That ’70s Show spinoff That ’90s Show should follow Fuller House’s lead and make sure to keep the focus on the new, young cast with original cameos.
Upcoming That ’70s Show sequel That ’90s Show may want to borrow a page from Fuller House and follow its format. The recently announced ’70s Show Netflix spinoff is part of the growing trend in recent years of reboot/revival sequels that bring back some or most of the original cast but also introduce a number of new characters in a form of soft torch-passing. That ’90s Show has confirmed that original show stars Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp would be returning in the roles of Red and Kitty Forman, parents of original series protagonist Eric Forman, played by Topher Grace.
This time, the series begins in 1995 and the protagonist will be Leia, the daughter of Eric and Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Eric’s high school sweetheart and another main character of the original show. It’s not clear if the other original cast members will be returning. While it’s safe to say Hyde actor Danny Masterson will not return (he’s currently awaiting criminal trial on four counts of rape), it’s possible that Grace or Prepon could be involved, as well as Ashton Kutcher (Kelso), Mila Kunis (Jackie), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), or any of the supporting cast members from That ’70s Show.
Even if some or all of them do return, however, That ’90s Show should follow Fuller House’s format and keep the focus on Leia and the new group of teenagers rather than on the original cast. Fuller House wisely let itself be a true sequel. While the original trio of Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier) made appearances throughout the sequel series, Fuller House didn’t rely solely on nostalgia to sell the story. Instead, it revolved around the next generation of D.J (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), now parents and struggling with their own relationship and parenting challenges. It allowed the story to stand on its own for a new generation while being just familiar enough for audiences of the original Full House who wanted a dose of comforting nostalgia. That ’90s Show appears to be taking the same approach, which is smart.
The cast and characters of That ’70s Show were beloved, but their story has already been told. The original show had a healthy run from 1998-2006, and by the end, it was clear it was time to wrap it up. Since then, the cast has gone on to do other things. Grace has done movies and a few TV series, most recently Home Economics. Prepon had a long-running role on Orange is the New Black but has since stepped away from acting. Kunis regularly has movie projects lined up. Kutcher, who is married to Kunis, continues to act, most notably with main roles on Two and a Half Men and The Ranch, but he’s also equally as focused on his technological entrepreneurship and charity endeavors, including launching the international human rights organization Thorn to battle child trafficking. Valderrama has also continued acting in numerous shows, currently NCIS. By not making them the focus of That ’90s Show, it gives the original cast the freedom to make guest appearances in between their other projects.
It also shows that Netflix has faith in its spinoff/sequel series That ’90s Show, just as it did in Fuller House. For all the criticisms that can rightfully be made about Netflix about how it handles its shows, boldness is not something it’s ever lacked. Netflix is savvy enough to pick up canceled shows from other networks when it’s recognized there’s still a fervent fanbase, but in terms of original content, it’s never relied on lazy nostalgia to sell a show. By making the focus of That ’90s Show a new generation of characters, the ’70s Show sequel will hopefully find the same success as Fuller House, if not greater.
