CONversations: The Cast of Degrassi / Degrassi: The Next Generation on Nostalgia, Fan Love, and Why Their Story Still Matters

By: Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com

“We’re Just a Little Canadian Show” No More: The Cast of Degrassi Reflect on Fans, Fame, and Legacy"

There are interviews you schedule, and then there are interviews you manifest.This one? I have been begging for it.

Last year, at Rhode Island Comic Con, through our ongoing partnership with Altered Reality, CONversations finally made something special happen: a sit-down with members of the cast of Degrassi / Degrassi: The Next Generation. And let me tell you, this was not just another convention interview. This was a full-circle, flowers-being-given, love-filled moment decades in the making.

From the second we sat down with Pat Mastroianni, Shane Kippel, Mike Lobel, and Melissa McIntyre, the energy was clear. They were excited, exhausted in that familiar convention-weekend way, and genuinely moved by the response they had been getting from fans all weekend. And honestly, they were still surprised by it.

There was a recurring sentiment they kept coming back to: “We’re just a little Canadian show.” I had to stop them right there. Because Degrassi was never little. Not to the kids who grew up with it. Not to the teens who saw themselves reflected in those storylines. And definitely not to the adults now bringing their own kids to meet the cast that helped them navigate high school, coming of age, and even the isolating days of COVID.

What stood out most was hearing how intentional this reunion era has been. Pat shared how he first began doing conventions over a decade ago, starting in Canada, feeling the immediate love, and slowly realizing that the cast of Degrassi: The Next Generation had a fandom ready to rise up as well. Over the last few years, that realization has become undeniable. Fans are not just nostalgic. They are grateful. They want to say thank you. And the cast wants to say it right back.

The conversation took a beautiful turn when the cast talked about being fans themselves. From the heartbreak of a John Bernthal cancellation, to surreal hallway moments with Rainn Wilson, to emotional interactions with childhood heroes that ended in tears, it was a reminder of why conventions matter. These moments humanize everyone in the room. They create empathy. They remind actors what it feels like to be on the other side of the table and why the exchange with fans is so meaningful.

[Watch the full CONversations video interview here]

One of the most powerful themes that kept surfacing was legacy. Hearing fans explain how Degrassi carried them through difficult years, helped them feel seen, or even connected them to lifelong friends or partners was overwhelming in the best way. Some fans drove hours. Some slept in lines. Some are now passing that love down to their kids. That is not just fandom. That is cultural impact.

What made this moment at Rhode Island Comic Con even more special was the cast’s honesty about their nerves going into it. Surrounded by hundreds of celebrities, they genuinely wondered if anyone would show up. They did, and in a big way. The turnout proved what many of us already knew: Degrassi still resonates, still heals, and still matters.

As the conversation wrapped, the cast made one thing clear. If you want to see them in your city, speak up. Fans advocating, emailing conventions, and showing demand is what keeps these moments happening. With 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of Degrassi: The Next Generation and the 40th anniversary of Degrassi Junior High, expect this tour to go big.

For upcoming appearances and announcements, fans can visit degrassitour.com. Trust me, this is just the beginning.

This is what CONversations is all about: preserving moments, celebrating legacy, and bringing fans closer to the stories that shaped them. Huge thanks to the cast of Degrassi / Degrassi: The Next Generation for the time, the honesty, and the heart.

We will see you at the next CONversations. 🎤💙