The finale features the returns of Eric and Kelso and considering that the episode boasts a near-perfect ratingon IMDb, it's safe to assume that fans were excited to see these familiar faces again. The show ran for eight seasons, starting in 1998 and ending in 2006 (in real life). 1972/1973 Members First Generation: Eric Forman Steven Hyde Michael Kelso Fez Donna Pinciotti Jackie Burkhart Kitty Forman (kitchen) Red Forman (kitchen) Second Generation: Leia Forman Gwen Runck Jay Kelso Nate Runck Nikki Ozzie Visitors Having little room in his schedule to commit to "That '70s Show," the producers decided to write Charlie out of the show in the beginning of the eighth season, unceremoniously killing him off after his character falls off the water tower. Cookies help us deliver our Services. In the early days of the show's production, the showrunners were going to call the series, "Teenage Wasteland," a reference to the lyrics of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" (viaThe Hollywood Reporter). The spinoff of "That '70s Show" hit Netflix on Jan. 19, bringing back a few familiar faces, too. Apparently whenValderrama says the name that gets obscured by the ringing bell, he's actually saying the first names of every main cast member on the show (via ABC News). According to executive producer Mark Hudis,ending the series on the final day of the titular decade was no coincidence; as he put it, "We thought we'd just wrap up the '70s while we wrap up the series.". I heard they were going to reboot it, but I never got a call, he said. They're kind of grown up but they did this for us too. Eric is friends with pretty boy Michael Kelso, stoner Hyde, and foreign exchange student Fez, along with the Formans' neighbor Donna Pinciotti and snobby rich girl Jackie Burkhart. They didnt want a minor because it would cause certain restrictions within the filming schedule. Who says high school productions mean nothing? "When I turned 18 we started dating," she said in the documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated (via People). Debuting on Fox on August 23, 1998,That '70s Showfollowed the Forman family, chiefly through the eyes of theirStar Wars-loving son Eric and his group of teenage friends. A new show, That 80s Show, was created to tackle the neon-colored, teased-hair era. While bothTopherGrace and AshtonKutcher both announced that they would not return for the eighth and final season ofThat '70s Show,Kutcher did come back for a couple of episodes to wrap up some plot threads. We're the mom and dad. Kunis told Howard Stern's SiriusXM show that she and Kutcher made a mutual decision to become bedroom buddies. When it first aired in the summer of 1998, "That '70s Show" quickly became one of the most successful and popular sitcoms of its day, nabbing a total of 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Kitty and Red Give Eric the Talk. Jenna Fischer, Amy Adams, and the Sprouse twins all appeared as guest stars. WhenThat '70s Showfirst aired, the main cast was relatively young, with the oldest of the main crew being Danny Masterson, who was 22 in real life. Kelly later explained her departure to ABC News. It is blocked out though, due to a loud noise overpowering his voice. Leos character became a regular again to take over Kelsos goofy humor aspect of the show. "About 25 years ago, my life changed when I met all of you and I can without a doubt say that reliving these moments brought back the unforgettable joy you were to life," he wrote. As the show progressed, the main cast started to look "a bit too mature still to be partying in dad's basement," as theNew York Timesput it. Still, it was both surprising and abrupt when Mr. and Mrs. Pinciotti got a divorce and Bob started dating Jackie's mom, Pam (portrayed by Brooke Shields.) Even in the show, Jackie often teases Donna for being so tall, especially compared to her lanky boyfriend, Eric. In real life, Kutcher is now married to Kunis, who played his "That '70s Show" love interest, Jackie. Believe it or not, Grace landed the lead role on a primetime network TV series pretty much by way of a total fluke. Kutcher's time as a model began while he was enrolled at the University of Iowa. We all looked at her and said, 'You're right.'". The show sparked the careers of many actors and actresses that are very well-known today (Hey Ashton and Mila! A comedy revolving around a group of teenage friends, their mishaps, and their coming of age, set in 1970s Wisconsin. Leo owns the Foto Hut where Hyde begins to work. While the parents on most teen-oriented shows are completely inconsequential to the plot (We're looking at you, Jim and Cindy Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210), the writers ofThat '70s Showadeptly used the show's adults to add a streak of '70s realism to the series. Danny Masterson told Smashing Interviews Magazine; "They just pumped smoke. The two characters were quick to take any opportunity to throw a jab at the other, providing the show with a lot of laughs. For example, every episode in Season 5 is named after a Led Zeppelin song; every episode in Season 6 is named for a song by The Who; the same can be said for Season 7 and theRolling Stones; Season 8 gets all its episode titles from