That '70s Show

That ‘70s Show

Description:

Be Groovy. Be Very Groovy.
That ‘70s Show is a comedy that ran from 1998 to 2006 on FOX; reruns can be seen on FX and ABC Family. The show takes place in Point Place, Wisconsin and revolves around the daily lives of a group of teenagers during the 1970’s.

The show revolves around Eric Forman and his group of friends: Donna, Hyde, Kelso, Fez, and Jackie. Eric is the somewhat awkward, Star Wars obsessed, typical teen growing up in the ‘70s. He always has a big mouth which gets him into trouble with his strict father, Red (who is always looking to put his foot in someone’s ass). His mother Kitty is always looking to protect Eric, which often involves embarrassing him in front of his friends, although Eric can do a good job of that himself at times. He vies for his next door neighbor Donna’s affection, which is a central focus in the show; eventually they develop a long term relationship. Donna is an example of the modern girl in the show: witty, confident, and strong, with feminist principles. She is the opposite of the other female in the circle, Jackie. Jackie is all about flash and appearance; it matters more to be popular and adored than to have a close group of friends. She gets involved in an off and on relationship with Kelso, the other member of the group who is also obsessed with image. Kelso is the dimwit king of the group, always falling for pranks, injuring himself, and not always aware of what is going on. Hyde being the mischievous one in the group is usually the one to give Kelso dumb ideas to follow. In addition to being the ring leader in coming up with stupid stuff for the gang to do, he is also the one who started “the circle” bringing his mom’s stash of hash and his paranoia of the government with him. Fez is the foreign kid in the group (it is never revealed where Fez came from). Fez has two main loves: candy and affection, although he has a hard time getting lucky with women. The gang “teaches” him about American culture, which can lead to awkward situations.

Other notable characters in the show include Bob and Midge Pinciotti, Donna’s dimwitted parents. They often socialize with Red and Kitty Forman although the two couples couldn’t be anymore different. Then there is Leo, Point Place’s resident pothead (played by Tommy Chong). Somehow he owns and runs the Photo Hut, even though he is stoned all day and doesn’t really work.

With all the different personalities in the show, the interaction between the characters is entertaining and hilarious to watch. The situations they get in are funny and relatable because those situations can cross the generation line.

Analysis:

I think the key to That 70’s Show is that it is relatable to all ages. Those that were teenagers back in the 1970’s can relate to the plot situations as well as the clothes, cars, and the somewhat tacky furniture. Those that are teenagers now may not relate to the styles and fads but can relate to the storylines with the parents as well as the gang; we all know people who are like them. People can connect with Eric and his friends, “hanging out in the street, the same old thing we did last week” (a line from the theme song In the Street by Cheap Trick).

Another appeal to the show is that it is a retro show. In an age where there is a resurgence of interest in groups like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, there is an audience that wants to get a glimpse of what life was like during that time.