As a result, and perhaps for the best, the role went to Smith. That '70s Show became a huge hit, mixing the standard teen coming-of-age sitcom with the trappings of Middle America in '70s. After Eric Forman and Michael Kelso left Point Place, their friend group became a little less lively. Brace yourself for some not-so-funny news. Things hit a fever pitch when a Netflix executive inadvertentlytold one of Masterson's accusersto her face that the network did not believe the allegations the exec was not aware that she was one of the victims at the start of their conversation. Perhaps not coincidentally, both celebs had previously starred in movies where that exact arrangement failed to work out (her in Friends with Benefits and him in No Strings Attached), but in this case, life imitated art and included a happy ending. ", "When I look at the car, it reminds me of [being], you know, 17, 18 years old, booking 'That '70s Show' and doing that opening sequence when we're just driving in the street," said Valderrama. Hyde actually quit smoking for a period of time because he got too high. However, Gordon-Levitt also acknowledges the influence the kiss had on breaking certain barriers for the LGBTQ+ community at the time, telling Pride Source, "I certainly am proud to have made that small contribution of whatever kind to that progress.". Dark Secrets The Cast Of That '70s Show Tried To Hide. The props specialist soon agreed, allowing Valderrama to purchase the car for $500. Though plenty of positive things can certainly be said about the writing for Red, the main attribute that made the character so fun to watch was the portrayal by Kurtwood Smith. That '70s Show Used The Circle Because They Couldn't Show Teens Smoking Marijuana. In the context of the series, Charlie was the son of one of Red's old war buddies. I don't even know you anymore. This is not to say Grace didn't keep busy between episodes of That '70s Show,particularly after 2004, the year the series concluded itssixth season. After Brett Harrison ceased to be available, the producers brought in Josh Meyers as a new addition to the main cast, portraying the role of Randy Pearson. According toABC MediaNet, the network'sAmerican Idolheld both of the top spotsin the ratings that year, raking in over 30 million viewers for each Tuesday and Wednesday airing. It seems if there was any beef between the gang, it was squashed after the show ended. She told Glamour in 2016, "There's nothing we don't know about each other because we've known each other for so long: the ugly, the bad, the good. The role jumpstarted Kunis' career and served as an important milestone in her personal life. 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. Updated. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. We Finally Understand Why That '70s Show Was Canceled. It seems like a lot of the depictions of being very high are drawn from writers being very drunk. Mila and I were contemplating it, Kutcher said. 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.) "That '80s Show" wasn't the only series that tried to horn in on the unique concept and success of "That '70s Show." Kutcher's time as a model began while he was enrolled at the University of Iowa. The pair married in 2005 (his first, her third), but all was not so rosy by 2011, when Kutcher allegedly marked their six-year anniversary with an extramarital affair. Kunis told TODAY in September that she was surprised Jackie ended up with her husband's character Michael instead of Jackie's other love interest, Fez (played by Wilmer Valderrama). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. We all looked at her and said, 'You're right.'". Fox wouldn't allow That '70s Show to directly show the use of marijuana on their network. 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). Kelly later explained her departure to ABC News. Since the details surrounding the circle were implied, the . Talking to theNew York Times, Topher Grace reflected, "Unlike many sitcoms that play on love triangles or whether the main stars will or will not sleep together, we looked at the nuances of a relationship between two neighbors Eric and Donna who had been in love since childhood." The song "In the Street," was originally written and performed by the band Big Star and released on their cult classic 1972 album "#1 Record." In the fall of 2017, amid the deluge of sexual assault allegations against powerful men in Hollywood, Danny Masterson wasaccused of raping four womenin the early 2000s, while he was starring inThat '70s Show. 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. They formed a boys crew during the heyday of That 70s Show, without Grace. I'd be like if they were rerunning your high school year book all the time. There was another lingering haze on That '70s Show, however the lingering haze of drama. While taking on these roles, Grace managed to strike a balance betweenThat '70s Showand his other projects. As a result of that I lost it. One of the best parts about watching an episode of That 70s Show is jamming out with the rest of the cast to their theme song as the opening credits roll. Kitty and Red Give Eric the Talk. It didn't hurt Gordon-Levitt's career much, but filming the scenes did leave a nasty taste in his mouth, so to speak. By the timeThat '70s Showconcluded its eighth and final season, many character arcs had reached their natural conclusions, leaving less potential for interesting stories should the series have continued. Ashton Kutcher switched to a reoccurring guest role to slowly phase his character out - also to pursue his career further. In a 2012interview on "The Tonight Show," Kunis revealed that she was just 14 when she auditioned for "That '70s Show." 