[Mariael311]

From JustMe2000 in the previous thread!

The third season of DJH comes out on DVD (in the US) on Sept 6th.

Here's a story from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that's mainly about Instant Star, but does have a quick Degrassi mention.

And here's one from the LA Daily News.

Article Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 2:37:27 PM PST Evergreen 'Degrassi' Contemporary Canadian series keeps drawing loyal American fans By David Kronke Television Writer Sabrina Szymanski, a 15-year-old from Nevada City, Calif., first saw "Degrassi: The Next Generation," a high-school saga appearing on the teen network The N, two years ago. "I thought it was kind of lame - in a funny way that was so good you watch it," she recalls. "Everyone was unfortunate looking, and it was not as intense." Soon, however, the fact that the characters weren't all pinups grew on Szymanski, and the series became more "intense" - in addition to the usual high-school concerns like grades and dating, episodes have dealt with difficult issues including date rape, gay-bashing, abusive parents, kids who cut themselves and school violence. "As the seasons progress," Szymanski declares, "everything got better." Jenny Woodhead, a 15-year-old in Pasadena, had a similar experience. "At first, I didn't really like it. I thought it wasn't cool enough. After a while, I fell in love with it. The characters are more real than on any other show that I've watched and don't get on my nerves as much." Szymanski agrees. "Characters affect you so that over the seasons, it seems like you're friends with them, you know them so well. It's more realistic. It deals more with our problems. 'The O.C.' is more soap-opera-ish. Not everyone's rich and living in (Orange County) and going to the beach all the time." "Degrassi: The Next Generation," the only series still running since The N's launch in 2002, and far and away its most popular show, is a cult favorite lurching quickly toward becoming a runaway sensation. It's currently shown in 150 countries worldwide; when its fourth season launched in October, more teens watched it that night than the networks' youth-oriented shows "Joan of Arcadia" and "8 Simple Rules." New episodes return Friday and run through the summer, with repeats shown frequently throughout the week. "Kids had to work to find it" on the modest cable network in America, notes "Degrassi" creator Linda Schuyler, adding that part of its appeal is that fans "think they found it themselves, without parents or teachers." Schuyler is a former junior-high teacher who first produced the semi-documentary series "The Kids of Degrassi Street" in Canada in the early '80s. That evolved into scripted melodramas "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High" (seen on some PBS stations) as the decade progressed. Characters and actors from the later shows appear in "The Next Generation" as adults, often parents of the current students. "People always asked, 'Why teach junior-high kids? They're so miserable,' " Schuyler says. "I love them. They're going through an incredible time in life, with their bodies changing and hormones raging. Attitude is just something they wear. Underneath, they're really scared young kids who aren't sure what's going on. I like to meet those issues head-on." "Linda is completely committed to this age group," says Sarah Lindman, vice president of programming at The N. "She's very tuned in to teens and their needs and desires. Her passion for her audience shines through." And though the series is produced in Canada, where it airs on a mainstream broadcast network, those working on the show agree their American fans are far more passionate. "Canadians love the show, but the American reaction is absolutely overwhelming," says Miriam McDonald, 18, who plays Emma on the series. "In America, it feels like a bigger deal. We had mall tours last year - we'd expect 50 kids and hundreds and hundreds would turn out." (Another mall tour is planned, with "Degrassi" stars scheduled to visit the Glendale Galleria Aug. 13.) While McDonald's character has been one of the more chaste on the series, Emma has endured much on the show: Her father was diagnosed with leukemia; she's still recovering emotionally from her presence at a school shooting. As new episodes begin, Emma contracts a sexually transmitted disease after performing oral sex. Of her character's constant crises, McDonald says, "I love them - I feed off the dramatic scenes. I like to throw myself into the character." She sheepishly admits she also recently played a teen in a Lifetime movie who contracted an STD. "I'm not like that!" she says, laughing. "There's some embarrassment, but I separate myself from my character. I'm helping to tell a story about something people are going through, to shed light on the issue. "Parents will come in with kids and tell us an episode helped opened up a discussion for them," she adds. "They'll thank us. It's kind of nice for a parent to say to a teenager, 'Thank you.' " Schuyler says that experts consult on the heavy-issue episodes, and the young actors are counseled to maintain a sense of separation between them and their characters. "We're refreshing for our audience because there aren't 12 other shows like us out there. Because we're a breath of fresh air, they feel they can trust us." "Degrassi" fan Woodhead says, "It has more of an ability to handle serious stories. On 'The O.C.,' when Marissa (Mischa Barton's character) O.D.'d, it was kind of funny instead of serious." Of all the issues "Degrassi" has tackled, only one - abortion - was considered too touchy for American audiences. Lindman called The N's opting not to run the abortion episodes - in which the pro-life Emma tried to talk her friend out of an abortion, then stood by her when the boy who got her pregnant did the same - "an editorial rather than political choice." Schuyler says in Canada, there was "no backlash," and the episodes were among the highest rated of their season, adding, "Of course, we are a liberal country up here." (The N held back the date-rape episodes for a time, then ran them together - from the incident to the trial - as a mini-movie.) The occasional controversy did not prevent The N from asking Schuyler to create a new series, and the result, "Instant Star," will premiere Friday after "Degrassi." Whereas "Degrassi" prides itself on its realism, "Instant Star" is all wish-fulfillment fantasy: Alexz Johnson stars as Jude, a 15-year-old singer-songwriter who wins an "American Idol"-style competition and is thrust into the glamorous music industry, recording her first album with a former boy-band hunk. But "Instant Star" has serious issues on its mind, as well. Jude is constantly pressed to compromise her principles, from writing more upbeat songs to dressing more provocatively. "That's the basis of the whole show, to stay real to yourself, no matter what the situation," Johnson says. "That plays on every level. She's fighting to stay true to her sound. You don't have to wear what the other person's wearing. I love that message. "It's not all glitter and glamour," Johnson continues. "Yes, it's fun, looking stunning. But the show also portrays realism. That's where it and 'Degrassi' are a lot alike - they go to places other shows are not brave enough to. "I'm not sure why more shows don't go there," she continues. "Maybe because they're aimed at young teens, parents want to feel safe and secure, knowing their kids are learning the right lessons. When you're taking risks, you could get in trouble." And, as every teen knows, getting in trouble is, well, kind of fun. And every parent knows getting in trouble is their kid's greatest talent. DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION What: Everyday life at a high school, with emphasis on hot-button issues affecting teens. Where: The N. When: Season premiere at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, with repeats many times during the week. INSTANT STAR What: A young winner of an "American Idol"-style competition negotiates the turbulent waters of the music industry. Where: The N. When: Premieres 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Friday; thereafter, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Fridays, also with copious repeats.

