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via TeenNick press release:

TEENNICK’S “DEGRASSI” RETURNS FOR NEW SEASON AND SEVEN WEEKS OF DAILY TELENOVELA-STYLE PREMIERES THIS SUMMER

TV Event Kicks Off with Hour-Long Special Guest Starring Keke Palmer Monday, July 18, at 9 pm (ET)

NEW YORK, June 22, 2011 – Coming off the success of last summer’s groundbreaking telenovela-style format, Degrassi returns to TeenNick for its 11th season with seven straight drama-filled weeks beginning Monday, July 18, at 9 p.m. (ET). Building on last year’s record-breaking six-week run, TeenNick will unveil an additional premiere week and kick off a new season of the Peabody Award-winning series with an hour-long special guest starring Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP) as herself. The special will be packaged with exclusive cast interviews as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 11th season. New episodes of Degrassi will premiere every weeknight, Monday-Thursday, at 9 p.m. (ET), through Thursday, September 1.

“This summer, TeenNick gives Degrassi fans even more of what they love — an extra week of the relatable storylines and new authentic characters the series is known for,” said Keith Dawkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nicktoons and TeenNick. “The new daily serialized format is a proven hit with our audience and we hope teens keep coming back for more!”

In the hour-long special season premiere, all the students at Degrassi are abuzz about the spring break event — Keke Palmer’s concert. Newly single Sav is depressed post-Holly-J break-up, but a flirtatious encounter with a beautiful stranger perks him up when she tells him to meet her at Keke’s show. Though Drew’s mom is keeping him on a short leash, he and Bianca are growing closer until her ex-boyfriend Anson comes back into the picture. Meanwhile, Fiona meets a gorgeous figure model at Holly J’s art class.

TeenNick delivered its most-watched year ever in 2010 with its core audience of teens 12-17 (+8%) and total viewers (+16%). Last year’s six-week Degrassi TV event averaged 975,000 total viewers (7/19/10 – 8/27/10), posting huge triple-digit gains for the network with key demos, T12-17 (+675%) and P2+ (+633%).

Degrassi’s 11th season introduces three new characters and tackles many issues that are relevant to today’s teens including gang violence, drug abuse, bullying, gender identity, sexuality, teen parenthood and romance. As the school year draws to a close and the senior class prepares to graduate and move on, everyone realizes they’ll only be in high school once so it’s now or never. When someone’s past catches up with another’s present, the lethal consequences reverberate throughout the school. With new faces joining the student body, new and forbidden love triangles are formed and thought-provoking character revelations develop. As senior students prepare for graduation and prom, a bitter race for a new student council president develops and an illicit relationship blossoms on campus.

Degrassi is a fictional, dramatic television series that tackles tough teen issues in a realistic way. The internationally acclaimed series is the winner of a Television Critics Association Award, the Peabody Award and two Teen Choice Awards, among others. Heralded as the most authentic teen drama on television, Degrassi explores an interesting group of adolescents and young adults going through the trials and tribulations of teendom at Degrassi Community School. In its eleventh season, the series follows Holly J (Charlotte Arnold), Sav (Raymond Ablack), Anya (Samantha Munro), Riley (Argiris Karras), Zane (Shannon Kook-Chun), Clare (Aislinn Paul), Alli (Melinda Shankar), K.C. (Sam Earle), Connor (AJ Saudin), Fiona (Annie Clark), Jenna (Jessica Tyler), Dave (Jahmil French), Drew (Luke Bilyk), Adam (Jordan Todosey), Bianca (Alicia Josipovic), Eli (Munro Chambers), Owen (Daniel Kelly), Chantay (Jajube Mandiela), Wesley (Spencer Van Wyck), Marisol (Shanice Banton), Ms. Oh (Cory Lee) and Principal Simpson (Stefan Brogren). Season 11 includes the addition of new students – Jake (Justin Kelly), Katie (Chloe Rose) and Imogen (Cristine Prosperi).

About TeenNick

TeenNick, the 24-hour TV network exclusively for and about teens and tweens, is available in more than 71 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite, as well on mobile, VOD and broadband. TeenNick’s distinct perspective connects its audience to the electricity and possibilities of teendom, anytime and anywhere, with original series and ever-popular favorites. TeenNick and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.