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. In addition to offering breakout roles to actors who remain recognizable today, like Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, the show also featureda steady stream of cameos from figures who were famous during the '70s, like Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore, and Don Knotts. 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 More eagle-eyed fans may also notice that certain episodes of "That '70s Show" take their names from well-known rock songs of the era. Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso) (Everett Collection, Netflix) Ashton KutcherAshton Kutcher, 44, played Michel Kelso and appears in. For Topher Grace it actually meant the start of everything to him, being that it was the kick start to his career that got him his lead role on That '70s Show. 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). The showrunners came close to using the title of Traffic's "Feelin' Alright" as the name of the show, but Fox felt it wasn't strong enough. Season five was "Led Zeppelin"; season six was "The Who," seven was "The Rolling Stones," and eight was "Queen.". The. What ultimately brought them together? Music plays a big part in the show, capturing the psychedelic rock-driven era, and Hydes ongoing praises of Led Zeppelin. On September 30th, 2014 baby girl Wyatt was born. For more information, please see our Leo is one of the shows most prominent fan favorite characters (as minor as he may be). I heard they were going to reboot it, but I never got a call, he said. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site, 15 Things You Didn't Know About 'That '70s Show', Mila Kunis Lied About Her Age To Get The Role As Jackie, They Werent Allowed To Show Marijuana On Camera - So They Got Creative, Topher Grace Got Scouted At A High School Play, The Jackie/Hyde/Kelso Love Triangle Wasnt The Original Love Triangle, Mila Kunis' Height Caused Some Framing Issues, You Can Tell What Year It Is From The Opening Sequences License Plate, Leos Character Was Based Off His Real Life Actor Tommy Chong, Fez (Supposed To Be FES) Stands For 'Foreign Exchange Student', Jackie Is The Only One Who Calls Everyone By Their First Names, Some Of The Cast Members Were Not As Close As Their On-Screen Counterparts, Lisa Robin Kelly Suffered From A Substance Abuse Problem. Vogue declared "There are no rules of the fashion game now. The classic sitcom, which made stars out of previously unknown actors such as Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, and Mila Kunis, depicted the lives of teens (and then young adults) in the small town of Point Place, Wis. as they did timeless teen stuff like hanging out in a basement, driving around listening to Cheap Trick, trying to score beers, trying to score with each other, and feeling "all alright" in those notorious smoke circles. And now they're married with kids! It's genius. More often than not, you'd probably end up with a lot of giggling and some crumbs between the cushions of your couch but you might also get a pretty decent sitcom. I was convinced I was going to get fired. From the second season onwards, the showrunners went with another version of the song performed by Cheap Trick. But she had to sneak around the producers casting call. Believe it or not, Grace landed the lead role on a primetime network TV series pretty much by way of a total fluke. During its lengthy run, the cast tried to keep its darkest secrets hidden, but the shady truth about the period sitcom has gradually emerged. It was 'faking it till you make it' full blown for the entire first season.". Decidedly less common is seeing a British television reboot of an American series, with something getting lost in translation when the show crosses the Atlantic. While everyone else will say, Foreman, Hyde, Kelso (and even sometimes Pinciotti), Jackie always says Eric, Steven, Michael, and Donna. That '70s Show ran on Fox for eight years (19982006) but somehow only took place over the course of four years, such is the time-slowing effects of the show's nostalgia filter. Not only that, but even Fez's actual name remains unknown by the series' conclusion in 2006. Kunis told People, I told them I was going to be 18. And by the way, he claimed he took Moore's virginity. 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. Actress Lisa Robin Kelly portrayed Eric Foreman's big sister Laurie for the show's first five seasons, but her role was significantly lessened after Season 3. Even in the show, Jackie often teases Donna for being so tall, especially compared to her lanky boyfriend, Eric. Considering how much the showrunners strived for authenticity when it came to their 1970s settings, it's no surprise that the theme song played over the show's intro similarly originated from the '70s. As they scrambled to try and find a way to carry the show onwards, they introduced a new character,Charlie Schmidt,near the end of Season 7. As the cast got more professional opportunities and expanded their careers, they slowly aged out of their roles. But when you watch it, our lips touched for probably less than a second." These days, in an age of content oversaturation . The show went on for another eight years before wrapping up in 2006. Red and Kitty decided not to sell their home. Though Kutcher never confirmed the cheating chatter, Moore did issue a statement when they split that suggested she may have been betrayed: "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.". 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." 