[Mariael311]

Ok...some things I got...

From The Boston Herald

`Degrassi' hooks up with local scandals By Amy Amatangelo It's not easy being a teenager, and no TV series knows this better than ``Degrassi: The Next Generation.'' Over the years, the series, which returns tonight at 8, has tackled mental illness, date rape, drug abuse, child abuse and domestic violence. Every episode of this Canadian-based show is the quintessential ``very special episode.'' These kids make the gang on ``90210'' look like they led uneventful lives. In tonight's episode, titled ``Secret,'' sweet Emma (Miriam McDonald), who is all grown up, is tired of the way people have been treating her since last year's school shooting. She acts out by hooking up with Jay. In this case, ``hooking up'' is code for oral sex. Jay (Mike Lobel) is a jerk who balks when Emma initially rejects him. ``There are a lot of girls down at that ravine, Emma. I picked you,'' he tells her. Emma earns a bracelet for each encounter with Jay, and she realizes it instantly makes her hip. Although nothing even remotely graphic is shown, the episode frankly addresses the topic and doesn't shy away from using current slang. But on ``Degrassi,'' nothing is without an immediate consequence. There's an instant outbreak of gonorrhea. While it is, of course, important for teens to learn about sexually transmitted diseases and the cost of unprotected sex, the episode skirts the root issue. Even if Emma didn't contract gonorrhea, she shouldn't be intimate with a boy she hardly knows who treats her poorly and makes her feel bad about herself. That message is more implied than the obvious ``casual, unprotected sex leads to sexually transmitted diseases'' lesson. Some might wonder if the series is going too far by tackling this topic. After all, this is something that never would be discussed between Seth and Sandy on ``The O.C.'' But given recent headlines about prep schools in this area, this is a timely topic, and the episode should help parents begin conversations with their own children (a parent discussion guide can be found at www.discussions.the-n.com).

