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[via press release]

The N’s Degrassi: The Next Generation Premieres Friday, September 29

Enrollment is Up, The Graduates Hit College and Bad Boy Sean Makes Surprise Return to Degrassi

Plus A Weekly Countdown to the Degrassi Premiere with Degrassi’s 40 Most Go There-est Moments, Four Half-Hour Specials Featuring Degrassi’s Hottest Stars, Beginning Friday, September 8

NEW YORK, Sept. 6 – Degrassi: The Next Generation returns with the most provocative and intense school year ever as last year’s graduates take the college plunge and former classmates, Sean and Ashley re-enroll. The N, the nighttime network for teens, premieres season six (19 additional episodes) of the acclaimed teen drama with a one-hour special on Friday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) followed by the one-hour premiere of South of Nowhere season two at 9:00 p.m. (ET). Degrassi will air regularly Fridays at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

“Degrassi is back and it’s loaded with more drama, intensity and surprise twists and turns,” said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, Vice President, Production and Programming, The N. “Season six is hotter than ever, bringing back old friends, introducing new faces and chronicling the Degrassi graduates as they move on to college and delve into life beyond high school.”

In the premiere episode, Peter’s hot new car makes him the ‘big man on campus’ and he finds a new friend in Sean. With his newfound popularity, Peter quickly becomes a fixture in the drag racing scene. All spins out of control when the friendship turns sour over Emma’s affections causing the boys to take their rivalry to the streets for an ultimate car race that will have permanent repercussions. Meanwhile college freshmen Paige, Ellie and Marco adjust to life post Degrassi where new issues step to the forefront including roommate troubles, class selection and new romances.

Season six will also introduce a new classmate to the student body. Mia (Nina Dobrev) joins the cast as a single mom who moves into town and makes a love connection with one of Degrassi’s broken hearts. But will both of their pasts prove to be too much for this couple to last? Ellie embarks on a sultry new romance with an older man, while Jimmy, who is confined to a wheelchair, explores news ways to deal with his sexuality, plus a school rivalry goes violent and has life-altering effects.

Beginning Friday, September 8, The N introduces Degrassi’s 40 Most Go There-est Moments, a weekly countdown to the premiere of Degrassi. The four half-hour specials, produced by Stefan Brogren (“Snake Simpson”), will roll out every Friday night for four consecutive weeks and showcase the most jaw-dropping, “Degrassi-est” moments from the past five seasons. Each special highlights 10 moments and features commentary from Miriam McDonald, Cassie Steele, Aubrey Graham, Shane Kippel, Lauren Collins, Daniel Clark, Jake Epstein, Adamo Ruggiero, Stacey Farber Mike Lobel Jamie Johnston and Shenae Grimes.

In addition, fans can log on to http://www.the-n.com/ to vote for their favorite moments in four additional categories. One Viewer’s Choice winner will be revealed in each of the half-hour specials. The roll out of the specials and the Viewer’s Choice categories are as follows:

* Friday, September 8 at 8 p.m. (Most Lip-Locking)
* Friday, September 15 at 8 p.m. (Most Musical)
* Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m. (Most Don’t Go There)
* Friday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. (Most Catty) – immediately before the
season six premiere

Returning cast regulars include: Dalmar Abuzeid as Danny; Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty; John Bregar as Dylan; Deanna Casaluce as Alex; Daniel Clark as Sean; Ryan Cooley as J.T.; Jake Goldsbie as Toby; Aubrey Graham as Jimmy; Shenae Grimes as Darcy; Jamie Johnston as Peter; Shane Kippel as Spinner; Miriam McDonald as Emma; Melissa McIntyre as Ashley and Cassie Steele as Manny. Also returning this season are Lauren Collins as Paige; Stacey Farber as Ellie; Adamo Ruggiero as Marco; Jake Epstein as Craig and Mike Lobel as Jay. 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), Alex (Deanna Casaluce), 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), Marco (Adamo Ruggiero), Craig (Jake Epstein) and Jay (Mike Lobel) as they experience life post Degrassi.

Epitome Pictures and its affiliate companies have been producing quality Canadian programming since 1976, including the multi-award winning, internationally recognized Degrassi franchise, The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, which still air throughout the world. Epitome Pictures has also produced the series Liberty Street and Riverdale, as well as Instant Star and several MOWs. For more information, please visit http://www.epitomepictures.com/.

The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 50 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N’s mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network’s web site http://www.the-n.com/. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.