong – a show like this would never go into a story like this, with Chuck actually stealing money, just so he has a Christmas present for himself. The story already had a big moral with Sophie working the store, and the story of Chuck’s father in jail. It absolutely didn’t need Chuck stealing the money – that would have been a complete different story for sure. Maybe for another episode.

The conflict between Sophie and Chuck was great though. Beginning with how slowly it was teased for the final third of the episode, ending with the pretty cute scene on the skating field. Even the “almost fight” in the store was interesting to watch. Violence between kids, while the father upstairs is just yelling “Don’t slam the door” – kinda hilarious, and also pretty courageous for a show in that age. 7/10

First doing the work

Then playing the national sport

Special 5 of 26 (Code 401)
Date of airing: Dec 13, 1982 (CBC)
Watched for review: Feb 5, 2012
Number of review in February/2012: 23/146

Yep, it was a good episode. Seems like I will like the more “serial” version of the franchise more, than the four shorts before. Because I felt like I would watch the whole cast of the future episodes acting together like a band of friends, living through the first adventures of many. It’s not just the story of one or two of the kids, instead it’s a whole friends thing – quite a development for a non-show in the 80s in its fifth episode, which was about to go into a full-blown TV show, if it wasn’t all about children.

The story was interesting, since it’s still effective today: Are news hurting people, or helping because of its truth. Great that this question was asked and that Lisa (Stacie Mistysyn) had to make a decision about her little scoop about Noel (Peter Duckworth-Pilkington II) being a thief, and Ida (Zoe Newman) being “thrown out” of her little club. The story could have been more focused though, because it was one big mix. It always went between the robbery and the fact that Ida has to face difficulties in her club, while Lisa and Casey (Sarah Charlesworth) were in the deep of it. Maybe it would have been better to only focus on one story. I know both were necessary to make the birthday surprise count at the end, but in the middle of the episode it felt like there were two different storylines, only connected to Ida, which don’t really go anywhere. Especially when the story was going for the moral that family should be leveled above headlines (okay, only for Lisa, as it seems). The little conflict between Lisa and Noel was great, because that’s some siblings conflict I always wanted to see in a TV show, but never gets developed, because of other interest by the writers.

Other than that, like I said already, it’s great that this show is not always about introducing a new character and forgetting all about the rest. The show is more appealing, when it also recognizes some of the older characters, giving them a story. I know that some of the kids will be gone after a while, so I was surprised that Ida was still somewhat in the center of a story. And that she was interacting with the younger cast. It’s like a little ensemble cast here, with one or two characters in the front, while the rest is backing up. And this for an 80s show. I’d wish for some of today’s writers to watch this show, and to see how it’s done. 7.5/10

One's birthday present is the other one's headline

Something's not right for Lisa

Special 4 of 26 (Code 302)
Date of airing: May 30, 1982 (CBC)
Watched for review: Jan 28, 2012
Number of review in January/2012: 108/118

Interesting episode. When even the fourth special can stay that intriguing and tell a nice story about the time before you grow up, I’m confident that the rest of the show will also be as intriguing as this one. Even though I can’t connect with the story here, because I was already growing up when there was the “threat” of a step-parent in my life, it’s nice to have a reminder with a Canadian show nobody knows about outside of Canada.

The story was interesting though. Every other drama series or soap would probably make a mess out of a new step-mother in a life of a child, but this episode is just so damn straight-forward, it brings back the cuteness of Cookie’s episode. I wonder if the rest of the series is going to be straight-forward like this. Not complicating a story so much that it hurts, instead just creating a conflict within the major character of the episode. Like here: Noel (Peter Duckworth-Pilkington II) doesn’t want to wear the shirt Gayle (Charlotte Freedlander) bought, instead he wants to prove to himself that he can make decisions and that he doesn’t need a new mother in his life. The screenplay even created a nice second conflict with Gayle being part of a new family. I wish that more TV shows would be easy, straight-forward, but still conflicting like this one. I would almost say you should watch THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET to learn how to craft a script easily without going overboard.