From The Palm Beach Post

Teen-focused drama 'Degrassi' connects with teens on their level By Kevin D. Thompson In the 1970s, Linda Schuyler was a junior high school teacher who used her Friday afternoons to watch television with her students. "I loved TV and I found sometimes it was difficult to get my kids to talk about more sensitive issues," Schuyler recalls. "If we looked at a show, we could discuss things more." One day Schuyler was showing a film about a young girl growing up with an alcoholic father. The film moved one of Schuyler's students so much, she wanted to discuss the movie after class. "She was talking about this girl in the show and before I knew it, she was no longer talking in the third person, she was talking about herself," Schuyler remembers. "I thought, 'Gee, it's pretty powerful how the media can get kids talking.' But there were not a lot of shows that you could show a class and it would be appropriate for that." So Schuyler quit her job and made sure there would be at least one television show that spoke to teens in their language. That show is Degrassi: The Next Generation (The N, 8 p.m.), an unflinching and achingly real teen angsty drama about a bunch of high school kids who spend more time confronting such real-life social issues as school shootings, date rape, STDs, Internet stalking and abortion than they do studying for tricky algebra exams. Degrassi, which is produced through Schuyler's Epitome Pictures, has been on the air for 25 years in various incarnations. Currently airing on The N, Nickelodeon's teen sister channel available on satellite and digital cable, the Canadian-produced Degrassi has become the 3-year-old network's most popular show, averaging about 330,000 viewers. Degrassi also has a strong cult following overseas in such countries as Australia, Israel and Italy and is the most-discussed show on The N's Web site message board. "The show really knows how to speak to teens in a way that's very real to them, but is also completely respectful of the teen audience," says Sara Tomassi Lindman, The N's vice president of programming and production. "The show tackles tough issues, but does it in a responsible way." In tonight's season opener, for instance, bad boy Jay (Mike Lobel) tries to persuade goody-goody Emma (Miriam McDonald) to perform oral sex on him because that's what all the girls are doing. And, quite surprisingly, Jay uses the graphic oral sex term you'd hear in just about every high school hallway in America. "I think everybody had some degree of nervousness about it," admits Schuyler, the show's executive producer. "There were options that were discussed, but this is the language that kids use." It's that kind of frank language, sexually charged dialogue and controversial subject matter that also has got Schuyler's show in some hot water. The BBC and PBS stopped airing Degrassi. Even The N has edited episodes (about 10 of the show's 88) for American television and refused to show the hotly contested abortion episode that aired in Canada last summer. Lindman says the episode didn't fit with the show's other "lighthearted" programming. Schuyler, quite naturally, was disappointed in the network's decision. "I'd like to feel when a show leaves our office it is very responsible and very appropriate for the audience," she says. "But there are sometimes circumstances that dictate otherwise." What makes Degrassi stand out from American teen dramas is that it actually features real teen actors who don't look like they were peeled off the cover of Teen People. "We have 15-year-olds playing 15-year-olds," Schuyler points out. "We don't have 25-year-olds playing 15-year-olds. It might sound like a subtle difference, but I actually think it makes quite a bit of difference to the show. If you take a 23-year-old who looks 15, he can absolutely do the part, however, they are bringing with them eight more years of life experience to the screen whether they mean to or not. There's a sophistication that can't help but come through." The show is also told from a teenager's point of view since the writers have no interest in appealing to a broad-based demographic like the writers on, say, Fox's The O.C. "We never have adults in a scene unless a young person is in a scene," Schuyler explains. "You will never hear adults talking about young people. It's all about young people trying to find their own way through and coming up with their own conclusions." Schuyler says she even seeks advice from the cast before scripts are written. In one episode, popular cheerleader Paige (Lauren Collins) was supposed to say she was "stoned" after ill-advisedly smoking a joint before a critical interview with a college recruiter. "The kids told me that nobody says that," Schuyler says, laughing. "They said they would say 'high.' I said, 'OK.' I think that's what happens when you take an ex-school teacher and turn her into a producer. I'm really interested in what kids have to say." As for chucking her beloved teaching job for a gig as a TV producer, Schuyler says she's never regretted it. "It's unbelievably fantastic to know that there are some kids out there who are listening to our show," she says. "Hopefully we're making just a tiny little bit of difference in some people's lives. What could be more rewarding than that?"

