Source: Smithy TV / YouTube
Guest: Pat Mastroianni
Show: 5 Questions with Jeremy
It is impossible to talk about Canadian television history without mentioning Pat Mastroianni. Best known for his iconic role as the fedora-wearing Joey Jeremiah in the Degrassi franchise, Pat sat down for an episode of “5 Questions” to discuss the reality of growing up on set, his transition to The Next Generation, and his surprising post-acting obsession: treasure hunting.
From the “slave labor” of the 1980s set to finding 15,000 comic books in an attic, here is what we learned from the man behind the fedora.
Degrassi: Then vs. Now
When asked about the difference between the original 1980s series and the 2001 revival, Mastroianni didn’t mince words. He described the original Degrassi as “guerrilla filmmaking.”
“We were a non-union show… we didn’t even have agents back then. When we wrapped a scene, they’d say, ‘Okay guys, pick up some cables, pick up some sandbags.’ Literally, the kids were moving equipment. It was slave labor.”
However, he preferred that raw energy to his return in Degrassi: The Next Generation. He felt the new series was a “machine” designed to pump out episodes.
“I wasn’t happy. They turned him into a dad and he lost a lot of his charm… I didn’t feel like they captured the essence of my character 10 years later.”
The Treasure Hunter
Fans might be surprised to learn that Mastroianni describes his current guilty pleasure as “treasure hunting”—scouring attics and estate sales for vintage pop culture items, Storage Wars-style.
“I’m a big-time treasure hunter.”
He recalled stopping at an old house in Markham where he discovered 15,000 comic books in an attic.
“I literally spent two weeks going through everything… that energy of holding those books again brought something out of me.”
His collection is no joke—he once nearly spent $35,000 on a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (the first appearance of Spider-Man), though the deal ultimately fell through.
The 5 Questions
- If you could star in any music video: Michael Jackson’s Thriller (as a zombie) or Billie Jean.
- Worst direction received: A director once threatened him at “gunpoint,” saying he would fire him and throw him off the set if he didn’t get the scene right.
- How his parents met: An arranged marriage. His grandfather told his mother, “You’re marrying this guy so he can come work in Canada.” They’ve been together for 43 years.
- Love vs. rejection: Pat admits it’s easier for him to reject people than say “I love you,” keeping a very small, tight circle. “I’ve been burned… I weed out really well.”