*Spoiler alert*

I am a huge Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High fan. Though I am not a huge fan of the next generation, I have watched the occasional episode here and there. I was shocked to watch last night as one of the characters was written of the show by being stabbed to death. This is the first Degrassi death by murder, Claude who was in Degrassi High died by suicide and Wheels' parents's died in a car accident. Just goes to show you how times have changed.

I wonder why Ryan Cooley who plays J.T was written off the show?

SPOILER ALERT!!!! :eek: :(

SPOILER ALERT!!!! :eek: :(

Sorry I thought most people saw it already I will add a warning on top. :)

holy crap - you might want to change the thread title for the SPOILER ALERT

i dont know if i even want to watch it now

Alright, so from Friday night's promo for next week's episode, I was shocked. I couldn't believe they are going to murder a cast member!.... I couldn't take it anymore, and I just had to go snooping...........Here's an article from the official Degrassi page.



*~SPOILERS~*

While Degrassi has always been known for pushing the envelope, this week marks a new level of intensity in its drama-packed portrait of teen life.

After tackling rape, teenage pregnancy, Cocaine abuse, and even a school shooting where the gunman takes his own life, this week's episode of "Degrassi: The Next Generation" upped the ante as far as it has ever gone --with the first murder of one of its core characters.

The events leading up to the pivotal event were set in motion early in the season, when J.T. stuck up for Mia at a basketball game with Lakehurst, her former school. A feud with Mia's ex developed that culminated when J.T. was stabbed to death as he left a house party (on his way to tell Liberty he still loved her).

According to Chris Jackson, Director of Digital Media and Merchandising for Degrassi's Epitome Pictures, Ryan Cooley (who plays J.T.) was the only cast member who knew of the death well in advance. Everyone found out at an episodic read-through of the script before filming the episode.

Shane Kippel, who plays Spinner, said the cast members couldn't believe what they were reading.

"It just happened out of the blue," he told CTV Toronto on Tuesday. "It was just a pure shocker. No one knew and we all turned that same page... no one had any idea."

Cassie Steele (who plays Manny), said that after everything they'd gone through over the past six seasons, it wasn't hard to get emotional. After all, Cooley had been in the cast since the first season of "Degrassi: The Next Generation."

"All of the characters are so close and we go to the same school, and the cast members are so close as well, the emotions just kind of flowed though the script and it came out in our acting," she said, describing the episode as one that will make fans "laugh and cry at the same time."

"It was really easy (to act out), but also heartbreaking."

I wonder why Ryan Cooley who plays J.T was written off the show?

I heard that he voluntarily quit to concentrate on his studies in college.

I heard that he voluntarily quit to concentrate on his studies in college.

Thanks for the info :)

Here is a link to an interview with Ryan Cooley talking about the death of his character J.T.

http://thetvaddict.com/?p=1331#more-1331

Great, unexpected loss to the show. They continue to go strong, though.