Craig Manning

Infobox character
colour = #000080
colour text = #FFFFFF
series =
name = Craig Manning


caption =
first =
(episode 2.01)
last =
(episode 7.14)
cause = touring musician
creator = Linda Schuyler and Yan Moore
portrayer = Jake Epstein
episode = 74
born = September 17, 1988
nicknames = Craiger (by his father)
death =
specialty =
occupation = musician & songwriter
former student of Degrassi Community School
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
significantother = Manuella "Manny" Santos (ex-girlfriend; mother of aborted child)
Ashley Kerwin (ex-girlfriend)
children = aborted fetus with Manny Santos
relatives = Albert Manning (father; deceased)
Julia Jeremiah (mother; deceased)
Joey Jeremiah (stepfather)
(halfsister)
residence = unknown (touring)
formerly Toronto, Ontario
nationality = Canadian
imdb_id = 0048836

Craig Manning is a fictional character in "", portrayed by Jake Epstein.

Backstory

Craig's backstory was provided in "When Doves Cry", ep. 201/202).

His father Albert Manning (Hugh Dillon) has never forgiven Craig's mother, Julia, for leaving him. Dr. Manning off-handledly refers to Julia as having left him for Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni); it is not clear, however, that Julia had even met Joey before leaving. Dr. Manning's statement may be either an over-simplification in discussion, or a distortion borne of his emotional instability and sense of persecution.

As a young boy, attended his mother's wedding to Joey, at which time he danced with slightly younger Emma Nelson, the daughter of Joey's friends Christine "Spike" Nelson and Shane McKay.

eason 2

Craig's first appeared in the season 2 premiere, where he is revealed to be Joey's stepson. He hangs around the park, taking photos of his half sister, (Alex Steele). Dr. Manning is angered that Craig is associating with Joey's family, and forbids him from associating with Angie. It is also revealed that he physically abuses Craig; it is implied in some episodes that he also used to beat Julia. Dr. Manning is violently bi-polar and will quickly attempt to make amends for abusing Craig, believing the act to have been out of character for himself. For instance, during an incident while beating Craig, Albert broke Craig's camera; the next day, he gave Craig money for a new one. Craig planned on using this money to run away. He met his sister at the park and played for a while, but when she accidentally fell on his bruise, he told her a "dinosaur" hurt him. He told her to come with him to British Columbia. Meanwhile, Joey was looking for Angela, and found them at an ice cream stand. Angela accidentally told that Craig wanted to take her to British Columbia. Joey was outraged about it and told him to stay away from her just like his father ordered him to do in the first place. Joey called Craig's father and told him what happened. When Craig got home, his father came after him. He locked himself in his room and called Sean. His father was beating down the door with a golf club (it is implied he was going to beat him with it) and when he finally got in, Craig was gone. He and Sean ran off to some train tracks, where Craig gave Sean a slight hint about his situation at home, and attempted to kill himself by a coming train. Sean saved his life, but Craig ran away and out of sight. He, Joey, and Emma looked for him, and found him at the cemetery visiting his mothers grave. Here, Joey found out that Craig was being abused by his dad, so he invited him to live with him.

Emma (Miriam McDonald) does not recognise Craig, having only met him briefly at his mother's wedding years earlier. She and her best friend Manny (Cassie Steele, sister of Alex Steele) develop a crush on Craig when they first meet again. Manny finally works up the courage to ask him out. Craig was attracted to her as well but Manny's enthusiasm and immaturity completely turned him off. He broke up her in a very harsh way leaving Manny heart broken.

During the time when Ashley and Jimmy were dating, Craig seemed to understand Ashley more than Jimmy, and seemed to deveolp a crush on her.

Craig and Ashley had a lot in common. He soon began to see Ashley after their mishaps with Manny and Jimmy. Their relationship began an on-again off-again connection.

During the last days of school before summer break, Craig's father started dropping by to see him after school. Craig started reconnecting with his dad, who would help him out with chemistry. With a chaotic status in the Jeremiah's house, Joey expecting a lot from Craig at home, Craig's father's reappearance and exams, Craig was stressed and close to have a burn out. After his exams, his father dropped by after school to invite him to dinner. Craig arrived late, because Joey needed him to babysit, and Craig knew he would not have let him see his dad. When Craig finally arrived at the restaurant, his father announced he had bought tickets to London and Paris. Craig was excited, until he realized that his father wanted him to come home. Craig ultimately refused his father and said that it's better for himself to stay with Joey. Upset and angry that Craig refused to join him at home in exchange for a trip to Europe, his dad runs out of the restaurant, with Craig running after him.

Outside, Craig tried to get his father to talk, but his father was angry that he chose Joey over him and even insulted his girlfriend Ashley for her goth looks. Angry, Craig shoved his father, who hit him across the face, knocking him to the pavement and cutting him below the eye. Craig's father apologized and promised to never do it again, but Craig refused to forgive him and told him that he was dead to him.(As he had used that line many times before after beating him up only to do it again later.) Frustrated and confused, his father drove away with Craig angrily yelling at him through his dad's car passenger window.

Craig arrived home to Joey, who was angry that he had seen his dad without telling him and a little guilty because he hasn't realized Craig had still been suffering about his relationship with his dad, wanted to call the police. Craig stopped him, saying he wanted to go to Children's Aid the next day, and make sure he never had to see his father again. The next morning, the police informed them that Craig's father had died in a car accident.

Craig surprised everyone by showing up to school the next day and acting as if nothing had happened. When his friends Jimmy and Marco noticed that his and Mr. Simpson's stories didn't match, he alarmed them by making a joke about his father's death. He further surprised Ashley by telling her he still wanted to go to a school Luau.

During his father's funeral, a coworker delivered a eulogy, praising him as "a dedicated father." Craig alarmed people by laughing. Joey took him outside, where Craig told him he was happy his father was gone.

Ashley, who was already worried about Craig, was further surprised when he entered them in the competition for Luau King and Queen without asking her. Before the dance, Joey warned Craig that the pain would catch up with him, but Craig ignored him. Craig and Ashley won the competition, but as they were standing up on the stage, Craig thought he saw his father in the back, applauding him. He went to meet him exitedly, but found a man who looked the same from the back. He wandered away from the crowds, confused. He had a breakdown, during which he responded to the loss of his father with a furious, emotional tantrum. Terri, whose mother had died prior to the start of the series, comforted him by explaining how she understood his pain. He returned to the dance later and slow-danced with Ashley, concreting their relationship for the time being.

eason 3

Craig spends most of season 3 following in his stepfather's proverbial footsteps.

He forms a jam band with Jimmy, Marco, and their friend Spinner at the beginning of season three, practicing in Joey's garage. They are later called Downtown Sasquatch. [1] Joey is delighted and attempts to participate, having had a band in his youth with Snake Simpson and Wheels Wheeler, but Craig and his friends resent Joey's presence and convince him to leave. Unlike Joey, who only had one song in all his year (and a poor one at that), Craig proves himself a talented musician and songwriter.

Craig then finds himself in a nearly identical love triangle to that of Joey's from twelve years earlier. In the wake of an argument between Joey and his responsible and stable (but chaste) girlfriend Caitlin Ryan (Stacie Mistysyn), the younger but sexually aggressive Tessa Campanelli (Kirsten Bourne) seduced Joey who continued cheating on Caitin with her for several weeks before losing them both and having his foetus aborted by Tessa. (""; "Holiday" Part 2, "DNG" ep. 312).

Ashley and Craig are still dating when the semester begins, but Ashley is not sure he really loves her until he writes her a song. [2] Ashley decides that she is ready to give Craig her virginity, but soon learns that Craig had bragged to Spinner about their as-yet nonexistent sex life. In the aftermath of Craig's ensuing argument with Ashley, Manny comes to comfort Craig. She hears Craig's song and commented on Ashley's lack of appreciation for him. They then make love for the first time, simultaneously losing their virginities. The next day, Ashley forgives Craig, but Manny refuses to let him go. ("Should I Stay or Should I Go", "DNG" ep. 307).

Craig cheats on Ashley with Manny for the next few months until Manny finally tires of being the "other woman" and convinces Craig to break up with Ashley. [4] He is about to do so when Ashley gives him a Christmas present: a vintage guitar that had belonged to her grandfather. He lacks the heart to break the relationship off at that point, yet tells Manny he did anyway. Manny then informs Ashley that she and Craig are (and had been) dating, and learns from Ashley that Craig did not break up with her. Craig's dishonesty exposed, both girls reject him at the school Christmas pageant. ("Holiday", 311-312).

Joey consoles him, and relates how he was engaged to Caitlin but lost her by cheating with Tessa; the conversation however leads to Craig making Joey realise that he still loves Caitlin and should leave Sydney (Elisa Moolecherry) for her. Craig and Angie accompany Joey as he rushes to the airport to catch Caitlin before she leaves for Montréal Joey explains to Caitlin, "I moved on, but I never left." When Angie asks him what Joey wants for Christmas, Craig explains to her that he had just gotten it. ("Holiday" Part 2, ep. 312).

