One deals forthrightly with issues like teenage sex and violence in schools. The other deals forthrightly with the travails of convenience-store workers and sexually frustrated comic-book artists.

“Degrassi: The Next Generation,” say hello to Kevin Smith. Smith and his frequent movie sidekick, Jason Mewes, will guest-star in the final three episodes of “Degrassi’s” current season. The duo, who have played Jay and Silent Bob in four of Smith’s films, will play themselves. The episodes are set to air early next year on cable network The N in the United States and on Canada’s CTV.

Smith is an avowed “Degrassi” fan who has slipped references to the show into a few of his movies.

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 it.