“…The press conference was more like a 20-minute standup by Smith, a hilarious bloke whom his wife, the actress Jennifer Schwalbach, calls Mr. Long Shorts because of his dubious bottom-half attire. He made countless jokes, but said what has always attracted him to Degrassi is the issues and continuity of the series. A program, he adds, that has the balls to tackle topics few other programs will, everything from teen sex, child molestation, wet dreams, animal testing — the list goes on.

“I’m also a sucker for star-crossed romance,” Smith said, referring to the Caitlin and Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni) storyline.

“This show truly is a soft spot for me. There are very few fascinations I’ve been able to carry with me to adulthood,” said Smith, who writes comic strips, owns two comic book shops, has won independent film awards, and received the Defender of Democracy Award from Norman Lear’s People for the American Way.

“I left Star Wars behind. But Degrassi is just something that makes me feel young. It’s one of the really cool things I wanted to do. And this is the topping on the cake: I said to Schuyler, if my plane goes down after episode three, I don’t give a fuck. This would be my legacy.”

Toronto Sun – School Daze

“…Smith, in fact, has a long-standing crush on the character, dating back to when he named the lead female character Caitlin in Clerks. “When I was working at the Quick Stop (in New Jersey), they used to run Degrassi Sunday morning at 11 on PBS. The first time I watched it I was like ‘Oh my God, this is insanely melodramatic!’ And by the end of the episode, I was weeping.

“I introduced it to Jason Mewes and we’d work toward the 11 o’clock hour, then we’d watch it and talk about it — not in the ‘Let’s do the discussion guide’ way, but ‘Who would you f— on that show?’ For me it was Caitlin Ryan, and Mewes was, like, Joey Jeremiah.”

Smith had his own version of how he agreed to appear on the show. “My wife and I met Linda and (her husband and producing partner) Stephen at a key party in Vancouver. After some awkward pillow talk, I said, ‘So you’re involved in a Canadian melodrama?’ And she said, ‘Yes,’ and I said, ‘I’d love to do that kind of thing. My last movie (Jersey Girl, with Ben and J-Lo) bleep-tanked in the States, so I’m looking for work anyway.’ ”

Globe and Mail – “Filmmaker Kevin Smith gets admission to Degrassi”

“…When I heard some of the storylines they’re doing, my head exploded,” Smith told Entertainment Weekly this month. “I’m known for frank subject matter and I wouldn’t touch that stuff.” (He was referring, perhaps, to an Oct. 12 school-shooting spree.) For years, he has also worked Degrassi references into his films. Smith will star in the final three Degrassis this season, slated to air early next year. He is currently filming in Toronto, and will return in mid-November.”

Toronto Star – “Degrassi girl and role a dream come true for U.S. filmmaker”

…”I want Affleck to show up,” Smith told reporters at Toronto’s Epitome Pictures, where Degrassi is filmed.

“So we’re going to try to get Ben to do a little cameo, too. Because we’re making a movie within the movie, so we want to make the movie as realistic as possible. And Affleck could honestly use the work right now. There’s no better way to reboot your career than starring on a Canadian melodrama.”

There may be some truth to the last joke. Degrassi may indeed be a “Canadian melodrama,” but it has started to catch fire in the U.S. It was the subject of a recent Entertainment Weekly article, a copy of which Smith happened to have with him.

“There’s so much coverage (in the U.S.) … Which is really great. It makes me feel smart because I’ve been talking about Degrassi since about 1994. Now people know, so I feel like I had my finger on the pulse. I just wish I had invested.”

Zap2It – “Kevin Smith Drops by ‘Degrassi’”

“…”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,’” Smith wrote in a 1996 Details magazine piece. See, I had to put the papers together, and I did it while watching double episodes of ‘Degrassi’ on PBS.”

Smith and “Degrassi: TNG” producer Linda Schuyler tried to arrange for Smith to direct an episode of the show in 2001, but scheduling conflicts prevented that from happening. The guest appearances will make up for that.”

The Edmonton Sun – “Silent Bob High”

“…Of the new Degrassi series (on the U.S.-based N Channel), he says, “I was one of those who say ‘Don’t f— with perfection, don’t go back to the well’ – though I built my career going back to the well.” (He starts filming Passion of the Clerks for real in January).

“But you get two episodes in and it’s great. They’ve taken the best characters from the other show and updated it. And I didn’t know whether I’d like the new kids, ’cause I’m an old man. But I did – in a real creepy way.”