Mike Lobel on his character Jay Hogart

Mike Lobel on Jay Hogart

Mike Lobel, the actor who plays heartless Jay Hogart on "Degrassi: The Next Generation," apologizes on behalf of his fictional alter ego.

Lobel unflinchingly laid out the qualities that make Jay so despicable. He's an opportunist. He stirs up conflicts among his fellow Degrassi High School students. He manipulates people to get what he wants. And he wants it all -- success, girls, money.

"We do see he has some kind of compassion, even though it's weird and twisted," Lobel said.

However, the actor maintains that he is nothing like his character in real life. That's a good thing, in my opinion. I wouldn't mind if I wrote a fictional story about his Degrassi character as a New Mutant from X-Men: Evolution (I love that show too) and he read it. I believe that he would love the idea, and help me out a bit.

The Ghost of Rick Murray

The picture below is exactly what Rick would look like if he came back to Degrassi after more than a few months away on vacation. (Even Spinner, Jay and Alex would be so shocked to see him, as would his tormentors, including J.T. Yorke.)

"Toby, did Rick undergo some kind of...transformation?" J.T. asks in total shock.

Toby smiles and says,

"You got it, J.T."

Then he walks up to Rick and the two hug, as though they're long-lost brothers.

"Welcome back, Rick," he says.

"It's good to be back," Rick replies, slinging an arm around Toby's shoulders.

They then walk into Degrassi, shocked eyes (except Jimmy and now Spinner, who are glad to have Rick back) all on them.

It is short, but I've been thinking of making this into a real story sometime.

Rick Murray from Degrassi: the Next Generation

Rick Murray from Degrassi: the Next Generation

Rick Murray from the TV show Degrassi: the Next Generation, played beautifully by Ephraim Ellis, is a really cool guy, if you're a nice girl and you like being bossed around or told what to do.

Here's a pic of Ephraim Ellis (who portrayed him on Degrassi).


Of course, thankfully unlike his character, Ephraim is a nice guy and he would never do the things his character did in real life (such as abuse a girl or bring a gun to school).

However, Rick had a dark side (as do all of us). To make a long story short, when he brought a gun to school (as a result of being bullied so much that he couldn't take it any more), he shot Jimmy Brooks, who he thought was responsible for the yellow paint and feathers prank (when it turned out later that he wasn't), and then was going to shoot Emma. According to Rick:

(to Emma): You flirted with me. I thought you liked me. But that was something else.

Jimmy was paralyzed from the waist down. In the struggle for the gun, Rick, sadly, was killed.

He was 16 years old.

R.I.P
Richard "Rick" Murray
You were an example to us all of what an abusive relationship is like. You will be missed.