Manny soon learns that she is pregnant with Craig's child. ("Accidents Will Happen", eps. 314-315). While initially startled and scared, Craig quickly becomes overjoyed at the prospect of starting the family he never really had. This appears to be the first prominent manic mood swing depicted in him. After seeking guidance from Emma's mother, Spike Nelson (who had given birth to Emma in junior high school ("Pass Tense", DJH ep. 213), Manny realises that she can't handle being a mother at such a young age, and has an abortion. ("Accidents Will Happen" Part 2., ep. 315).

Ashley and Craig compete against each other in a "battle of the bands" held at Degrassi. ("Rock & Roll High School", ep. 318). While Ashley's song is nothing but spiteful towards Craig, he chooses the high road, apologising to her in song. While the song does not prompt Ashley to forgive him, it serves to significantly reduce her hostility toward him, and she tells him his lyrics were "just right". His performance of "Dust" wins him the contest. [3]

eason 4

While her keyboard playing did improve Downtown Sasquatch's sound, the other members felt Ashley was stealing the spotlight. After a band meeting without Ashley, Craig was forced to choose between his bandmates and her in the episode "Neutron Dance." Craig relunctantly kicked Ashley out of the band, but their chances to record a demo were ruined. Craig and Ashley then got back together. [5]

Without Downtown Sasquatch, Craig pursued his music interests with Ashley and claimed to have been inspired by their reunion. When director Kevin Smith came to Degrassi to shoot a movie, Craig was given the opportunity to write a song for the soundtrack. He told Ashley the news, hoping that the prospect would keep her from moving to the United Kingdom.

When Jimmy was paralyzed from the waist down during a school shooting, Craig and Marco are especially supportive during his recovery. The two even help Jimmy escape from the sterilized confines of the hospital to see a concert.

In the two-part episode "Voices Carry," Craig impulsively took Ashley to a hotel to have sex (on unsuspecting Joey's credit card). Later on, Craig proposed to Ashley, when she refused, however, he fell into a deep depression. Furious, he wrecked his hotel room. The next morning, in the sceond part of the episode, Ashley called Craig and told him eventually she would marry him. Then, when Craig shows up to Ashley's dad's wedding, he announces their engagement even though Ashley tells him not to. This causes a problem and Craig tries to make a scene. He is escorted out of the wedding. When Joey got a phone call from the hotel regarding payment for thousands of dollars worth of damage to Craig's hotel suite, he confronted his stepson. Craig exploded in violence, beating Joey until Ashley, who had left the wedding, stopped him. Upon hearing her voice, Craig suddenly became euphorically excited, and was confused as to what happened to Joey. Soon after, Craig was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A sympathetic Ashley reaffirmed that she loved him.

Throughout the rest of the season, however, Ashley felt as though she was constantly worrying or trying to take care of Craig; on the other hand, Craig felt that everyone thought he was "crazy." Ashley thus opted to spend a summer in England with her father. Craig went off his medication and enrolled in a music program in London to be near her, but Ashley rejected him. Brokenhearted, Craig decided instead to spend the summer hiding at Degrassi while "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?" was being filmed there. After Spinner discovered Craig in the school kitchen, he told Joey, who took Craig home. Angry with how things turned out Craig runs away from Joey's home and meets a homeless drummer named Skinny. He and Skinny jam together on the street and split the money that passerbys give them, but when Craig stops Skinny from robbing an old man Skinny beats him up and steals his guitar. Beaten bloody, and off his medication Craig winds up in a homeless shleter babbling about his lost guitar and his song for Kevin Smith's movie. After a fellow shelter guest sees Craig's photo on TV he gets in touch with Joey who takes Craig home. The two comfort each other as they deal with their lost loves, Ashely's rejection and Caitlin and Joey's broken engagement.

eason 5

Craig began school by renouncing girls. When a video of Manny 'lifting her shirt for the camera' was spread via e-mail throughout Degrassi, however, Craig notices Manny had a very low self-esteem since the incident, so in order to help her go through a hard time they became friends again.

When Ashley broke up with Craig in an e-mail, Ellie tried unsuccessfully to "protect" Craig. Spinner accidentally revealed the news during Craig's seventeenth birthday party. Craig was more upset that Ellie hid the news from him, hurt that she thought it would cause another breakdown. He was heartbroken because Ashley had left him for another guy. Ellie and Craig reconciled, however, and he even brought her into Downtown Sasquatch as the new drummer.