[-Kelly-]

Woo hoo
I so want the very last old degrassi dvd

[Mariael311]

oops....double post!!!

[Mariael311]

From The Futon Critic

Actor/Writer/Director Kevin Smith Guest Stars On Three-Part Season Finale Of The N's Degrassi: The Next Generation Friday, August 12, 19 & 26 at 8:00 PM Singer/Songwriter Alanis Morissette Makes Cameo Appearance As Canadian Principal (*Tapes and art available upon request) NEW YORK, July 11 -- After years of mutual admiration and attempts at collaboration, Degrassi: The Next Generation and actor/writer/director Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy) have joined creative forces, as The N, the nighttime network for teens, wraps up season four of the network's hit series with special guest appearances by Smith. Smith and actor Jason Mewes (Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back) play themselves in all three episodes of the three-part season finale. Alanis Morissette joins the duo in the second of the three half-hour episodes. Morissette plays the Canadian principal who accepts Jay and Silent Bob so they may graduate. The finale will roll out for three consecutive Friday nights -- August 12, August 19 and August 26 at 8:00 pm (ET). In the Degrassi season finale, Smith travels to Canada to film a fictional sequel to the cult-hit Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. For the 'sequel' titled, Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!, director Kevin Smith has chosen Degrassi as the perfect Canadian high school for the shoot. In the Degrassi / J&SB storyline, Jay and Silent Bob (played by Mewes and Smith) come to Canada to get a high school diploma since no high school in the United States will take them. Smith said, "The plot of the movie within the show is so funny, it almost makes me want to shoot the flick for real." To his legions of fans on both sides of the border and around the world, Kevin Smith has surpassed cult hero status with a body of work that includes titles Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma, the "Jersey Trilogy" of Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy and his most recent title, Jersey Girl. The three-episode finale is as follows: * "West End Girls" -- Premieres Friday, August 12, 8:00 & 10:00 p.m. (ET) -- With a common ex-boyfriend, competing Spirit Squad leadership ambitions, and Manny's public revelation of Paige and Matt's affair, Paige and Manny cannot stand each other. And none of this is helped by their shared desire to be Prom Queen. But with the claws bared and the fur flying, these "mean girls" take their war too far. Meanwhile, a chance at stardom could spell the end for Craig and Ashley. * "Goin' Down The Road" Part 1 -- Premieres August 19, 8:00 & 10:00 p.m. (ET) -- Alanis Morissette makes a cameo appearance as she plays the Canadian principal who accepts Jay and Silent Bob so they may graduate. Kevin Smith is filming his hot new movie at Degrassi, and while Craig's thrilled to be helping out, he's destroyed over the fact that Ashley is going to England without him. Now he needs to figure out what's really important to him, his health or his love? And Ashley may have another take on things altogether. Meanwhile, Caitlin's been spending a lot of time with Kevin Smith, and she's beginning to once again doubt her relationship with Joey. * "Goin' Down The Road" Part 2 -- Premieres August 26, 8:00 & 10:00 p.m. (ET) -- Without his medication, Craig's life seems to be falling apart: he's fighting with Joey, he's leaving home again, and when he's kicked off Kevin Smith's set after a huge blow-up, Craig has nowhere to run. Meanwhile, Caitlin is no closer to figuring out her situation with Joey and Kevin Smith, but running away from it all is sure looking good to her, too. Smith recounted how he first encountered Degrassi in a November, 1996 article he wrote for Details Magazine, entitled 'Obsession Confession'. In the piece, Smith confesses: "I used to work at this convenience store, and on Sunday mornings the only thing that kept me from gutting the customers in a sleepy rage was Degrassi Junior High. See, I had to put the papers together, and I did it while watching double episodes of Degrassi on PBS..." Shortly thereafter, Smith went on to create Clerks (1994), his first "Jersey" Trilogy title and even named one if its characters Caitlin, after his favorite Degrassi character. Smith and series producer Linda Schuyler kept in touch ever since and the mutual admiration was obvious. Smith is renowned for making references to Degrassi in his movies Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. In Chasing Amy, Jason Lee and Ben Affleck discuss their plans for the evening. Ben's plans include clubbing. Jason, on the other hand, opts for a pizza and watching Degrassi Junior High, an option that intrigues his co-star. Currently in its fourth season, Degrassi: The Next Generation 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), Ashley (Melissa McIntyre), Paige (Lauren Collins), Manny (Cassie Steele), Ellie (Stacey Farber), Craig (Jake Epstein), Jimmy (Aubrey Graham), Hazel (Andrea Lewis), Liberty (Sarah Barrable Tishauer), Spinner (Shane Kippel), Marco (Adamo Ruggiero), Toby (Jake Goldsbie), J.T. (Ryan Cooley), Jay (Mike Lobel) and Alex (Deanna Casaluce) as they journey through high school. Degrassi airs regularly Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and 10:00 p.m. (ET) on The N.