In addition, I just liked that Noel had a conflicting opinion about Gayle “taking everything away”, beginning with the work load, ending with his father (Bob Reid). When Noel said that though, I was kinda laughing about the scene when Noel and his friends were unloading the truck – I mean, that’s child labor right there on the spot. It was unintentional, but it was funny to notice that “mishap” by the crew. I wonder if there would have been more drama in the script, when it wouldn’t have been about the suit and the shirt most of the time. When Noel’s father was talking to him through the door, I was seeing some great drama here – with a deeper understanding of the characters, it could have been a crafting scene for future episodes, even when Noel doesn’t appear in them anymore. Same goes with the little “happy ending” between Noel and Gayle. Sweet to see that Noel didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so short before the wedding. It has a romantic sub-tone – as if mother and son have just found each other. Could make a good movie.

All in all, it was a great half hour. Now it’s gonna be interesting if the show stays straight-forward in a more “serial” form, as it was produced like that from the next episode on. For now I just can say I don’t regret to have picked up this show. 8/10

Suit looks perfect, let's buy it!

Gayle is happy to have a son now

Special 3 of 26 (Code 301)
Date of airing: Sep 1, 1981 (CBC)
Watched for review: Jan 27, 2012
Number of review in January/2012: 105/115

It was okay. I expected for Cookie’s episode to be the exception of the whole series. I awaited that most of the episodes will not be entertaining for me, or way too cute to be actually cute. I still like the show though, and this episode mostly for one reason: It played with the genre of horror.

Who would have thought that a childish (in a literally sense) story of Bigfoot can be suited into a HALLOWEEN or JAWS similar score, very quiet and silent, making this episode somewhat of a thriller for pre-school kids. Which was very neatly done, despite the fact that the episode didn’t survive the 1990s – let alone the 80s. But I don’t really care about that, though I kinda need something which makes me go through the rest of THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET. There is no serialized plot, and I already know that none of the characters won’t be in the whole show. After all, they wouldn’t be children anymore in the 85-episodes.

The story was okay, not a burner. Since Irene (Nancy Lam) moved in (as the title suggests), it promises that she will be some sort of an important character in the next couple of episodes, and maybe even the writers took her with into the first real “season” of the show, together with the main kids. Of course the story kinda made them bad actors, especially when Ida (Zoe Newman) and Irene were fighting, followed by Irene’s lovemaking with the yellow color on her sweater and face. But the story kinda vanished for good, when the second half was all about the Bigfoot sighting. I would have wished to see more Ida and how she copes with the fact that she loses her girls to the new girl on the street. There were some good story points in the first half, but there was nothing about it in the second half. Instead just Bigfoot, who was clearly a dog, and couldn’t even surprise me anymore (as a story element).

At the end, the drama and the cuteness (emotions) weren’t really working this time. The episode is still recognizable in its effort to make a horror episode out of it. Which kinda worked (in the second half mostly), sometimes didn’t (when Irene was in the center of all attention). I believe that “Cookie Goes to the Hospital” won’t be beaten for the rest of this show. And I’m secretly awaiting DEGRASSI JUNIOR HIGH already. So much that I think about watching it simultaneously with this show. It’s hard for me to wait to begin with a new show I haven’t seen yet. 6/10

Irene has all kinds of yellow over her face

Ida does a happy face, because she just beat Bigfoot!

Special 2 of 26 (Code 201)
Date of airing: Sep 1, 1980 (CBC)
Watched for review: 2011
Number of review in January/2012: 83/83

Holy crap. That you should show your six-, seven-, eight-year-old kids, instead of that stupid trashy loud animation program on some channels. This episode was so cute and delivered such a nice story, I couldn’t get out of my record smiling. To be honest, this was one of the best TV episodes I have seen in my TV watching career. And this comes from the 80s. Is a kids show. Comes from Canada. Who would have expected this? You see, the Canadians do make better TV than the Americans.

Okay, the first two, three minutes were a bit lame, because the episode needed a “while” to get Cookie (Dawn Harrison) to the hospital. There wasn’t much interesting stuff in the secret club thing, since it had to prepare the outcome of the story, but as soon as Cookie was in the hospital and got her first instructions from nurse Trish (Susan A’Court), and Ida (Zoe Newman) and Noel (Peter Duckworth-Pilkington II) were doing their mission impossible, I was smiling like a world champion. Such a cute story, so well handled, and with a nice message. And figuring that every story kinda needs an antagonist, this episode had one with the “evil” desk clerk (Annette Tilden), who didn’t wanna let Ida and Noel through and pushed on the rules. Nice mirroring to Ida and Noel pushing the rules in front of Cookie in the beginning, which is another message. And hell, was I laughing during the mission impossible. First, Ida miserably fails in ducking and walking by, and then she disguises as a doctor with a creepy mustache – hilarious. And every parent, who has a kid doing that to geta doll to their best friend before the operation, should be proud of their kid. I’m repeating myself when I say it was just so damn cute to see Ida try to get through the desk clerk and to Cookie, who was waiting.

