With That '90s Show having recently dropped on Netflix, it's no surprise to see Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith reminiscing about That '70s Show. During a press junket for the new series, the two looked back at their time on the original series.
That '90s Show is the '90s-set spin-off for That '70s Show. The Netflix series follows Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) as she goes to stay with Kitty (Rupp) and Red (Smith) for the summer in Point Place, Wisconsin. While the series is a '90s nostalgia fest, there are also plenty of nostalgic callbacks to the original series, which Rupp and Smith point out in their new interview.
In a video by Entertainment Weekly, Smith and Rupp sat down to watch some of their favorite That '70s Show clips. The first of the clips covered was a scene from the pilot in which their characters are introduced. Rupp recalled here that she was impressed by the set design of the series but shocked by the aesthetic. Rupp was unaware she had landed a part on a sitcom set in the '70s until she made her way to the set, prompting Smith to joke that Rupp didn't read the title of the show (though in her defence, it was known as The Kids Are Alright at the time).
While Rupp and Smith have previously heaped praise on the That '90s Show cast, they also took time to reminisce about their former co-stars on That '70s Show. Both expressed delight at seeing the original cast all grown up and even remembered some dearly departed cast members. For instance, Rupp and Smith recalled that the late Tanya Roberts (who played Midge on the original show) would frequently grow so nervous about flubbing a scene that she'd forget her lines. Rupp also warmly recalled the late Betty White, who played Kitty's mother, stating she "loved" her.
The interview is in the spirit of the new series. That '90s Show is full of loving odes to the past. In its sixth episode, That '90s Show brings back Don Stark's Bob, and it's as though the three actors have never had any time away from each other. It's easy to see how these moments could leave such an impression on Smith and Rupp, who are currently executive producers on That '90s Show.
Welcoming back the That '70s Show cast is something that That '90s Show succeeds at. Not only does it manage to weave the old characters into new roles that fit their personalities well, but it's also fun watching the cast reunite on screen and still have the same chemistry.
That '90s Show is available to watch on Netflix.
Source: Entertainment Weekly