Series synopsis
That '70s Show is an American comedy family drama television series that premiered on FOX on August 23, 1998. It ended on May 18, 2006. It was created by Mark Brazill, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner. It stars Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson.
Crank up the 8-track and flash back to a time when platform shoes and puka shells were all the rage in this hilarious retro-sitcom. For Eric, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, Donna and Fez, a group of high school teens who spend most of their time hanging out in Eric’s basement, life in the ‘70s isn’t always so groovy. But between trying to figure out the meaning of life, avoiding their parents, and dealing with out-of-control hormones, they’ve learned one thing for sure: they’ll always get by with a little ...
Premise
Crank up the 8-track and flash back to a time when platform shoes and puka shells were all the rage in this hilarious retro-sitcom. For Eric, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, Donna and Fez, a group of high school teens who spend most of their time hanging out in Eric’s basement, life in the ‘70s isn’t always so groovy. But between trying to figure out the meaning of life, avoiding their parents, and dealing with out-of-control hormones, they’ve learned one thing for sure: they’ll always get by with a little help from their friends.
Premise: Be groovy... be very groovy!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Topher Grace as Eric Forman
- Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart
- Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso
- Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde
- Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
- Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
- Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman
- Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman
Supporting cast
- Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti
- Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti
- Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman
- Tommy Chong as Leo
- Josh Meyers as Randy Pearson
Guest cast
- Justin Long as Andrew Davis
- Brooke Shields as Pamela Burkhart
- Alyson Hannigan as Suzy Simpson
- Robert Hays as Bud Hyde
- Shannon Elizabeth as Brooke
- Yvette Nicole Brown as Sergeant Davis
- Paul Butcher as Young Boy #2
- Samm Levine as Lance Crawford
- Steve Landesberg as Cal
- Jimmy Pardo as Stan
- Jack Riley as Old Man Shinsky
- Sam McMurray as Larry
Episodes
This series spans 9 seasons with 213 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 13 | April 30, 2002 | May 26, 2006 |
| Season 1 | 25 | August 23, 1998 | July 26, 1999 |
| Season 2 | 26 | September 28, 1999 | May 22, 2000 |
| Season 3 | 25 | October 3, 2000 | May 22, 2001 |
| Season 4 | 27 | September 25, 2001 | May 21, 2002 |
| Season 5 | 25 | September 17, 2002 | May 14, 2003 |
| Season 6 | 25 | October 29, 2003 | May 19, 2004 |
| Season 7 | 25 | September 8, 2004 | May 18, 2005 |
| Season 8 | 22 | November 2, 2005 | May 18, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
That '70s Special The cast, including the show's director David Trainer, talk about the show, including the viewer's choice top ten favorite episodes, and the characters they play. |
April 30, 2002 |
| 2 |
That '70s KISS Show A VH-1 special featuring the cast of That '70s Show and KISS, combining never-before-seen footage and interviews with the cast and rock-band. Viewers will also be taken behind-the-scenes of a KISS concert re-creation, featuring That '70s Show teens trying to foil the security guards in order to sneak inside. |
August 30, 2002 |
| 3 |
That '70s Bloopers Bloopers from "That '70s Show" episodes. |
May 12, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
That '70s Pilot While Eric Forman is swiping beer for his best friends Donna Pinciotti, Michael Kelso, and Steven Hyde, his parents Red and Kitty hint that he may be getting the old Vista Cruiser. Now Eric can drive all of his friends – including the new foreign exchange student, Fez – to a Todd Rundgren concert in Milwaukee. A minor snag occurs when Kelso's obnoxious girlfriend, Jackie Burkhart, finds out and invites herself along. An even bigger snag occurs when Red tells Eric that he can't drive the car out of Point Place. |
August 23, 1998 |
| 2 |
Eric's Birthday Eric's 17th birthday is coming up and he really doesn't want a party. Unfortunately, it's extremely obvious that Kitty is planning a surprise party against his wishes – she's even invited his older sister Laurie home from college for the event. Eric enlists Laurie's help in calling off the party while Kelso naively tries to attract her interest. And Donna, who's unsure about the state of her relationship with Eric, gets advice from Jackie on what to get him for a gift. |
August 30, 1998 |
| 3 |
Streaking President Ford comes to Point Place; Red is chosen to ask him a question, but struggles as he tries to speak. Eric and the guys welcome the President by streaking. Donna has to wear an American flag jumpsuit Bob gave her. |
September 6, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Garage Sale The Foreman's have a garage sale and Hyde makes "special brownies" to help out. When Red, Kitty, Bob, and Midge accidentally eat a plate of the brownies, a stoned Red sells the Vista Cruiser. |
September 28, 1999 |
| 2 |
Red's Last Day It's Red's last day of work, and he decides to drown his unemployment sorrows at a bar. Kitty sends Eric to pick Red up; he, Hyde and Fez end up drinking with Red instead, leaving none of them in any condition to drive. Kelso gets a van, and christens it the "shaggin' wagon." |
October 5, 1999 |
| 3 |
The Velvet Rope Now that he's unemployed, the job hunt is on for Red. The gang decides to go to a dance club, and Jackie manages to convince Kelso that dressing like David Bowie is a good idea. Once at the club, Donna, Fez and Hyde have no problem getting in, but Eric can't make it past the overly large bouncer. |
October 12, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Reefer Madness Hyde returns from jail only to find Red beyond furious and ready to kick him out of the house. Afraid that he'll turn the other kids into dope fiends, Red asks Eric if Hyde has ever pressured him to do drugs in the past. Eric wonders if he should confess the truth to Red in order to keep him from forcing Hyde out. Elsewhere, Leo visits the Formans to speak on Steven's behalf while Donna uncovers the reason behind Jackie's new found obsession with Hyde. |
October 3, 2000 |
| 2 |
Red Sees Red As punishment for being "dope-heads", Red gives Eric and Hyde a curfew. Laurie is all for it until she discovers that it applies to her too. Red booby-traps the house so that he'll know if there are any escape attempts, and keeps increasing the discipline, despite Kitty's pleas for leniency. Jackie is still trying to convince Hyde that she's the woman for him, but he's not buying it. |
October 10, 2000 |
| 3 |
Hyde's Father The guys get into a bar without showing their fake IDs only to learn that the bartender is none other than Hyde's father, Bud. Kitty finds out about this and, against Hyde's wishes and Red's advice, invites Bud over in an attempt to set things right between father and son. Meanwhile, Donna is disgusted when she finds out that Eric keeps dirty magazines under his bed. And Fez tries to woo Donna and Jackie using suggestions he reads in Playboy. |
October 17, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
It's a Wonderful Life Eric is distraught after his break-up with Donna and wishes that they never kissed in the first place. As soon as he utters this wish, a guardian angel appears to teach Eric that it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. The angel takes Eric on a journey to the future -- the '80s -- to show him how everyone's lives would've turned out if he and Donna never got together. Eric remains unconvinced that the pain of his break-up was worth it, until the angel shows him all the wonderful memories he would have never had. |
September 25, 2001 |
| 2 |
Eric's Depression Four days after the big break-up, Eric locks himself in his room ignoring Red and Kitty's pleas for him to come out and talk about it. Meanwhile, the gang goes to Funland without Eric, and Kelso gets lost. |
September 26, 2001 |
| 3 |
Pinciotti vs. Forman Eric kicks Donna out of the basement when she tries to hang out with their friends. Jackie inspires Donna to compete with Eric over their friends. The competition threatens to tear the entire group apart. Meanwhile, Kitty is ecstatic when she learns that Red has become friends with Pastor Dave. |
October 2, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Going to California Donna has had enough of the Golden State. She misses Eric, who, although she doesn't know it, is headed West - despite his parents' objections - to declare his love and bring her home. Kelso, however, has decided he has found the woman of his dreams in Annette, who is beautiful and believes in him. Back in Wisconsin, Jackie is a changed woman, thanks to a change in boyfriends. |