Craig's band got a gig at a wedding, and Ellie showed up in a sexy black dress in an attempt to catch his eye. Craig had also invited Manny, however, who showed up in an obscenely revealing outfit, taking all of Craig's attention off and Ellie, and igniting a public scene between the two girls. At the reception, Ellie threw one of her drumsticks at Manny, and both girls stormed out. Craig met with Ellie, who confronted him with her feelings. Craig told her that she's seen him lower than low, lower than he wants anyone else to see him, and that she was his really good friend. At the end of the episode, Craig and Manny talk about the following night, which leads to the rekindling of their relationship. They however don't seem that close.

Craig got a chance at the big time when a music manager saw one of his band's performances, but as the situation unfolded it become apparent that the manager was more interested in Craig than Downtown Sasquatch as a whole. When Craig came home to tell Joey about his great news, Joey handed him an acceptance letter and full scholarship to the University of Toronto. Craig decided instead to focus on his music career. Meanwhile, Downtown Sasquatch's new manager advised Craig to fire Ellie. When Craig got the chance to go to Vancouver for the summer, Ellie confronted him, saying that he should go without the band because they were all going off in different directions. Craig briefly left Degrassi behind, but returned in the season finale for graduation as his old flame, Ashley, arrived. He seemed really happy and well as he was back, not to mention his smile widened when he saw Ashley.

eason 6

Craig returned home, but he had obviously changed. At first, he appeared merely to have grown more confident, but Manny soon found out that he had started using cocaine. During a dinner party at Ellie's house, Manny and Craig went upstairs for a "confidence boost" so she could relax and forget about her past troubles with Ellie. At the dinner table, Manny and Craig act wild and crazy, obviously a result of snorting cocaine. The next morning, Manny went off to school while Ellie went upstairs to Craig's room to find a bag of cocaine on the floor. Craig pointed the finger at Manny. After Ellie brought Craig along to an interview with Taking Back Sunday, Craig got an opportunity to further his career - opening for the band.

Craig told Manny the good news, and celebrated with cocaine. Craig got upset when Manny refused, so Manny broke up with him. Ellie walked in after Manny left and invited him to group therapy. However, Craig arrived late, even after Ellie stalled for him. Before the Taking Back Sunday concert, Ellie threatened Craig that she would tell Joey about his addiction, but Craig played with her feelings by passionately kissing her, and saying if she really loved him, she wouldn't make him quit. Ellie left, heartbroken.

During his performance, Craig's nose started bleeding, as a result of overdosing, and both the band and the audience lost interest in him. At the airport, Ellie gave Craig a ticket to Calgary, where Joey was waiting at the airport to take him to a rehabilitation clinic. Before he leaves, Craig claims that he was telling the truth when he said he loved Ellie, but she walks away.

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After he gets out of rehab, Craig's CD is released which seems successful, seeing as in the episode "It's Tricky", three girls note Ashley as "Our own little piece of him" (Referring to Craig). Four of the songs on the CD makes references to everyone he has kissed: Ashley ("She's The Ash"), Manny ("Thong-Girl, Wrong-Girl"), Ellie ("Red-Headed For Trouble"), and Marco ("Kissing in the Stairwell"). It's also revealed that Craig used one of Ashley's songs and didn't credit her for it. The song was called "My Window" and calling Ashley his inspiration for music. He also appeared for a concert in Bust A Move, aka The Degrassi Spring Break Movie, where Ashley too decides to tour in Europe.

References

1. "U Got the Look." Season 3, episode 3.

2. "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Season 3, episode 7.

3. "Rock and Roll High School." Season 3, episode 18.

4. "Holiday." Season 3, episode 13.

Relationships

* Ashley Kerwin
** First Relationship
*** Start Up: "Tears Are Not Enough, Part 2" (222)
*** Broke Up: "Holiday, Part 2" (312)
**** Reason: Craig cheats on Ashley with Manny.
** Second Relationship
*** Start Up: "Neutron Dance" (410)
*** Broke Up: "Venus, Part 1" (501)
**** Reason: Ashley begins dating someone else while in England.
* Manny Santos
** First Relationship
*** Start Up: "Against All Odds" (309)
*** Broke Up: "Holiday, Part 2" (312)
**** Reason: Craig hadn't ended his relationship with Ashley as he told Manny he had.
** Second Relationship
*** Start Up: "Accidents Will Happen, Part 1" (314)
*** Broke Up: "Accidents Will Happen, Part 2" (315)
**** Reason: Manny has an abortion against Craig's wishes.
** Third Relationship
*** Start Up: "Weddings, Parties, Anything" (505)
*** Broke Up: "What's It Feel Like to Be a Ghost, Part 2" (610)
**** Reason: Craig puts cocaine before Manny.