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| That '70s Show | |
|---|---|
| Show name | That '70s Show |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Creator | Bonnie Turner; Terry Turner; Mark Brazill |
| Starring | Topher Grace; Mila Kunis; Ashton Kutcher; Laura Prepon; Danny Masterson; Wilmer Valderrama; Debra Jo Rupp; Kurtwood Smith; Don Stark; Tanya Roberts |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Num episodes | 200 |
| Executive producer | Carsey-Werner Company |
| Company | Carsey-Werner Productions |
| Distributor | 20th Television |
| Network | Fox; Netflix |
| First aired | 1998 |
| Last aired | 2006 |
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American period sitcom set in the 1970s centered on a group of adolescent friends living in a suburban Midwestern city; the series blends situational comedy with coming-of-age themes and cultural references. Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill, the program aired on Fox Broadcasting Company and was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions, featuring ensemble performances that intersect with 1970s popular culture, television networks, recording industry practices, and celebrity guest appearances.
The series follows a circle of teenagers in fictional Point Place, Wisconsin as they navigate relationships, employment, and family dynamics amid 1970s popular culture, referencing musicians like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie while situating plotlines alongside television phenomena such as Saturday Night Live and film releases like Star Wars. Episodes often revolve around the friends' interactions in a basement setting that echoes sitcom locales like Cheers and Seinfeld, while adult characters invoke institutions such as General Motors, United States Air Force, and regional politics exemplified by figures like Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Story arcs incorporate workplace elements referencing retailers like RadioShack and automotive dealers exemplified by Ford Motor Company, and situational gags tied to technological shifts including 8-track tape and networks such as MTV.
The principal ensemble includes young actors who portray archetypal suburban teens and their parents: Topher Grace (Eric Forman) alongside Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), and Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), while adult roles feature Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman), Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman), Don Stark (Bob Pinciotti), and Tanya Roberts (Midge Pinciotti). Recurring and guest performers include veterans and stars associated with Saturday Night Live, The Young and the Restless, ER (TV series), and musicians from The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and Alice Cooper, bringing crossover appeal from institutions like Warner Bros. Television, Paramount Pictures, and Universal Pictures. The cast's careers connect to projects such as That '90s Show spinoffs, film roles in Dude, Where's My Car?, The Butterfly Effect, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and collaborations with creators who worked on Roseanne and The Cosby Show.
Development occurred through Carsey-Werner partnerships with creators whose credits include Saturday Night Live writers and stand-up comedy circuits linked to The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and agencies like CAA. Filming took place on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios and on location in areas resembling Madison, Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region, with production design drawing on catalogs from JCPenney and media advertising from Rolling Stone and TV Guide. Music licensing involved negotiations with record labels such as Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group, while syndication deals engaged distributors including 20th Television and streaming arrangements reflecting deals with platforms like Netflix and other digital services. Key behind-the-scenes personnel include directors who worked on Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace, and writers who contributed to series associated with Family Guy and The Simpsons.
The program ran for eight seasons with a total of 200 episodes, following episodic formats similar to Happy Days and The Wonder Years that balance serialized character development with standalone plots; notable episodes reference 1970s events such as the aftermath of Vietnam War cultural shifts and political moments related to Watergate. Season arcs include cast transitions that mirror industry movements seen in series like The X-Files and ER (TV series), and guest-star episodes featured performers from Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and film actors linked to New Line Cinema and Miramax. Syndication packages and DVD releases were negotiated with studios including 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon.com, while later streaming preservation involved rights held by entities like Disney–ABC Domestic Television and Netflix.
Critical and audience reception placed the show among late-1990s and early-2000s ensemble comedies alongside Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier; reviews often compared its teen ensemble to shows like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dawson's Creek. The series influenced subsequent period comedies and spinoffs linked to networks such as FOX, NBC, and UPN, and helped launch the film and television careers of performers who later worked with studios including Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros.. Cultural impact includes references in publications like Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Variety, and academic discussions in media studies citing parallels with nostalgia-driven programming such as That '80s Show and genre examinations involving postmodern television scholars.
The series accrued nominations and awards from institutions such as the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the TV Land Awards, with individual cast members recognized by bodies like the Satellite Awards and the Young Artist Awards. Production guild acknowledgments included nominations from the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America, while music supervision and costume design were noted by organizations including the Guild of Music Supervisors and the Costume Designers Guild.
Category:American sitcoms Category:1990s American television series Category:2000s American television series