A surprising revelation from the production crew of That '90s Show revealed that the series might not have happened without the pandemic. That '70s Show ended in 2006, and it was announced in October 2021, over 17 years later, that Netflix would be producing a spinoff titled That '90s Show. That '70s Show introduced the Forman family to the world in 1998, and the beloved sitcom ran for a total of eight seasons. That '90s Show sees the return of many titular cast members from its parent series, but this time it follows the teenage daughter of Eric and Donna while she spends the summer of 1995 with Eric's parents, Red and Kitty.
While the cast of That '90s Show does include some of the members from That '70s Show in a recurring capacity, it's mostly made up of newcomers, such as Donna and Eric's daughter, Leia Forman (Callie Haverda). The 2020s have been a time of reboots and spinoffs, with some products landing and others not. Most audiences didn't expect That '70s Show to receive the spinoff treatment since it ended almost 20 years ago, but projects like Top Gun: Maverick have proven that time between installments doesn't matter in this current era. Even more interesting is That '90s Show might not have happened at all if it weren't for the pandemic.
The Pandemic Led To That '90s Show Happening At Netflix
Going back to Red and Kitty Forman's basement felt like "going home" during the pandemic for series creators Bonnie and Terry Turner, which is why they decided to do the That '70s Show spinoff. When the idea for That '90s Show was pitched, the Turners initially turned it down. However, it wasn't until the pandemic hit that the showrunners were enticed by the idea of wanting to return home. They decided it would be best if the new series were set at the old Forman house to bring audiences back to a familiar place. So in That '90s Show season 1, Leia Forman is brought back to Point Place, Wisconsin, to spend the summer with her grandparents, Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp).
In an interview with Buzzfeed, series creators Bonnie and Terry Turner recounted why they changed their minds about making That '90s Show, with Bonnie saying, "During the pandemic, there was that sense of wanting to go home. You want to be somewhere safe. [We] thought about it, and Netflix liked the idea." Bringing the audience back to the original Forman home, rather than setting it somewhere else, was a smart move on the Turners' part. The Forman house was the focal point of That '70s Show, and nearly every integral moment in the series occurred there. This brings back a sense of familiarity and nostalgia that could be necessary for That '90s Show's success.
Why So Many '70s Show Cast & Creators Agreed To Return For That '90s Show?
That '90s Show brought back a lot of characters from That '70s Show, and they were excited to return to their old stomping grounds because they would all get to work together again. That '70s Show is a rarity in that it was a project that was relatively free from controversy. It was apparent then, as it is now, that the cast and crew genuinely enjoyed working together. So after Terry and Bonnie Turner decided That '90s Show was a go, they invited That '70s Show writer Gregg Mettler onto the spinoff as showrunner and co-creator.
Excited to see Red and Kitty on the screen again, it was Mettler who decided to set the series in the summer and have Leia stay with her grandparents. Having That '90s Show set in the summer also helped the That '70s Show cast out, as it meant they only had to appear in a recurring capacity rather than in every single episode. That '90s Show has proven to be a nostalgic success right out of the gate. It's certainly surprising to hear that the series almost didn't happen, but at least there's one good thing to come out of the pandemic.