September 17, 2002 |
| 2 |
I Can't Quit You Baby As punishment for Donna going away to California, Bob transfers her to a Catholic School, which means that Donna won't get to see Eric as much. Eric is determined to fight for their right to be together, until he sees Donna in her new school uniform. Jackie and Hyde get caught making out in the basement; Eric and Donna try to convince them to tell Kelso what's going on. |
September 24, 2002 |
| 3 |
What Is and What Should Never Be Kitty joyfully announces that she's pregnant, but the reaction that she gets from Red leaves a lot to be desired. Eric and Donna continue their campaign to get Jackie and Hyde to tell the truth about their relationship to Kelso. A trip to the DMV seems to present the perfect opportunity, but Fez is the one who seizes the day rather than Hyde. |
October 29, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Kids Are Alright When Jackie finds out Kelso has a new girlfriend she chooses Hyde over him, but--surprise!--he has someone new too. Eric is living with his parents to help out his dad, but all he wants is to be with Donna in Madison. Meanwhile, Kitty still tries to convince Eric he should stay with them and not go to Madison. Eric finally realizes that he can't go away to school, but is surprised to find Donna still plans to. Kelso also finds a problem when he drinks eggs only to find out he is allergic to them. |
October 29, 2003 |
| 2 |
Join Together Kelso decides to help Jackie and Hyde get back together with hilarious results. And Eric realises that the sadder Donna becomes, the more she wants sex. Kitty decides to help Red with his new doctor-imposed diet. |
November 5, 2003 |
| 3 |
Magic Bus It's Eric's 18th birthday and nothing is going the way he wants it. He expects a birthday breakfast and suprise party from his mom, but Kitty is too preoccupied with resuming her sex life with Red. Plus, it's Donna's last day before moving to Madison for college and Eric is struggling with letting her go. In the end, Donna manages to salvage the day with the gift she gives him at the bus station. |
November 12, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Time Is on My Side A week after Eric and Donna's engagement was called off, they are both on good terms, but have to make big decisions regarding their futures. Donna gets a new look, and Eric decides to take a year off, but to do that he needs to sell Donna's engagement ring to get some money. There's only one problem with his plan: Donna threw it off the water tower. Also, Bob is torn between Pam and Midge, and Red puts pressure on him (only because Kitty pressured Red) to choose between them. However, one of them takes the decision out of Bob's hands. |
September 8, 2004 |
| 2 |
Let's Spend the Night Together The Formans invite Hyde's biological father over so that Hyde can finally meet him, and everyone is shocked to discover that he's black. Kelso waits for news from Brooke about her advancing labor, while Fez tries to deal with losing Kelso to a baby. Eric and Donna go to a feminist rally in the park. |
September 15, 2004 |
| 3 |
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Red's job hunt is going nowhere and he begins to wonder when he will find a job. With a year off to do whatever he wants, Eric makes a list of things to do, one of which includes graffiting a closed muffler shop as part of his new bad boy image. But unbeknownst to Eric, Red has found his new job... in the building Eric just graffitied! Kelso has issues with women; now that he's a father to a baby girl, he has a new respect for women that gets him nowhere. And Hyde is pressured by Jackie and Kitty to call his father. |
September 22, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bohemian Rhapsody Hyde returns from a Las Vegas sojourn, confronts Jackie about Kelso and finds Leo has mismanaged the record store; Kitty makes an audio tape for Eric and admits experimenting with the boys' stash. |
November 2, 2005 |
| 2 |
Somebody to Love Hyde sets to fire Leo for mismanaging the record store, but ends up with a new employee; Jackie has a night out to move on from Hyde. |
November 2, 2005 |
| 3 |
You're My Best Friend A surprise bachelor party for Hyde falls apart when the guest of honor lands in jail, while his wife gets to know his ex-girlfriend a little better. |
November 9, 2005 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | FOX |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 23, 1998 |
| Last aired | May 18, 2006 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Thursday at 20:00:00 |