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. Issues off the screen were bubbling up for Kelly, however. It eventually became a staple of the show. A fun fact to know about the smoke used in the shoots was that it was actually strawberry-scented movie smoke. Perhaps his career slowdown had something to do with the notion that Fez seemed too busy trying to date seemingly every woman in Hollywood under the age of 24. It was great. It's because Laura Helene Prepon had to go blonde for another movie. 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. 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. Why are we just finding this out now?! But I didnt tell them when I was going to be 18!, One of the most well-known aspects of That '70s Show (along with the era of the seventies itself) was the reoccurring stoner circle scene (like the video above). The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. Only once in the entire show does Fez say what his real, full name is. A new show, That 80s Show, was created to tackle the neon-colored, teased-hair era. Few cars are as iconic in the realm of 2000s sitcoms as Eric's Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, the station wagon gifted to him by Red that serves as the main means of transportation for Eric and his friends throughout "That '70s Show." Article continues below advertisement It's hard to believe more than two decades have passed. Mila Kunis had to come a long way to get cast in That '70s Show. That on-screen kiss is credited as being the first gay smooch on North American prime time TV, but audiences reportedly hated it. Wed be smoking cigarettes and holding them low, and then they would just pump in this movie smoke that smelled like strawberries. The circle was the best way to bypass the censorship and still accurately depict bored teens living in the '70s. (The fact that they're both gorgeous and successful will certainly overcome any such silly obstacles.) Described in the show as tall, lanky and long-haired, Kelso was considered a simple-minded person until he moved to Chicago in the eighth season. Valderrama spilled some very private details about the many famous women he claimed to have slept with. Leos character became a regular again to take over Kelsos goofy humor aspect of the show. You think you're such hot s**t.'" She added that even though they went through "full friendship breakups" over the years, they always reconciled in the end. Grace agreed, and eventually won the part all thanks to his role in a high school play which, as Grace points out, was only his fifth time acting in anything. This was undoubtedly an exciting development for Grace, but it left That '70s Showin a bind:with Grace out of the picture, Eric Forman made his departure, leaving the aging sitcom without one of its central characters. After eight seasons, Fox wanted to giveThat '70s Showa proper sendoff, and the network honored its long-running hit with some extra room on the schedule: A week before the finale, the network aired a regular half-hour episode alongside a special 90-minute retrospective. In the first episode of "That '90s Show," Jackie and Michael are getting remarried. It was plainly evident that Randy was meant to be a replacement for Eric, but many viewers didn't find him nearly as charming. It has never been confirmed or denied if there was actual tension or not between Grace and the other male actors, but the rumors were fueled when Grace left the show to pursue a film career. No, were not crying - you are! 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. Grace wasnt the only actor to dip out early, though. "That '90s Show" is taking audiences back to the '90s and to their favorite Wisconsin basement. Many of the younger actors working on "That '70s Show" got their start from the series. And theyre like Well, thats too weird for audiences, so now you and Ashton are together, and I was like, Thats even weirder, she said. In real life, Kutcher is now married to Kunis, who played his "That '70s Show" love interest, Jackie. This character who would eventually become Randy combined some of the main characteristics of Eric and Kelso, with Meyers acting as a successor to both roles after Kutcher left the show near the start of Season 8, while also serving as a prospective love interest for Donna. While those shows were comfortable working with minors, the producers of That '70s Show weren't quite so kid-friendly. She didn't appear at all in Season 4 and appeared only in a handful of episodes in Season 5. This was around the time. The name Point Place doesn't have any Wisconsin . The stars were also relatively unknown at. The show is about a group of teenagers who live in the 70s, hang out in a basement together, and experience the highs and lows of growing up. The characters werent the only ones who had troubles with names. 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. Cookies help us deliver our Services. To me it's 'That $70 Show.'" Yikes, we cant imagine what growing up with him must have been like. With how successful "That '70s Show" proved to be, Fox searched for ways to cash in on the series' success at the peak of its popularity, creating a loosely connected spinoff series that explored the 1980s fittingly titled "That '80s Show.". What would've been a potential recurring role was subsequently relegated to just one episode. However, Harrison earned a starring role on the Fox series "The Loop" right around the same time. When it went into production, the idea was tossed out quickly, switching to the love triangle between Jackie, Hyde, and Kelsothe trio we all know and love. It was so random and fun.. Woody Harrelson had one cogent moment in his mess of a monologue during last night's Saturday Night Live. When Hyde appears perplexed at Fez's long name, the gang gives him the nickname "Fez" a casual version of the acronym F.E.S.