Degrassi set
n.— «For a while now, the “Degrassi” set has been the talk of Broadway, for one big green reason: the musical “Wicked,” which was created for a general audience, but began attracting a fanatical, often face-painted following of teenagers and tweens a few months after it opened in 2003. It also began grossing well over a million dollars a week. It quickly became a notion along Broadway that the young demographic could make a hit, and producers with new shows spoke to investors about tapping the so-called “Wicked” market.» —“Tweens Love Broadway, but Can’t Save It Alone” by Campbell Robertson New York Times Oct. 2, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
She sells seashells by the seashore. Who is the she in this tongue twister? Some claim it’s the young Mary Anning, who went on to become a famous 19th-century British paleontologist. Dubious perhaps, but the story of her rise from seaside...
A hundred years ago, suffragists lobbied to win women the right to vote. Linguistically speaking, though, suffrage isn’t about “suffering.” It’s from a Latin word that involves voting. Plus: military cadences often include...
My uninformed guess is that this may be related to some Canadian television series: “Kids of Degrassi Street,” “Degrassi Jr. High,” “Degrassi High” and now, I think “Degrassi: The Next Generation” which would seem to target the age group referenced. I believe at least some of those series have been exported to the US.
“Degrassi High” has also aired in Australia.