That ’70s Show’s main characters ended with exciting futures in the series finale, which sets up how many of them will return in That ’90s Show.
That ‘70s Show’s finale sent many of its characters on brand-new journeys, which sets up where the original figures will be when they return in That ‘90s Show. That ‘70s Show followed the lives of Eric Forman, his family, and his friends as they came of age in Point Place, Wisconsin from 1976 until 1979. The series ran for eight seasons from 1998 until 2006, with the period sitcom having a fitting ending as the teens joined in The Circle, re-sparked old flames, and counted down to midnight on New Year’s Eve 1979 – at which point That ‘70s Show cut to black.
After 16 years, That ‘70s Show’s iconic characters are returning for a new decade and chapter in their lives, with Netflix’s upcoming sitcom That ‘90s Show focusing on a new generation of Point Place teens. The sequel series follows Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and Donna Pinciotti’s (Laura Prepon) daughter Leia (Callie Haverda), who is spending the summer of 1995 in Point Place with her grandparents Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp). Red and Kitty’s actors are confirmed to star in That ‘90s Show’s main cast, while That ‘70s Show’s original characters Eric, Donna, Fez, Jackie, Kelso, and Leo will be returning for guest appearances.
That ‘90s Show will mark the first time that the iconic original characters have been seen since That ‘70s Show’s ending, with details about the upcoming sitcom revealing some of what happened to them after the finale. Such developments include the fact that Donna and Eric stayed together and had a child, Kitty and Red remained in their Point Place home, and a new family has seemingly moved into the old Pinciotti home. Before their new lives are revealed, here’s a breakdown of what happened to each of the main characters during That ‘70s Show’s finale, and what that means for them in That ‘90s Show.
Eric Forman
Eric Forman was absent for all of That ‘70s Show season 8 until the last few minutes of the series finale. Since Topher Grace left at the end of season 7, That ‘70s Show’s lead character Eric was sent to Africa to teach for a year and earn free tuition for college. After having broken up with Donna while he was away, Eric returned at the end of That ‘70s Show’s final episode to explain that he still loved her and regretted ending their relationship. It wasn’t revealed in the episode whether Donna and Eric had gotten back together, but That ‘90s Show officially confirms this considering their daughter was born within the next year.
Since Eric was working toward free tuition and Donna was preparing to go off to school herself, the two likely finally went off to college together after That ‘70s Show ended. It can also be expected that Eric is a teacher or at least working in the education field during That ‘90s Show. However, since their daughter Leia (named for Eric’s Star Wars obsession) is only visiting Point Place for the summer in That ‘90s Show, it’s unclear exactly where Eric and Donna are living in 1995. The two may have gone to Madison or even Chicago to get out of the small town.
Donna Pinciotti
The last few episodes of That ‘70s Show season 8 saw some big changes for Donna’s character, which began when she decided to break up with Randy Pearson. Donna realized she was finally ready to go off to college, so as she prepared to count down to 1980 with her friends in That ‘70s Show’s finale, she was also only hours away from leaving for school. She even extended her time in Point Place on New Year’s Eve just to see Eric when he came home.
After hours went by and Eric didn’t show up, Donna simply prepared to say goodbye to her friends, her dad Bob, who was moving to Florida and selling the house, and the Formans, who had treated her like another daughter over the past few years. However, Eric showed up at the last minute in That ‘70s Show’s finale, with their reunion and kiss implying the two were back together again. Donna likely still left for school the next week and became the writer she had dreamed of becoming with Eric by her side. When Donna returns in That ‘90s Show, she’s apt to have a thriving career that she had finally taken another step toward in the finale.
Red & Kitty Forman
Both Red and Kitty were preparing for the next chapter in their lives after Eric left in That ‘70s Show season 8. Eventually, Bob offered them the opportunity to move down to Florida with him and open a bait shop. Initially agreeing to the move, Kitty and Red even began showing their Point Place house to prospective buyers before That ‘70s Show’s finale. However, the couple realized in That ‘70s Show’s last episode that they weren’t ready to leave Point Place, so they announced at their New Year’s Eve party that they would be staying. Hyde had even given Red season tickets to the Green Bay Packers, which partially influenced the characters’ decision to remain home. That ‘90s Show’s images reveal that Kitty and Red are still living in the same house in 1995, so they never moved away even after Eric and Donna went off and started a life together.
