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Whatever it takes! Degrassi: The Next Generation<\/em> launched the careers of Drake<\/strong><\/a> (Real name: Aubrey Graham), Nina Dobrev<\/strong><\/a>, Shenae Grimes<\/strong><\/a> and more, but some fans will always see the actors and actresses as their iconic characters.<\/p>\n Degrassi: The Next Generation,<\/em> the fourth instatement of the Degrassi franchise, premiered in 2001. The series originally centered on Degrassi Junior High c<\/em>haracter Spike\u2019s (Amanda Stepto<\/strong>) daughter Emma Nelson (Miriam McDonald<\/strong>).<\/p>\n After a decade, Degrassi: The Next Generation<\/em> was known simply as Degrassi<\/em> for seasons 10 through 14. After the teen drama wrapped in 2015, Netflix picked up the show for a new installment, Degrassi: Next Class<\/em>. The Netflix version of the show ran for four seasons, but the streaming service has yet to pick up Degrassi: Next Class<\/em> for a fifth season.<\/p>\n While several original cast members, including McDonald, Shane Kippel, Sarah Barrable-Tishauer, Lauren Collins, Jake Epstein <\/strong>and Adamo Ruggiero,<\/strong> returned for a season 2 episode of Degrassi: Next Class i<\/em>n 2016, perhaps the bigger reunion took place on the set of Drake\u2019s 2018 music video, \u201cI\u2019m Upset.\u201d<\/a> The video featured more than 20 cameos from the show.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no acting going on in that video,\u201d Epstein, who played Craig Manning, told Variety<\/em> about the shoot in 2018. \u201cIt was truly a reunion of great friends who hadn\u2019t seen each other in years. Drake\u2019s team and [director] Karena [Evans]<\/strong> did a fantastic job of orchestrating the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n McDonald noted to the outlet that the shoot was emotional.<\/p>\n \u201cWe laughed; we cried; we had the best time,\u201d the actress said. \u201cI am so proud of how far each of us came from when we first walked those hallways 17 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Collins, who played Paige Michaelchuk, added that it was the \u201cbest night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the reunion we\u2019ve always wanted, and we were thrilled to do it with our old friend,\u201d she told Variety<\/em>. \u201cThank you Aubrey, and thank you to the unbelievably dedicated fans of our show.\u201d<\/p>\n Degrassi<\/em> made headlines in February 2021 after Cassie Steele<\/strong> recreated one of Manny Santos\u2019 iconic looks \u2014 the infamous low-rise jeans with the bright blue thong \u2014 as part of the \u201cBuss It\u201d challenge on TikTok.<\/p>\n After Steele shared the video to Instagram, Drake commented, \u201cFit is museum worthy tbh Santos.\u201d<\/p>\n