TIFF 25: Degrassi – Whatever It Takes dir. Lisa Rideout

Degrassi has been with me since 1989. I was living on my own out in Halifax, and discovered it airing on television and was hooked. I recognized myself in these characters. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to chat and befriend members of the original Degrassi Juniour High and Degrassi High cast. I was…

A Case of Need (1968) – Micheal Crichton

Micheal Crichton’s writing, one time, as Jeffrey Hudson, delivers his first medical thriller filled with a number of themes that are still sadly too relevant today. Dr. John Berry is a pathologist working at Boston Memorial who finds himself trying to help out a friend and fellow doctor, Dr. Lee, when he is arrested for…

Dirty Dancing (1987) – Emile Ardolino

The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Grease is Dirty Dancing. This is a film I hadn’t seen since it was originally released back in 1987 (and I stole some of the music for a drama presentation I was doing in English class). Coming to…

Quantum Leap (1991) – 8 1/2 Months and Future Boy

Sam (Scott Bakula) leaps into a very pregnant teenager this week in the episode 8 1/2 Months. It was penned by Deborah Pratt and had an original airdate of 6 March, 1991. It’s 15 November, 1955 and Sam is Billie Jean Crockett, 16 years old. And he’s there to not only make sure the baby…

Veep: Season 3

  Also available from HBO today, is the third season of their critically acclaimed, and award-winning White House comedy series, Veep. Julia Loius-Drefus, who has won an Emmy for her performance in each season, is Vice President Selina Meyer. And considering my love of the Sorkin series The West Wing, I should have been watching…

Degrassi Junior High Season 3/Degrassi High Season 1

So, just the other night, I got to talk to Stacie Mistysyn on the phone. Her chat with us will be up next Saturday! It just seemed a perfect way to highlight the wonderful experience of revisiting the halls of Degrassi as I work my way through these episodes. And I have to tell you,…