And meanwhile, Cookie was waiting. The relationship between Trish and Cookie was quite nice. Another cute thing, when Trish explained the procedure to Cookie, including giving the doll a needle, followed by Trish giving Cookie the needle. And damn, I was almost crying, when Cookie was still asking for Ida and her doll, even though she was already on her way to the operation. So damn cute. It makes me want to have kids. Seriously. I think. 22 minutes of a one-shot, and I’m getting invested in the characters, despite them being kids. That’s how stories should be built.

Anyway. Wonderful episode. That’s how kids shows should look, feel and sound nowadays, and now I don’t wonder anymore why it has such a cult status in Canada (if it actually still has something of a cult status). But what a shame, a few more people really should watch it. At least this episode. Who would have thought that an 80s episode would almost get the full treatment from me? 9.5/10

Mission impossible for Ida. Including disguises

Cookie in pain, but you'll love her anyway

Special 1 of 26 (Code 101)
Date of airing: Sep 12, 1979 (CBC)
Watched for review: 2011
Number of review in January/2012: 82/82

So, here I am, going into another franchise. After all, there should be something Canadian on this blog as well, and I always wanted to watch a soap-like series (that’s why I’m still waiting to find the later seasons of SOUS LE SOLEIL, which has either English or German dubbing, or subtitles). I always heard something about DEGRASSI, and how this teen show was well loved in Canada during the 90s and early 2000s, and how this show could be of interesting for me, because I’m still liking the genre. And even though I don’t really need to watch THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET, because the following show DEGRASSI JUNIOR HIGH can’t be considered a spin-off from this show, I decided to watch it anyway. THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET is part of the Canadian culture, and I’m living in Canada, so I should learn something about the culture. Other than that, it’s a program from the 70s almost no one outside of Canada knows about, and it could be interesting to follow the events in this show, whether they are serialized or just written and produced like shorts, from 1979 to 1986 and see some of the young kids grow up in front of the camera.

The very first episode, not even part of the DEGRASSI franchise, because it was never planned to be a franchise, was interesting to watch. It really is a short movie for children, with a suitable story, with suitable settings and dialog, and not to much to think about. It’s all about Ida (Zoe Newman), who decides to make a movie for a children’s film competition. She takes the camera from her dad (gone? dead?), gets the help from her best friend Cookie (Dawn Harrison) and brother Fred (Allan Melusi), and makes a movie about garbage. Which turns out to be not at all garbage, but instead a war-themed movie. Because Fred was proudly wearing his helmet he bought for 75 cents, and because Cookie’s doll got lost in the garbage truck. No wonder why the judges from the competition saw this as a war-themed movie, when the “final cut” shown during the award show was actually filmed as a war-themed movie, and not filmed like Ida was filming it during the first half. But anyway, it was still interesting. Beginning with how typically childish and cute the friendship between Ida and Cookie was, but how grown-up (if only tiny) the little conversation was between Ivy and her mother (Edna Sternbach). And how I could see that there could come more story-wise, when you look at Ivy and her mother. How they got the money together to fix the camera, how they shot the film, and how Ivy was questioning her own moral, because they did the mistake of seeing the movie as a war movie, though it’s just about garbage. Kind of an interesting story, even though this show is 33 years old and was made for the kids’ afternoon special.

And after reading some reviews from today about the show, I wasn’t expecting much. First I thought the acting would be horrible, because half of the cast consists of children under ten years. But except the scene with Fred standing in front of the two girls, hiding them and making it difficult for the director, the acting was actually quite good. Figuring that it’s a 33-year-old show and only directed to kids and the youth. Like I said, I was expecting worse. Only the score annoyed a bit, since it accompanied the episode for about 5/6 of the time, and sometimes sounded like I was in a bad porno. And the series hasn’t aged very well. It doesn’t look like it’s from 1979, it looks like it’s from the 50s. Which makes me believe the episode only cost like CD$1000 or something.

But all in all, surprisingly good. I hope most parts, if not all, of THE KIDS OF DEGRASSI STREET will stay that way. And I hope the three kids have some more appearances throughout the show. I really wanna see how they grow up in here… 7.5/10

Fred goes for the soldier look

And Ida is not gonna win an Oscar for that