That '70s Show season 4 featured an alternate timeline episode which revealed how the lives of the main characters could have turned out much differently. The series, created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill, spanned eight seasons on Fox from 1998 to 2006. For much of the period sitcom, Eric Forman (Topher Grace) served as the central character along with his friends and family.
For the majority of That 70's Show, Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon) was the primary love interest for Eric as the two had an on-again-off-again relationship. At one point, Eric gave Donna a promise ring which she decided she couldn't keep. She gave it back, and in turn, Eric broke up with her. The season 4 premiere, "It's a Wonderful Life," put a saddened Eric in focus as he learned what would have happened in his life had he never kissed Donna in the events of the pilot episode. The alternate reality was presented by an angel (Wayne Knight) as a nod to the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life.
The point of the alternate universe was to show Eric that his decision to kiss Donna had a domino effect on the other people in his life. The episode showcased how life would have turned out differently for not only himself and Donna but also for their friends, Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), and Fez (Wilmer Valderrama). Eric's parents, Red and Kitty (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp), were also heavily affected. The angel tried to prove that it was better "to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all" before calling him a "pansy." Eric wasn't receptive to the message but when given the choice, he realized that he wanted to hang on to his past with Donna, whether good or bad. Here's how the lives of the main characters would have turned out according to the alternate timeline.
Eric Forman
In the alternate universe, Eric was lonely and caved under the pressures of his father, Red. Without Donna, Eric no longer had the confidence to stand up for himself. His friends eventually distanced themselves and Eric wound up joining the Chess Club at school. Eric's first real relationship was with Rhonda Tate (Cynthia Lamontagne), aka "Big Rhonda." She accompanied him to prom and was shown to constantly berate him. Eric lost his virginity to Rhonda and their relationship apparently lasted into their twenties. At that point, Eric was still working at Price Mart and living with his parents. During the 10-year high school reunion in the late '80s, Eric was a waterbed salesman. He had since broken up with Rhonda but she arrived at the reunion showing that she transformed herself after opening an aerobics studio.
Donna Pinciotti
Since Eric didn't make a move on Donna, it opened the door for Hyde to kiss her in the alternate timeline. She quickly fell in love with him and started to become more rebellious. Donna got multiple tattoos including one that read "property of Steven Hyde." She eventually married him and the pair had three children together. Due to her time with Hyde, Donna became insecure and unhappy with how her life turned out. She also stopped writing and gave up on most of her dreams. When Donna attended the reunion, she abandoned her rebellious style for a more traditional look.
Steven Hyde
Hyde jumped on the opportunity to be with Donna in the alternate reality presented by the angel. His focus on Donna also led him down a more rebellious path. Rather than move in with the Forman family after his parents disappeared, Hyde decided to drop out of school altogether. He got Donna pregnant before their wedding in 1983 and had two more children in the years that followed. Hyde, Donna, and their kids left Point Place but he didn't return for the reunion. Not only was it assumed that Hyde didn't graduate, but Donna also revealed that Hyde was in prison.
Michael Kelso
In the alternate timeline, Kelso never got back together with Jackie on prom night, so he ended up with Pam Macy (Jennifer Lyons). At Donna and Hyde's wedding in 1983, Kelso shared that he was a news anchor in Cedar Rapids. Despite being married to Pam, Kelso had a habit of cheating on her especially when Jackie came around. A few years later, Kelso was fired from doing the news while drunk. He then got a job from Eric selling waterbeds and notably gained a lot of weight.
Jackie Burkhart
Jackie was heartbroken when Kelso chose Pam over her in the alternate timeline. Rather than let that ruin her life, Jackie used that as motivation to get far in life. She became a globetrotting stewardess and claimed she didn't remember Kelso when she encountered him at Donna and Hyde's wedding. In reality, she always loved him and never passed up the chance on rekindling their romance. Even after Jackie called Kelso "fat" at the reunion, the pair ran off together.
Fez
Fez became more of an outsider in the other reality since the friend group didn't stick together. He turned to music and was always looking to stay ahead of the next fad. Fez also joined the marching band which made him a target of the school bullies. After emulating the style of the band, A Flock of Seagulls, Fez turned to a new wave of music in the late '80s. During the reunion, Fez provided the entertainment by singing a Wang Chung song.
Red & Kitty Forman
Red and Kitty were still supportive of their son throughout his life in the alternate timeline. Kitty, however, wasn't too ecstatic at the fact that Eric still lived at home in the mid-'80s and was keen on him spreading his wings. Throughout That '70s Show, Kitty and Red had been vocal about the prospect of having another child. The couple ended up having another son named Jake in the other universe. Jake, who was around six or seven years old, picked on Eric and even called him a "dumbass." It was clear that Jake was the son that Red always wanted since Eric was often viewed as a disappointment.