Jackie Burkhart’s mom was played by Eve Plumb in That ‘70s Show season 1, but when the character returned in season 6, she had been recast with movie star Brooke Shields. Surprisingly for an eight-season-long sitcom, That ‘70s Show didn’t often recast its characters, as even small guest parts typically returned with the same actor. While the most notable That ‘70s Show recast was for Laurie Forman, who changed actresses from Lisa Robin Kelly to Christina Moore in season 6, the series also recast Jackie Burkhart’s mom the same season.

Pam Burkhart first appeared in That ‘70s Show’s season 1 episode “The Keg,” which saw Jackie and the gang use a house she was selling to host a party. Originally played by The Brady Bunch’s Jan Brady actress Eve Plumb, Pam was introduced as an upstanding businesswoman and real estate agent, thus paralleling the season 1 personality of Jackie’s well-known lawyer father. However, Pam wouldn’t return until That ‘70s Show’s season 6 episode “Who Are You,” which would see an entire overhaul of the character with a new actress and personality.

Related: That ’70s Show: Why Jackie Didn’t Join The Circle Until Season 2

While casting Eve Plumb was a perfect connection to the 1970s sitcoms stars That '70s Show often paid homage to, Pam Burkhart required a recast once That ‘70s Show decided to go in an entirely different direction with the character. No longer a stern real estate businesswoman, Jackie’s mom arrived in That ‘70s Show season 6 as a flighty individual who caused trauma to her daughter through her nonchalant string of affairs, abandonment of Jackie for international trips, and absence as a parent. That ‘70s Show also decided to replace Donna’s mother, Midge, with Pam as the mom who all of the male characters were smitten with. As such, That ‘70s Show decided to recast Jackie’s mom with a movie star and model personality like Brooke Shields, whose notoriety would also help bring more viewership for season 6.

That '70s Show Pam, Bob, and Midge

It’s also not uncommon for sitcoms to recast a character many seasons later if they had only appeared in one episode, as many failed to realize that Jackie’s mom had already been introduced before Brooke Shields was cast. Once That ‘70s Show decided to bring back Pam Burkhart, it was with the notion that she would have a much more substantial role in the season’s arc and Jackie’s character development. Strangely enough, half of the kids in That ‘70s Show had at least one of their parents abandon them: Jackie’s mom abandoned her while her dad was in prison, Midge left Donna, and both of Hyde’s parents left him. Because of this, Jackie became much closer to Hyde and Donna, as they had all shared similar experiences of essentially having to raise themselves.

If That ‘70s Show had kept Eve Plumb as Pam Burkhart’s actress, the sitcom also may not have included her brief romance with Bob Pinciotti. Supporting the idea that Pam was sent to replace Midge within That ‘70s Show’s character dynamics, she quickly began dating Bob – a relationship that surprised the rest of the characters. Pam would only appear in six more episodes throughout That ‘70s Show seasons 6 and 7, disappearing just as abruptly as she returned. Pam broke up with Bob because she wanted to be a better parent to Jackie and thought Bob should be with Midge, but once that storyline ended, she was never seen again. Pam was another example of That ‘70s Show's teens largely lacking present and attentive parents, with Red and Kitty Forman serving as the parents to all six young characters – Jackie included.

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