“That ’70s Show” — which was created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill — ran for 8 seasons between 1998 and 2006 on Fox. The series follows the lives of a group of teens who live in Point Place, Wisconsin during the titular decade, where there isn’t a whole lot to do besides sit around in the basement and smoke weed (although, notably, the drug is never mentioned by name, nor do we see any of them smoking it). The main cast of teenagers includes a slew of now-familiar names: Topher Grace as Eric, Mila Kunis as Jackie, Ashton Kutcher as Kelso, Laura Prepon as Donna, Danny Masterson as Hyde, and Wilmer Valderrama as Fez. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith also star as Eric’s parents, Kitty and Red Forman.
The series undeniably has a great premise and concept. When the show started in the late ’90s, the time period of the ’70s was just two decades prior — close enough that many viewers would have memories from that time, but far enough away that it felt like a period piece sitcom. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that a spin-off, titled “That ’90s Show,” is now in development for Netflix, as reported by Deadline. Smith and Rupp are both slated to reprise their roles as Kitty and Red, who host their granddaughter, Leia (Callie Haverda), visiting for the summer.
However, what many may not know is that “That ’90s Show” is not the franchise’s first spin-off.
That ’80s Show was short-lived
Considering the successful run of “That ’70s Show,” it makes sense that Fox would want to bank on the popularity and try out a spin-off series. And what makes for more of a natural progression than turning to the next decade? Thus, “That ’80s Show” was created. The series was developed by two of the same creators as its predecessor — Terry Turner and Mark Brazill, who were joined by Linda Wallem — but the similarities stopped there. “That ’80s Show” featured all-new characters, none of whom had any relationship to those we had come to know in “That ’70s Show.” Set in 1984, the spin-off followed a group of 20-somethings living in San Diego. The main cast consisted of Glenn Howerton, Tinsley Grimes, Chyler Leigh, Eddie Shin, Brittany Daniel, Margaret Smith, and Geoff Pierson.
Not nearly as well-received as its predecessor had been, “That ’80s Show” only lasted 13 episodes. In a scathing review, Matt Schimkowitz of Vulture wrote, “The creators of That 80s Show attempt to recycle their winning formula, making Corey, Kristin, and their curmugenly father look as much like the Formans as possible, both in tone and character. However, instead of letting those cumbersome things called stories get in the way, the creators simply let pop-culture references hang in the abyss.” Schimkowitz then called the series “one annoying season of brilliantly canceled television.”
More than anything, “That ’80s Show” didn’t provide one of the things that proved to be a big success of its predecessor: great chemistry amongst the cast. Let’s hope that the upcoming “That ’90s Show” doesn’t make the same mistake.
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