From the New York Daily News

DVD sales losing steam By PHYLLIS FURMAN DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER With recent disappointments, studios need a lift from new releases like latest 'Star Wars' film. Even 'Shrek 2,' the highest grossing movie of 2004, had disappointing DVD sales. Some big movie titles are about to come out in DVD, including "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," "Madagascar," and "Robots" - but it's not just fans who'll be watching. The Hollywood studios will be holding their breaths to see if the much-talked-about slowdown in DVD sales continues into the holiday season. DVDs used to be the big hot sure thing in Tinseltown, enjoying average annual sales increases of 66% over the last five years as nearly everyone snapped up a DVD player. Movies that flopped at the box office could be counted on to sell briskly at video chains or at Wal-Mart. Even forgotten TV titles, like "McMillan and Wife" - due out on Aug. 9 - have gotten a second life in small disc form. But lately retailers, media giants and Wall Street see the curtain coming down on the DVD bonanza. Recently Pixar cut its earnings estimate because stores returned copies of its hit flick "The Incredibles," sending Pixar's stock down 14% in one day. The storyline sounded much the same back in May, when rival DreamWorks announced weaker than expected DVD sales for "Shrek 2." Such events mean DVD sales could rise just 9% this year and 4% next year, according to a recent research report from Sanford Bernstein. Hollywood may have itself to blame for the slowdown. Eager to load up on profits, studios have been flooding stores with titles. And they aren't waiting long past a movie's opening in theaters to release it in DVD format. "The Longest Yard," which opened at the end of May and is still playing on big screens, will hit stores as soon as this October. In the first week of June, the volume of DVD releases was up an astounding 86% from the same week last year as titles like "Be Cool," "Beyond the Sea," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "Degrassi: The Next Generation - Season II," hit the market. This flood of titles, is "confusing for the retailer and for the customer," said Marla Backer, an entertainment analyst at Research Associates. In the meantime, stores are showing less patience. If a DVD doesn't hit big within the first couple weeks, it's moved off the shelves to make room for new discs. "DVDs are mirroring the theatrical market," said Thomas K. Arnold, group editor of Home Media Retailing magazine said. "You live or die off the first weekend." Still, the credits aren't rolling yet for DVDs. Arnold said the studios are banking on newfangled high-definition DVDs to recharge the business. But the consumer electronics industry and the Hollywood studios have yet to agree on a uniform format for this next generation of home video.

