The Degrassi franchise continues to be the cultural benchmark for edgy Canadian storytelling. In the Tuesday, December 2, 2025 edition of the Waterloo Region Record, the series was cited as the “one to beat” in a feature regarding the new Crave original series, Heated Rivalry.
In the article (syndicated via The Canadian Press), writer-director Jacob Tierney discusses the challenges of adapting the “spicy, gay hockey” novel for television. When addressing the “racy” nature of the show and its potential impact, Tierney pointed to a specific 1987 broadcast as the gold standard:
“Our big competition is that episode of ‘Degrassi’ where Spike gets pregnant, so if we can get this right, then I think there’s a big future for us.”
— Jacob Tierney, Waterloo Region Record (Dec 2, 2025)
This clipping appears in the Arts & Life section (Page A9). It serves as a testament to the longevity of the franchise; nearly 40 years later, the Season 1 episode “It’s Late” (Degrassi Junior High) remains the definitive example of “going there” in Canadian media.
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