Nostalgia is a powerful force. It can inspire people to create shows, movies, and other art based on things they remember from their childhood, and in turn provide a magical lens into that time for people who may not have lived through it. On a strangely deeper level, it can also inspire spinoffs based on those shows, movies, etc. that were, themselves, based on those time periods. Nostalgia for a thing that was created out of nostalgia. Funny how that works. Anyway, remember That '70s Show?
The 8-season blast from the past is getting its own official continuation set 20-ish years later. But don't worry, Red and Kitty are going to be front and center. Netflix just announced its own spinoff to the classic period piece series. It's not only coming from original That '70s Show creators Bonnie and Terry Turner, but Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp (who recently enjoyed her own stint on the sitcom-like WandaVision) have already signed on to reprise their roles as Red and Kitty Forman, respectively. Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of the spinoff so far, with Gregg Mettler serving as showrunner. Fans can rest easy knowing that Mettler, who worked as a producer on the original show as well as other great comedies like John Lithgow's own 3rd Rock from the Sun, will keep things in good hands.
Fittingly titled That 90s Show, there's currently no word on whether any of the other original series stars will join the cast, but based on the official description, audiences can probably afford to be a little optimistic on that front: "Hello, Wisconsin! It's 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll never dies, it just changes clothes." Aside from the premise's flagrant disregard of the Oxford comma, it sounds like a solid excuse to return to that friendly old town. (Fittingly, creators Bonnie and Terry Turner will be joined by their daughter Lindsay in their executive producer duties.)
Anybody who remembers turning on a TV at some point in the early 2000s has seen That '70s Show. Not only that, but they probably enjoyed it, because it was a pretty good series (the year of Randy notwithstanding). It starred a number of now-famous to ultra-famous names like Topher Grace (Eric), Laura Prepon (Donna), Mila Kunis (Jackie), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Kelso) along with plenty of big-name guest stars over the years. The idea was simple: give a little slice-of-life glimpse into the lives of teens in the 70s with plenty of comedy and hijinks to ensue at a moment's notice. It was an uncomplicated premise, and viewers absolutely ate it up.
On an unrelated note, who should do the theme song? Cheap Trick did a great one for the original, but if they want to go the full 90s round, how about some Garbage or Foo Fighters? Just a thought. Now, some may be wondering why the spinoff is set almost 20 years later in the 90s. Shouldn't it be the 80s? Surely the unstoppable force of time isn't so cruel that it's progressed that much in real life, is it? Well, anyone thinking that may want to sit down. That '70s Show ended in 2006. It is now 2021. That's 15 years. The original series finale took place on New Year's Eve 1979 into New Year's Day 1980. Take a guess what year is 15 years after 1980. It's okay. It's fine to cry.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter