Benjamin Franklin once noted that the only things in life that are certain are death and taxes. Well, Ben, you forgot a few, e.g., Desmond from “LOST” and the start of school. With all the unpacking, shopping and settling in that comes with this first week, we often forget about what will become an important part of our academic lives: What TV shows are we going to use to enable procrastination? So, every week, we at Cadenza are going to suggest old, new, forgotten or simply worthy shows for you to check out online.

And what better way to start putting off work than with a high school show featuring actors with the most endearing accents on television? That show I’m talking aboot of course, being “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” Because, well, with its episodes featuring hookups, breakdowns, suicide attempts, strippers, comas, fires, school shootings, addictions, date rapes, pregnancies and gonorrhea outbreaks—it went there. Having not watched many episodes since season six (R.I.P. J.T.), I’m not too sure what’s happening in that lovely Canadian town now, but with MTV now airing repeats, I’ve realized that no high school television drama—“Gossip Girl,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “One Tree Hill,” “The O.C.,” “90210”—will ever reach the same excellence as the first seasons of “Degrassi: TNG.” Degrassi Community School alum Drake sums up my feelings for the show most eloquently when he says, “You the best I eva had.” So, when the time comes to log out of WebWork and put the Faulkner book aside, check out some of these great episodes.
Oh, and I take it back, Mr. Franklin, you forgot another one—Emma’s constant ability to make me want to smack her.

“Coming of Age”
Season 1
Emma gets her first period and becomes the spokesperson for PMDD in the process. Also, my completely rational hatred of her is born.

“Weird Science”
Season 2
Manny outs Spike’s (Emma’s mom’s) relationship with Snake (a.k.a Mr. Simpson, a.k.a. Emma’s computer teacher) to the whole school by somehow sending an e-mail to all of Degrassi. And, Spinner can control his emotions—and by emotions, I mean, erections.

“U Got The Look”
Season 3
Manny wears a thong to school. The halls of Degrassi fall in on themselves.

“Accidents Will Happen”
Season 3

The episode they couldn’t air. When Manny realizes she’s pregnant with Craig’s child, she decides to get an abortion.

“Take on Me”
Season 3
My favorite episode, a throwback to “The Breakfast Club,” it features Degrassi’s lesser-developed characters when Toby (the brain), Jimmy (the athlete), Ellie (the basket case), Hazel (the princess) and Sean (the criminal) find themselves in Saturday detention.

“Rock and Roll High School”
Season 3
It’s chicks versus *dicks* (it’s funny, because Craig really isn’t the best boyfriend) when Degrassi’s battle of the band features a showdown between Craig’s Downtown Sasquatch and his ex Ashley’s Hell Hath No Fury.

“Time Stands Still”
Season 4
After not only forcing poor, overweight Terri to lower the bar and date him but also forcing the viewer universe to watch them make out, sketch-ball and coma-inducer Rick returns to Degrassi. And when a prank to get even with Terri’s near-fatal abuser gets taken too far, Rick does the unthinkable and brings a gun to school, paralyzing Jimmy and then taking his own life.

“Secret”
Season 4
Emma acts out by hanging around with Jay at “the ravine.” When she sees Kelso’s van from “That 70’s Show” parked there, she somehow assumes it’s only used to store beer. Then she educates herself in the worst way by going down on Jay in the back of it and contracting gonorrhea. It’s a choice episode.

“West End Girls”
Season 4
Manny and Paige’s hatred of each other escalates to the point where Manny essentially breaks Paige’s leg and Paige rips Manny’s prom dress off on stage. It also features the first of three guest appearances by Mr. Kevin Smith (who loved the original show so much that Shannen Doherty donned a Degrassi jacket during “Mallrats”): but this appearance is my favorite, because he bashes Creed.

“Rock This Town”
Season 6
After J.T. realizes he somehow still has feelings for Liberty, he runs outside to profess his love and is stabbed by those ghetto Lakewood kids. The shiv heard round the teen world.