From mtv.com

Jay And Silent Bob — And Alanis — Visit Degrassi, Eh! Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes to make fictional sequel to 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.' Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" Bluntman and Chronic are firing themselves up for another adventure, and this time they're bringing God along. Director/writer/actor Kevin Smith, loyal accomplice Jason Mewes and singer/occasional actress Alanis Morissette will guest star on U.S. airwaves next month in a special three-episode arc of the cable TV program "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Smith and Mewes will appear as themselves portraying their cult-classic creations Jay and Silent Bob (as seen in "Clerks," "Mallrats" and the other films in the so-called "New Jersey" series), while Morissette will step down off the heavenly cloud she inhabited in "Dogma" to play the only high school principal willing to give diplomas to the infamous Quick Stop loiterers. For years, Smith has made no secret of his love of "Degrassi," an unapologetic teenage Canadian cheese-fest that the future Hollywood player first caught in reruns while working the graveyard shift at a New Jersey convenience store. After naming a "Clerks" character for a "Degrassi" personality and referring to the show throughout his films (Jason Lee's character in "Chasing Amy" considered the perfect evening to include pizza and the teenage soap), Smith and series producer Linda Schuyler hatched the plan to bring their two worlds together. Although the original "Degrassi Junior High" was canceled in the early '90s, the program's loyal following led to the 2001 revival "Next Generation," which will feature the special guests in the three-part season finale of the show's fourth season. The plot has Smith and Mewes traveling to the Great White North to film a fictional sequel to "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," entitled "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!" In the film, the fast-talking drug dealer and his mute friend make a pilgrimage to their neighboring country when they discover that it contains the only high school that will allow them to go back and get their diplomas. With Smith selecting Degrassi as the ideal location for the film shoot, the school's residents take jobs on both sides of the camera and interact with Smith, Mewes and Morissette (winkingly appearing as herself playing a character in the fictional movie). "The plot of the movie within the show is so funny," Smith said in a statement, "it almost makes me want to shoot the flick for real." The episodes will air on cable channel the N at 8 p.m. ET on August 12, 19 and 26. As American fans of the series are all too aware, each program airs one season behind its Canadian debut, so Smith and friends have already rolled out on "Degrassi" for our tuque-wearing friends to the North. According to the show's production company, plans are currently under way to have Smith return for a very special episode of season five, in which he may premiere "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh!" at the high school. Because as his fans recall, Smith and his characters hate people — but they love gatherings. Visit Movies on MTV.com for more from Hollywood, including news, interviews, trailers and more. — Larry Carroll

[JustMe2000]

I have a feeling that DVD sales article is referring to DJH rather than D:TNG, because the second season of DJH is the one that came out the first week of June. The second season of D:TNG came out two weeks later.

[Mariael311]

Meh..I think it as it's cool that it was mentioned and that it did as so well!

[froggiepopple]

it is great news.

[selliefan]

The Kevin Smith thing's fairly well-known. The episodes themselves suck. Especially since he actually ends up running away with Caitlin.

I think Jason Mewes had a small guest part in WDC as one of the mullet kids too. At least he looks like Jason Mewes.

Degrassi's already made one reference to Jay and Silent Bob: Jay doesn't shut up, Sean rarely says anything, and Towerz never says anything. And then there's Amy, probably named after Silent Bob's slutty ex-girlfriend.

Oh, also, in that ****ty movie Mallrats, Shannon Doherty wears a Degrassi Junior High jacket. The reference is to how 90210 was an obvious knockoff, only not nearly as realistic.

[Lyndsi]

Aw...those articles are cool thanks for sharing..thats awesome that The OC is mentioned in the same article as Degrassi..