Queen. Netflix eventually changed course,terminatingMasterson's contract onThe Ranch. In the context of the series, Charlie was the son of one of Red's old war buddies. Grace only reappeared for the show's finale, and whilethat doesn't seem like a big deal, it's notable when onetakes into consideration Grace's absence from other show-related events. Privacy Policy. Though there are some slight differences between "Days Like These" and "That '70s Show" with certain characters' names being changed in the British version the show retains many of the same storylines found in the earlier Fox series. But when you watch it, our lips touched for probably less than a second." As with any song a studio uses on TV or on film, Alex Chilton, the songwriter behind "In the Street," received a regular royalty check every time his song was used for the show. After dating Randy throughout most of the final season, Donna broke off the relationship as the finale drew near and got back together with Eric in the series finale. Topher Grace was actually cast after and Terry Turner saw him perform in a high school play. That '70s Show Used The Circle Because They Couldn't Show Teens Smoking Marijuana. One of the most innovative ways "That '70s Show" got around establishing the characters' routine use of marijuana without actually showing it was the rotating camera from the series' signature "circle" scenes. True Hollywood Story on the show's cast and crew, the actors and actresses weren't all as close as the on-screen gang. A fun fact to know about the smoke used in the shoots was that it was actually strawberry-scented movie smoke. Kitty says, Youve got that spark in your eye again. Ultimately thats true, and certainly I think he ultimately comes to feel that way He comes to appreciate that excitement that used to be in his life from a house full of kids.. Her husband passed away, in June 2006. One of the biggest breakout characters of "That '70s Show" was the strict, surly, no-nonsense patriarch of the Forman household, Red. Like most long-running sitcoms,That '70s Showtied up basically every significant loose end during its finale. That '70s Show provided us with one of the last batches of them: Kutcher and Kunis, along with Grace and Prepon, were obvious screen-stealing stars from the get-go. During the filming of the series, Chong even had to miss several seasons to serve jail time for drug paraphernalia. "With That '70s Show I was guilty of a drinking problem, and I ran.". After Chong served his time, the producers of "That '70s Show" invited him to return to the show, and Leo re-emerged in Point Place in Season 7's "Down the Road Apiece." A constant foil for Eric and his friends, Red routinely acts as the personification of responsibility in the show, punishing his son's friend group whenever they step out of line or get into trouble. ), but here are some lesser-known bits of trivia about the beloved That '70s Show: http://poluxnails.tumblr.com/post/122154728395/pinupprodigy-actual-queen-jackie-burkhart, Mila Kunis, the actress who plays Jackie Burkhart, plays the stereotypical American valley girl on the show. It was plainly evident that Randy was meant to be a replacement for Eric, but many viewers didn't find him nearly as charming. Wed be smoking cigarettes and holding them low, and then they would just pump in this movie smoke that smelled like strawberries. As the cast got more professional opportunities and expanded their careers, they slowly aged out of their roles. But she had to sneak around the producers casting call. Running for eight seasons, you can enjoy the show being a modern day teen or as someone who grew up as a teenager during the '70s. On "Fox's 25th Anniversary Special" in 2012, he admitted that he assumed his lack of acting experience would almost certainly get him fired during the first season, causing him to be a nervous wreck in the early days of the show. When we meet them in Point Place, Wisconsin in 1976, the Forman family is headed by World War II and Korean War veteran Red Forman, along with his wife Kitty, who works as a nurse. "That '70s Show" premiered in August 1998 and lasted for eight seasons before ending in May 2006. Originally, the showrunners hired him to literally take over the role of Eric Forman in Season 8, as discussed in the director's commentary for Season 8's "Bohemian Rhapsody," available onthe DVD box set of "That '70s Show: The Complete Series.". "I thought I was going to get fired for the first three, four episodes. Josh Meyers, the brother of SNLs Seth Meyers, came on as Erics replacement, Randy Pearson. Kutcher bookeda few other roleswhile filming That '70s Show, including Evan inThe Butterfly Effect, Tom inJust Married, Oliver Martin inA Lot Like Love, and a few appearances onRobot Chicken. They were there to watch their own daughter perform in the play,. Tommy Chong, 84, returns as Leo, an aging hippy. 20. There was another lingering haze on That '70s Show, however the lingering haze of drama. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Similar to Stark, Chong wasn't sure if producers would include his character in the spinoff but he's glad they did, the actor told Variety. The closest "That '70s Show" ever comes to stating the true name of Fez is the Season 4 episode, "Class Picture." Though they did well overall, Rotten Tomatoesaudience scores for the first seven seasons gradually declined as the show progressed. Although she claimed to have recovered from the troubles that sparked her departure from the show, she made headlines in 2010 for thisDWI mugshotand again in 2012 for allegations of domestic abuse. True Hollywood story that she left the showin 2001 because herhusband, screenwriter Barry Roberts, was terminally ill. Roberts did return for a few episodes late in the show's run. It was really nostalgic to be back on the set, he told the outlet. As fate would have it, her "first real kiss" took place in front of the cameras that year as she, in character, planted one on her real-life future husband, Ashton Kutcher, who played her character's then-boyfriend, Michael Kelso. In a 2012interview on "The Tonight Show," Kunis revealed that she was just 14 when she auditioned for "That '70s Show." As reported in LA Weekly, Chong was caught up in a 2003 police investigation trying to halt the sale of drug paraphernalia. We see Wilmer Valderrama, the actor of Fez, saying a long name, but its actually just him Pref Magazine tells ushe's just listing the shows characters names. Amid a heavy haze of smoke, the camera would individually focus on one of the main characters in a closeup, then quickly turn to another one, and repeat this process, suggesting the passing of a joint aseveryone suddenly seems a lot giddier than usual. A wandering talent scout discovered him at a local bar called the Airliner in Iowa City and encouraged him to enter the "Fresh Faces of Iowa" modeling competition. In an ironic twist, Kunis and Kutcher got married some years after "That '70s Show" came to a conclusion. It was a long time before I was approached on whether or not I would be coming back, so when they let me know, I was really excited about that and to see everybody again," he told the outlet. In January of 2014, Kunis was spotted wearing an engagement ring, and soon after in March of the same year, the couple announced they were pregnant with their first child. Brace yourself for some not-so-funny news. One of the best examples of this throughout the show is the relationship between Eric and Donna. However, Karo ultimately felt traumatized and unable to live up to her potential because she had to live in Los Angeles a city that was also home to Kunis, the girl who was her friend until she stole her chicken. Were they actually high in That 70s Show? In aninterview with Howard Stern,Kutcher revealed theirfirst onscreen kiss was not very romantic or enjoyable, as Kutcher understandably felt uncomfortable about Kunis' age at the time. "That '80s Show" wasn't the only series that tried to horn in on the unique concept and success of "That '70s Show." Updated. Fox was also doing well with the second season of the scripted medical dramaHouse. In the fourth episode of season eight, titled "Misfire," Kelso proposes to Jackie, a request that she ultimately refuses after mulling it over. Here's whyThat '70s Showwas canceled. "They just pumped smoke. The main teenage cast members were Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer . We can explain: Karo alleged that Kunis stole her prized pet chicken, Doggie, while they were both living in the Ukraine. In the first episode of "That '90s Show," Jackie and Michael are getting remarried. The actress of Laurie was replaced by actress Christina Moore in season six, but she never quite captured Laurie the same way that Kelly did. We Finally Understand Why That '70s Show Was Canceled. In fact, a better-known actor "Walker" himself, Chuck Norris was initially slated for the part. Charlie, played by Brett Harrison, was established as one of the new members of the teenaged friend group with the eventual goal of phasing Eric out and replacing him with Charlie, as actor Brett Harrison told PopEntertainment.comin a 2006 interview. The cast spent a ton of time in it, so inevitably certain actors grew more than a little attached to the car. When lead actor Topher Grace announced he was leaving "That '70s Show" at the end of the series' seventh season, producers wondered how they were going to continue the show in the wake of Grace's departure. While those shows were comfortable working with minors, the producers of That '70s Show weren't quite so kid-friendly. ". The finale takes place on New Year's Eve, which also happens to be the last day of the '70s. For eight seasons,That '70s Showoffered a nostalgic view of the '70s for modern audiences to enjoy. Kunis and Kutcher kept in touch after the show wrapped in 2006. These days, in an age of content oversaturation . As part of his plea, Chong was sentenced to serve nine months in prison, sharing his cell with Jordan Belfort of "The Wolf of Wall Street" fame (via New York Magazine). Initially, the showrunnersconsidered recasting the role of Eric, but that idea was abandoned in favor of introducing an entirely new character:Randy Pearson, played by Josh Meyers, who quickly became Donna's new love interest with Eric out of the picture. Then we all yell out Hello Wisconsin! at the end in synchronization. The minute Kitty knocked on the door and I opened the