19 New Episodes to Premiere on The N in October as Degrassi Classmates Return, New Students are Introduced and Post-Graduates Enter Adulthood

NEW YORK, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Degrassi students will have a fresh new start this year as classmates return, new students are welcomed and last year's alumni embark on a new life, post high school. The N, the nighttime network for teens, commences production on the sixth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation; it was announced today by Sarah Tomassi Lindman, Vice President, Production and Programming, The N. The critically-acclaimed, Toronto-based teen drama will roll out 19 new episodes on The N beginning October 2006.

Season six of Degrassi is daring to be the most provocative and intense school year ever. For the first time the Degrassi series follows its graduates, Paige, Alex, Ellie and Marco as they embark on post-adolescence and adjust to college life, full-time jobs and new responsibilities.

Returning students confront lingering issues left behind as new predicaments take center stage for others. The new school year will welcome uninvited issues including a vicious school rivalry with life-altering effects, troubles with the law leading to a student facing jail time, a social networking site becomes dangerous and for one particular classmate - a hot new romance blooms with an older man. Degrassi: The Next Generation will also introduce a new member to the student body, adding to the series' signature trials and tribulations of teen angst and relationship drama.

"The authentic, real life drama of Degrassi speaks to our audience and keeps them tuning in week-after-week," said Lindman. "Our viewers feel as if they are a part of the show and want to continue to follow their favorite characters as they graduate from Degrassi Community School and begin a new chapter in their lives."

 Returning cast regulars are: Dalmar Abuzeid as Danny; Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty; John Bregar as Dylan; Deanna Casaluce as Alex; Daniel Clark as Sean; Ryan Cooley as JT; Jake Goldsbie as Toby; Aubrey Graham as Jimmy; Shenae Grimes as Darcy; Jamie Johnston as Peter; Shane Kippel as Spinner; Mike Lobel as Jay; Miriam McDonald as Emma; Melissa McIntyre as Ashley and Cassie Steele as Manny. Also returning this season for their first year out of high school are Lauren Collins as Paige; Jake Epstein as Craig; Stacey Farber as Ellie and Adamo Ruggiero as Marco.

Returning classic cast members are: Stefan Brogren as Archie "Snake" Simpson and Amanda Stepto as Christine "Spike" Nelson.

Degrassi: The Next Generation, winner of both a Television Critics Association Award and a Teen Choice Summer Series Award, is a fictional, dramatic series that tackles tough issues in a realistic way. Degrassi introduces a new generation of kids going through the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the 21st century at the newly refurbished Degrassi Community School. The series follows Emma (Miriam McDonald), Manny (Cassie Steele), Jimmy (Aubrey Graham), Liberty (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer), Spinner (Shane Kippel), Toby (Jake Goldsbie), J.T. (Ryan Cooley), Darcy (Shenae Grimes) and Peter (Jamie Johnston) as they journey through high school, as well as alumni Paige (Lauren Collins), Ellie (Stacey Farber), Hazel (Andrea Lewis), Marco (Adamo Ruggiero), Alex (Deanna Casaluce) and Jay (Mike Lobel) as they experience life after high school.

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