While That ‘90s Show is bringing back the original’s teen drug culture, the spinoff’s new era could ruin That ‘70s Show’s best gag. Just as the music, clothing, and pop culture were important to That ‘70s Show’s nostalgia, the series also heavily featured another important aspect of the teen counterculture, namely marijuana use. Although Kitty and Red quickly found out that the smoke in the basement from Eric and the gang wasn’t actually incense, That ‘90s Show has already hinted that Leia and her friends will be indulging in the same casual drug use as the previous generation.
That ‘70s Show’s most iconic feature was “The Circle,” which was introduced in the pilot episode as a gag to subtly show the teens smoking marijuana. Primarily taking place in the Formans’ basement, The Circle would consist of the gang sitting around a table while the camera switches between each character in a circle, with smoke filling the air behind them. That ‘70s Show’s Circle would often include the original characters engaging in thoughtful contemplations, paranoid discussions, hunger-prone attitudes, and candid conversations while getting high on their “stash.” As perhaps the most notable gag of That ‘70s Show, it would be amiss for the sequel series to not revive The Circle.
Netflix’s upcoming sequel series, That ‘90s Show, takes audiences back to Point Place for a new era in the characters’ lives, which means a significant cultural shift since the original ‘70s timeline. However, as That ‘90s Show’s synopsis exclaims, the times may change, but sex, drugs, and rock and roll never die. As such, That ‘90s Show, which will follow Eric and Donna’s teenage daughter, Leia, staying with Red and Kitty for the summer, is set up to revive the pot-smoking gags of the original. However, the regulations for displaying marijuana smoking on the sitcom have adjusted since That ‘70s Show debuted in 1998, meaning That ‘90s Show’s inclusion of the teens smoking could very well change for the worse.
Why That ‘70s Show Had To Use “The Circle”
As a show set in the 1970s teenage counterculture, it was a given for That ‘70s Show to include the original characters smoking pot casually in their parents’ basements. However, this wasn’t conducive to FOX’s censorship on network television, as it didn’t want the series directly setting a poor example for viewers at home by actively showing That '70s Show's young original characters smoking marijuana on-screen. In order to work around this censorship, That ‘70s Show’s creators came up with “The Circle,” which would accomplish the same idea of the characters getting high without directly showing them smoking. The symbolism was also there with the camera swiveling from character to character to imitate the passing of a joint, so the notion of That ‘70s Show’s characters smoking wasn’t lost on older viewers.
Thankfully, since That ‘70s Show wasn’t breaking any of the network’s rules, The Circle allowed the series to include a significant, common teen behavior for those in the same counterculture lifestyle as the gang. To make sure The Circle’s key components stayed indirect and passed censorships, nearly every object or term associated with smoking marijuana was referred to with euphemisms or only included off-screen. As such, there was no drug paraphernalia on-screen in That ‘70s Show's original series, with the words “weed, marijuana, pot,” etc. rarely being said by the characters, as they more commonly referred to the drug as the “stash.” The Circle would quickly become the biggest pop-culture gag from That ‘70s Show, with its clever depiction secretly being the only way it could subtly include pot-smoking on-screen.
That ‘90s Show Could Finally Show The Teens Smoking Marijuana
While That ‘70s Show’s content was restricted by its place on network TV, That ‘90s Show isn’t necessarily confined to such problems by virtue of being on Netflix. Since the original show featured plenty of mature content that was made more subtle due to censorship, Netflix may try to give the That ‘90s Show spinoff more liberty with its onscreen adult themes and features. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the characters cursing more often, talking about sex with fewer euphemisms, or, of course, directly smoking marijuana. Netflix allows That ‘90s Show to actually depict the explicit or inappropriate content That ‘70s Show couldn’t, which suggests that the sequel series may not need The Circle any longer. That ‘90s Show’s new teens can still get high in the basement while trying to hide it from Red and Kitty, but perhaps the creators want to directly feature the content they weren’t able to in the actual 1990s. As such, it’s possible the That ‘90s Show follow-up will get rid of The Circle and introduce a new gag for the teens’ casual drug use.
Why That ‘90s Show Getting Rid Of The Circle Would Be A Mistake
Although getting rid of The Circle in favor of actually showing the teens getting high would be a way for That ‘90s Show to flaunt its unrestricted content and demonstrate its distinctions from the original show, doing so would be a mistake. With The Circle being arguably the most iconic aspect of That ‘70s Show, having That ‘90s Show’s teens repeat the same gag would be a perfect way to pass on the torch to the new generation. Just because That ‘90s Show can directly show the teens smoking weed doesn’t mean it should, as the secrecy and euphemisms around the activities were perfect for the unsubtle subtlety of teenage life in this era. While That ‘70s Show's original teens would rarely directly refer to the teens smoking marijuana, it was always clear that this was what they were doing, which is a classic quirk for sitcoms still being able to reach slightly younger audiences. The Circle was the perfect way to get around this, so taking away the not-so-hidden nature of their activities in That '90s Show would ruin the original's subtle mystique.
Of course, while That ‘90s Show needs to establish its own gags and quirks in order to separate itself beyond the original, the sequel series will inevitably revive some of That ‘70s Show’s best qualities. As such, it would be a mistake to not bring back the best feature by having the teens get high and talk about cars running on water in The Circle. Not only was The Circle one of the best visual production-based quirks of the original series, but it also makes their smoking session much more intimate, allowing audiences to feel more connected to the characters. Just as some of the best personality introductions to the real characters of That ‘70s Show happened during The Circle, That ‘90s Show can use the same gag to give a better, more personal look at the new characters right off the bat. Since the Formans’ basement has also been left virtually untouched since That ‘70s Show’s timeline, That ‘90s Show already has the two greatest features of the original in its back pocket if it properly utilizes the basement and The Circle.