After 17 years, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith are back as Kitty and Red Forman in That 90s Show, a sequel series to That '70s Show. After running for 8 seasons and 200 episodes, That '70s Show concluded in 2006, but now, Rupp and Smith are back in Point Place, Wisconsin to welcome their granddaughter, Leia Forman (Callie Haverda), into their home for the summer.
Available To Stream On Netflix
In addition to the returns of Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and Wilmer Valderama, the show features a slew of surprise cameos and appearances, as well as a stellar new group taking over for Donna, Eric, Jackie, Kelso, Fez, and Hyde. Mace Coronel stars as Jay Kelso (yes, that Kelso), while Ashley Aufderheide and Maxwell Acee Donovan play siblings Gwen and Nate, Kitty and Red's next-door neighbors. Reyn Doi stars as Ozzy and Sam Morelos rounds out the group as Nikki.
Ahead of the debut of That '90s Show, Screen Rant sat down with Rupp and Smith to discuss their returns, including Rupp's favorite thing about the '90s (and the worst thing about the '70s) and how they attempted to explain what a rave is to the young cast.
Debra Jo Rupp & Kurtwood Smith On That 90s Show
Screen Rant: It was such a pleasure seeing you both back in Point Place, Wisconsin. It felt like a big family reunion watching everyone come back together, so I can imagine it felt even better for you all. Kurtwood, what was the best part about being back together?
Kurtwood Smith: Working with Debra Jo. Seriously. Debra Jo is my favorite acting partner. We did do an unsuccessful pilot together about a year and a half ago, something like that. And otherwise, we haven't worked together in 17 years. So it was really fun, getting together with Debra Jo, and I just love the writers on the old show and on the new show, because the people on the new show have been able to just sort of pick it up and carry it into the endzone.
With the show being in the '90s, there are a lot of subtle but clear differences. Debra Jo, I was curious, what were your favorite or least favorite things that you got to leave behind in the '70s and your favorite thing you got to explore in the '90s decade?
Debra Jo Rupp: Okay, so I will go directly to fashion. My favorite thing to leave behind [is] the bell-bottoms of the '70s because shorter, petite women cannot wear anything in the '70s. You can't. And no one looks good in lime green. I'm sorry to share that with some people, but no one looks good in lime green. And then in the '90s, we've got some shoulder pads going which I always like.
Kurtwood Smith: [Laughs].
Debra Jo Rupp: Stop. Shoulder pads are good. Those are also very good for petite women.
Kurtwood Smith: I like that picture of you in bell-bottoms.
Debra Jo Rupp: Oh my god. Anyway, I had the fashion I go right to the fashion. That's where it is.
Kurtwood, obviously most of these kids probably don't remember much, if anything from the '90s. Did you find yourself helping them understand the references? Or were they asking questions about some of the '90s stuff that was happening on set and in the story?
Kurtwood Smith: Um, no.
Debra Jo Rupp: [Raises hand]. Well, I have one. Remember, we tried to explain what a rave was. Well, you try explaining a rave. Nobody can explain that. And they're polite kids, so they kind of went, "Oh, okay."
Kurtwood Smith: I didn't understand what it meant when it was going on.
Debra Jo Rupp: So we had trouble. We had a lot of trouble with that one.
Debra Jo, I loved seeing Kitty do so many things this season. The tattoo moment was a standout for me. But what was the feeling like filming with this new group of kids but each one of them had those counterparts? Was it this surreal, kind of almost deja-vu?
Debra Jo Rupp: No, not at all, because they are so unique. And they are just so very different from the '70s Show cast. They're their own thing, so it actually made it exciting because it was new, and it was different, and it was a different energy, which helped make the difference between the '70s and the '90s. They're quite a great group to work with.
About That '90s Show
It’s 1995 and Leia Forman is desperate for some adventure in her life or at least a best friend who isn’t her dad. When she arrives in Point Place to visit her grandparents, Red and Kitty, Leia finds what she’s looking for right next door when she meets the dynamic and rebellious Gwen.
With the help of Gwen’s friends, including her lovable brother Nate, his smart, laser-focused girlfriend Nikki, the sarcastic and insightful Ozzie, and the charming Jay, Leia realizes adventure could happen there just like it did for her parents all those years ago. Excited to reinvent herself, she convinces her parents to let her stay for the summer. With a basement full of teens again, Kitty is happy the Forman house is now a home for a new generation and Red is, well...Red.
Check back soon for our other That '90s Show interview:
Netflix's That '90s Show season 1 begins streaming on January 19 with 10 episodes.