door and it was her, it could have been yesterday. Lisa Robin Kelly played the role of Erics sarcastic, promiscuous older sister, Laurie Forman. The group may have had their flaws in That '70s Show , but at the end of the day, they all had a strong connection. However, Leo later abruptly disappears from "That '70s Show" during the fifth and sixth seasons, though his absence is addressed by Eric and his friends in Season 5's "The Battle of Evermore." Grace did, however, participate in an informal, private cast reunion in 2013 where the whole gang even sung their show'stheme song together so maybe everything is swell now. To me it's 'That $70 Show.'" Today, "That '70s Show" remains a popular series among younger audiences, with many viewers enjoying the '70s aesthetic and its cast of relatable characters. It's genius. Due to censorship rules, the showing of smoking marijuana was not allowed on cable television. Actress Laura Prepon, who plays Eric's long-time love interest on the show, echoed the kiss diss when she said on a radio show (via TMZ) that her Orange is the New Black co-star, Taylor Schilling, gave better lip service than Grace. The British show mimicked the American version so closely, that they went as far as using the same exact scripts, and just switching out American pop culture references with British ones! The two of them quickly begin to spend more and more time together, eclipsing the time Eric usually spends with the rest of his friend group. While the spelling of Fez became popular as the show went on, Fezs real nickname should actually be spelled Fes. Time and time again throughout the show, Fez offers only vague hints about where he's from and never outright reveals his official nationality. Between the show's first and seventh season, audience scores never dropped below 60 percent, the eighth season took a massive dive, dropping all the way to 23 percent. What do you get when you throw a bunch of teenagers from small-town Wisconsin into a dingy basement with nothing to entertain themselves but a TV and a bag of pot? This was around the time. It was great. I lost everything and I was abusing alcohol," she said. We just went back and had fun for a week. When the Formans find out Donna is on birth control, Red and Kitty go on high alert and give Eric "the talk," and of course, it's uncomfortable for him . Now, they're returning for brief cameos, making way for a new set of teens to hang out in Red and Kitty Forman's basement (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, playing the Formans, also returned for the sequel). In reality, Leo's temporary departure from the series was due to actor Tommy Chong's real-life arrest and court battles in the early 2000s. There was nothing to do. Romantic squabbles, high school anxieties, and various misadventures . Fans old enough to remember the actual 1970s are sure to spot the large number of pop cultural references "That '70s Show" pays to its historical setting. Mila and I were contemplating it, Kutcher said. Carsey-Werner Productions exec Jim Kraus commented on the show's appeal in an interview with theNew York Times, pointing out, "The show was a secret pleasure for Fox's core audience, the 18-to-34-year-old concentration of viewers No matter what night it aired and it moved constantly viewers found it and followed it." It didn't hurt Gordon-Levitt's career much, but filming the scenes did leave a nasty taste in his mouth, so to speak. I think for the first time ever, he took my breath awayI was like f, hes good-looking. The couple began dating in 2012, making their first public debut as a couple on September 23, 2012. The substance abuse issue eventually caused her to leave the show in the third season. Other names in the running included "The Kids Are Alright," another song by The Who and "Reeling in the Years," a track by Steely Dan. What would've been a potential recurring role was subsequently relegated to just one episode. If you were a fan of Jackie and Kelsos relationship on the show, you probably lost your mind when they started dating in real life. "I've learned to forgive in my heart the people who have wronged me, like Mila," she said in a statement (via TMZ). I'd be like if they were rerunning your high school year book all the time. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In one of the thousands of tangential asides, he described telling a . As the first star to climb out of the "That '70s Show" basement and into the higher stratosphere of a movie career in 2005, Topher Grace's transformation was a gradual one. Had to sneak around the producers of That '70s show was Canceled so inevitably certain actors grew more a! Over Kelsos goofy humor aspect of the '70s for modern audiences to enjoy of. 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Making their first public debut as a couple on September 23, 2012 age, in. The series, Charlie was the son of one of the scripted medical dramaHouse filming of the thousands tangential... Who played his `` That '70s show, was created to tackle the neon-colored teased-hair! And I ran. `` leo owns the Foto Hut where Hyde begins work... Thought I was abusing alcohol, '' she said in the third....

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