[Mariael311]

And another that I thought was interesting!

From YAhoo Biz

What Are Web Users Searching For? Check Out The Lycos 50 at http://50.lycos.com The Lycos 50(TM) for Week Ending July 9, 2005 WALTHAM, Mass., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Lycos, Inc. (http://www.lycos.com), a leading provider of search, community and technology lifestyle destinations, today announced the following information from The Lycos 50(TM), the 50 most popular Internet search results for the week ending July 9, 2005. For a complete list of The Lycos 50(TM) and for in-depth text of The Lycos 50 Daily Report, go to http://50.lycos.com. Readers of The Lycos 50(TM) can also share their thoughts on Internet trends and pop culture on The Lycos 50 Blog located at http://lycos50.tripod.com/blog/. The Lycos 50(TM) Top 10 Search Terms for the Week Ending July 9, 2005: 1) Poker 6) Eve 2) Pamela Anderson 7) Dragonball 3) Paris Hilton 8) London Attack 4) Hurricane Dennis 9) WWE 5) Britney Spears 10) Diets Notes of Interest: As the first recorded hurricane in July to hit US soil, Hurricane Dennis (#4) created a storm in search activity by appearing in the top five in The Lycos 50. The hurricane's entrance spread apprehension, as people were reminded of the devastation of last year's Hurricane Ivan. Hurricane Ivan ranked #4 in search activity ten months ago, as it was the third costliest hurricane to ever strike the U.S., with estimated $13 billion dollars worth of damage in the United States alone. Two years ago, Hurricane Isabel took the number one spot on The Lycos 50, becoming the second natural disaster to do so after 1999's Hurricane Floyd. Other hurricane related searches include: National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Tracking, Hurricane Dennis projected patterns and N.O.A.A. - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Searches for the London Attack (#8) made The Lycos 50 as four still unexplained explosions occurred on a London bus and in the subways last Thursday, resulting in many casualties and hundreds injured. No arrests have been made, however the Al Jihad network in Europe posted an Internet statement claiming responsibility for the bombings and have threatened further attacks across Europe. Increased awareness spread with searchers, and Lycos helped connect and inform users. In connection to the attacks, searches for al Qaeda rose 125 percent, terrorism searches increased 150 percent, security cameras are up 185 percent and BBC news searches escalated 236 percent. Other Notes of Interest: The finale of the ABC show, "Dancing with the Stars," sashayed former Playboy model and "General Hospital" actress, Kelly Monaco (#22) into her first time appearance on The Lycos 50. Monaco and professional dancer, Alec Mazo won the realty-show competition with a perfect 30/30 score. This was the first time in the competition that the judges all agreed on a perfect ten, and an Internet controversy erupted over the results. Searches for "Dancing with the Stars" bopped up 105 percent and immediately after the finale aired, conspiracy theories swirled that the show was rigged, and Monaco's career on an ABC soap opera, influenced the judge's scores. Despite the controversy, Lycos users show a clear winner with Monaco, as searches for competitor John O'Hurley were less than 1 percent. One to Watch: While not generating enough search activity to make The Lycos 50, searches for "Degrassi: The Next Generation," a high-school TV drama that creatively tackles teen issues with young teen actors, have exploded 647 percent during the past month. The show has grown more popular online than any other TV series this summer.

[sweetdrmz4]

Those are some interesting articles! Thanks for posting them, everyone!

Wow. I can't believe how popular Degrassi is on the internet. But it's awesome that it's more popular online than any other tv series this summer! Degrassi's just getting bigger!

[Jo_Herself]

Originally Posted by selliefan Oh, also, in that ****ty movie Mallrats

Mallrats is an awesome movie and one of my favorites.

[selliefan]

Originally Posted by Jo_Herself Mallrats is an awesome movie and one of my favorites.

Hey, even Smith said it was ****ty.

[Jo_Herself]

He's been known to be self deprecating so him calling his own work bad doesn't mean it actually is. Plus he's a pretty sarcastic guy.