Jay and Silent Bob do Degrassi

Canadian Press

January 27, 2005

TORONTO (CP) — “I got to make out with Caitlin Ryan. . .for hours!”

So boasted indie filmmaker Kevin Smith about his featured guest role on CTV’s Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Well, not quite hours but he does have one smooching scene with the dishy Stacie Mistysyn who plays Caitlin, but only because Caitlin was drunk and afterwards she. . .well, let’s not spoil it for both Smith and Degrassi fans. The first of three episodes airs Monday night.

Smith has made no secret of his longstanding adulation for the Degrassi franchise and in particular of a crush on Mistysyn, and so agreed last year to come to Canada, with Jason Mewes — his “hetero life-mate” and co-star in the popular Jay and Silent Bob movies — to basically play himself (albeit an unmarried version of Smith). Before the kiss, Caitlin, who is in a relationship with Joey (Pat Mastroianni), admits she thought Smith was gay.

In the story arc, they’re shooting a new film called Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh? on location at Degrassi High, using students as extras, and Smith becomes involved in Caitlin’s personal relationship problems.

Smith was limited to acting. He offered to write and direct the episodes but he’s not Canadian and that would have put the series’ Telefilm funding at risk. Watch for another riotous cameo, though, by Alanis Morissette whose character makes out with Jay. Degrassi is the top-rated shows on Noggin, a U.S. cable channel aimed at the teen crowd.