We're officially making our way back to Point Place, Wisconsin in Netflix's That '90s Show nearly 20 years after the finale ofThat '70s Show. Set in the summer of 1995, the spin-off to the FOX sitcom follows a new generation of teens — most notably, Eric and Donna's daughter, Leia — as they hang out in the Formans' basem*nt. Some of the original characters from That '70s Show like Eric, Donna, Jackie, Kelso, Fez, Kitty, and Red, have also reunited in the new show.
Before you cozy up on the couch for your binge-watch of That '90s Show, you may be wondering how That '70s Show ended or if you even need to watch it to understand the new series. Here is the That '70s Show ending, explained, as well as what we know about Netflix's spin-off, That '90s Show.
How did That '70s Show end?
The final episode of That '70s Show's eight-season run originally aired on May 18, 2006 and followed the Point Place gang on New Year's Eve in 1979 — making it the last day of the '70s. Eric's parents, Red and Kitty, decided to stay in Wisconsin after they had been preparing to sell their home and move to Florida.
At the end of the series, Jackie and Fez had just started dating and kissed for the first time at the water tower while Kelso came back to Point Place after moving to Chicago to be closer to his daughter.
Hyde told the group that he and Samantha had broken up and that he wanted to hang out for one last time in Eric's basem*nt. As the New Year's countdown commenced, everyone headed upstairs, leaving the iconic basem*nt empty during the final moments of the series.
Do you need to watch That '70s Show to watch That '90s Show?
That '90s Show calls back to the nostalgia of the original sitcom through cameos from the original cast, but you don't really have to watch the entirety of That '70s Show before diving into the Netflix series. The new show focuses on Eric and Donna's daughter, Leia, who visits her parents' hometown in the summer of 1995. She immediately grows close to the Formans' teen neighbors Gwen and Nate, Nate's girlfriend, Nikki, and their friends, Ozzie and Jay. The adventure that Leia once craved in Chicago actually resides in the basem*nt at her dad's childhood home in Point Place.
Season one of That '90s Show is now available to stream on Netflix, with subscription plans starting at $6.99 per month with ads and $9.99 per month without ads.
At the end of the series, Jackie and Fez had just started dating and kissed for the first time at the water tower while Kelso came back to Point Place after moving to Chicago to be closer to his daughter.
Do you need to watch That '70s Show to watch That '90s Show? That '90s Show calls back to the nostalgia of the original sitcom through cameos from the original cast, but you don't really have to watch the entirety of That '70s Show before diving into the Netflix series.
That '90s Show is an American teen sitcom that serves as the sequel to That '70s Show. Set during the summer of 1995, featuring characters and locales that debuted in its predecessor, it debuted on Netflix on January 19, 2023.
Michael Kelso exits That '70s Show in Season 8, episode 4, "Misfire," when he decides to take responsibility for Brooke Rockwell's child and move to Chicago. His departure left That '70s Show without two of its funniest characters and led to another upsetting romantic storyline.
As the '70s end, the episode ends in a final shot of the Formans' basem*nt with the voices of everyone upstairs counting down to midnight. The episode ends abruptly just as they reach "one", cutting to the license plate of the Vista Cruiser one last time reading "That '70s Show" with an "80" registration tag.
Only Laura Prepon will return for That '90s Show season 2, confirming Topher Grace won't reprise his role as Eric. Original cast members Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and Wilmer Valderrama won't be back for season 2.
At the conclusion of Season 7, in response to series star Topher Grace wanting to leave the show, his character Eric Foreman was sent to Africa to pursue teaching. It is revealed in the middle of Season 8 that his long-distance relationship with Donna (Laura Prepon) fizzled. So, Eric unceremoniously dumped her.
Hyde doesn't make an appearance in That '90s Show because Masterson is on trial for rape. The actor was first accused of sexual assault in 2017. After being charged in June 2020 with the rape of three members of the Church of Scientology, Masterson pleaded not guilty.
The reason why Laurie Forman isn't included in That '90s Show season 1 seems to be that Lisa Robin Kelly passed away in 2013, though Christina Moore could potentially reprise her short-lived role as the character.
In a September 2022 interview with Access, Kunis opened up about the nerves she had while filming the sequel series with Kutcher. The Stars of That '70s Show: Where Are They Now? "It was weird to shoot together, I will tell you," she told the outlet. "It made me super nervous.
Tanya Roberts played Midge Pinciotti for 3 seasons, but had to leave the show to take care of her terminally ill husband. Thus, her character was written to leave Bob and move to California.
While Kutcher and Kunis are now married in real life, Kunis isn't a fan of how Jackie and Kelso also got back together for the revival series. "My husband and I are together in [the new show], which is weird 'cause we shouldn't have been," Kunis previously said.
Because of the scheduling conflicts, Kutcher decided to take a step back from his TV presence to focus on movies. Before fully departing the beloved period sitcom, Kutcher reprised his role as Kelso for four guest-star appearances to kick off That '70s Show season 8.
He hated being called Chris in school, so he changed it to Topher as time went on. He attended New Hampshire's Brewster Academy and the University of Southern California. Grace dropped out of USC to start his show business career in That '70s Show (1998) at age 20.
In the third episode, it's revealed that Fez is still living in Point Place, Wisconsin, and "somewhat of a local celebrity." He owns Chez Fez, a hair salon, and is dating a new character in the series, the elder Formans' new neighbor, Sherri (played by Andrea Anders).
During That '70s Show's finale, Hyde confirmed that he and his “wife” Samantha have officially broken up, as she was actually married to another man. Hyde gathered his friends in the Forman basem*nt for the last Circle of the decade.
That '80s Show is an American television sitcom set in 1984 that aired from January 23 to May 29, 2002 on Fox. Even though it had a similar name, show structure, and many of the same writers and production staff, it was not actually a spin-off of That '70s Show.
That '70s Show ran for eight seasons but many of the episodes were broadcast out of order. The correct order can be determined by perceptive fans. The beloved period sitcom debuted in 1998 on Fox and aired 200 episodes in total. That '70s Show focused on six teenagers living in Point Place, Wisconsin.
While the humor of That '90s Show felt similar to the style of That '70s Show, the characters were more than mere carbon copies of Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, and Fez. In some pivotal instances, That '90s Show even outdid That '70s Show.
Netflix released the entire first season of That '90s Show today, and the sequel series stars returning That '70s Show actors Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman) and Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman), and features appearances by Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), Mila Kunis ( ...
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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