Coincidentally, Kitty and Red’s decision to stay in Point Place presumably allowed them to be far more involved in their granddaughter Leia’s upbringing. Eric and Donna are likely still living close enough to Point Place to visit fairly often, and since Leia’s age suggests she was born in 1980 (less than a year after That ‘70s Show’s finale), they would have relied on the help of Kitty and Red to care for her while they were still in school. Considering Leia Forman is spending an entire summer with her grandparents in That ‘90s Show season 1, Red and Kitty are apt to have been particularly close to Eric, Donna, and their daughter during the 15-year gap.
Michael Kelso
Like Eric, Michael Kelso was absent for the majority of That ‘70s Show season 8. Ashton Kutcher left the series after the first few episodes of season 8, later returning for a full appearance in That ‘70s Show’s finale episode. By this time, Kelso had moved to Chicago to be closer to his infant daughter Betsy, having received a job there as a security guard for the Playboy Cub. Kelso returned to Point Place in the finale to ring in the ‘80s with his friends, which included being the last person to fall off the water tower in the decade, joining in The Circle one last time, and wearing That ‘70s Show’s Stupid Helmet. Kelso revealed that he had taught his daughter how to say “burn” and was promoted to supervisor at his job, confirming that moving to Chicago was the best decision for his path to maturity.
That ‘70s Show’s ending leaves Kelso’s relationship status ambiguous, so it’s unclear whether he ever started a relationship with Brooke, the mother of his daughter. Ashton Kutcher is confirmed to return for a cameo in That ‘90s Show alongside his now-wife Mila Kunis, who played Jackie Burkhart on the series; their subsequent real-life marriage has led many to wonder whether their characters will also be back together in That ‘90s Show.
Jackie Burkhart
After spending much of That ‘70s Show season 8 wrestling with her romantic feelings for Fez, the finale sees Jackie Burkhart truly begin her romance with the character. Jackie and Fez officially got together in the series’ penultimate episode, so she and Fez were preparing for their first real kiss during That ‘70s Show’s finale. Some fans wonder if their relationship lasted very long after That ‘70s Show, with much speculating in regard to whether she got back together with either Kelso or Hyde. However, it’s still likely that Fez and Jackie will be a couple when they return for That ‘90s Show. Before the finale, Jackie had also been pursuing a career in network television with Christine St. George (Mary Tyler Moore), which she presumably continued to work toward after the finale.
Fez
Similar to Jackie, Fez’s storyline in That ‘70s Show’s finale is almost exclusively related to his new relationship. Fez worries about kissing Jackie for the first time now that she’s his girlfriend, with the two finally doing so on the top of the water tower. Throughout That ‘70s Show season 8, Fez was mostly embarking on a womanizing streak, so it’s unclear where he intended to go on his career path. He had worked at a hair salon throughout season 7 where he was a popular shampoo boy, so it’s possible that Fez opened up his own salon before That ‘90s Show’s timeline.
Steven Hyde
Danny Masterson is the only actor from That ‘70s Show’s original main cast who will not be returning for That ‘90s Show. Before That ‘70s Show’s finale, his character Steven Hyde was given the last functioning Grooves record store owned by his father, suggesting he would be staying in Point Place thereafter. Hyde also purchased Red season tickets for the Green Bay Packers using the money Red had put in a savings account for him, which partially influenced the Formans’ decision to stay in town. During That ‘70s Show’s finale, Hyde confirms that he and his “wife” Samantha are officially broken up, as she was actually married to another man. Before the very end of the sitcom, Hyde gathers his friends in the nostalgic Forman basement to join in the last Circle of the decade.
Bob Pinciotti
Donna’s father Bob Pinciotti made the biggest change in That ‘70s Show’s finale. After living next door to the Formans for over a decade, Bob retired and decided to move to Florida and open a bait shop. He had invited Kitty and Red to go with him, but they chose to remain in Point Place at the last minute. Before leaving, Bob sold his house in Point Place, which ended up pushing Donna to finally go away to college. Since Don Stark has still yet to be confirmed to appear in That ‘90s Show, Bob is likely living in Florida during this timeline.
Randy Pearson
Randy Pearson (Josh Meyers) was introduced in That ‘70s Show season 8 as a replacement for both Eric and Kelso. After playing such a major role and even briefly dating Donna, Randy was overwhelmingly hated by That ‘70s Show fans. Perhaps due to the backlash over the character and the fact that Eric was returning, Randy only appears in one scene during That ‘70s Show’s finale. Randy has a single line where he tells Kitty that his grandfather was on the waiting list for Green Bay Packers season tickets for 30 years, after which he is never seen again. Since Randy didn’t show up for the Formans’ New Year’s Eve party, it’s unclear what happened to him at the end of That ‘70s Show. Since he likely stayed living in his house in Point Place, Randy could possibly appear in a cameo in That ‘90s Show.
