That '70s Show is getting a spin-off, and fans are cautiously optimistic. With Netflix having a few successful sitcom spin-offs under its belt, That '90s Show should be in good hands. The show is said to be set in the summer of 1995 as Eric and Donna's daughter, Leia, spends a couple of months in Point Place, Wisconsin with her grandparents, Red and Kitty Forman.
Between the confirmed return of Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) and Kurtwood Smith (Red) and the beloved nostalgia the '90s hold for today's adults, That '90s Show has every reason to be a booming success. However, fans have a few hopes and dreams for the upcoming series. Redditors have shared plenty of ideas about what should be in Netflix's latest sitcom spin-off.
'90s Fashion
1995 was a good year for fashion, and viewers will be looking for a lot of their old favorites while watching the show. Reddit user thequirkyquark will specifically be looking for "Mullets, pumped up shoes, cut-off jorts, and nirvana t-shirts."
Truthfully, the show creators have a lot of different directions they can go in. Similar to how the original misfit group showcased different kinds of 70s fashion (the preppy Jackie with her best outfits comprising of bell-bottoms and ascots, and the edgy Hyde with his Zepplin T-shirts and perfect 'fro) the next generations of Point Place youth are all but guaranteed to be sporting a variety of '90s looks.
A '90s Remix Of The Opening Song
There has been a lot of discussion about what song show creators will choose for the opener of the new spin-off. With a multitude of '90s grunge, R&B, or hip-hop songs to choose from, the possibilities are virtually endless. However, Redditor _whats_her_name says that they "hope it's 'In The Street' covered by a band with a '90s rock sound."
"In the Street" by Cheap Trick is the original opening song used for That '70s Show, and is easily recognizable by any fan. Originally written in the '70s, the song doesn't seem to fit the aesthetic of a '90s grunge song, but with some reworking by the multitude of '90s bands that are still in business, it could be extremely nostalgic and comforting for fans who are diving into the new show.
The Familiar Forman House
It's hard to imagine the Foreman's house without the pea-green armchair or the basement full of old junk and a very broken-in couch. Redditor Gingerrecords88 says "The Foremans House was as much a character on the show as any of the actors."
Around sixteen years will have gone by since viewers were supposed to have seen the Forman house, so it can be assumed that Kitty, who gave great care in her home decor, would have changed a few things up. However, seeing those same, or at least similar, sets will be extremely important in making viewers feel at home. Plus, what grandma in the '90s didn't still have a home decorated like it was in the '70s?
An Appearance From Eric and Donna
It is only natural for fans to want to see their old favorite on the screen again. While viewers are excited for the return of Red and Kitty, fingers are crossed for a cameo from other great That '70s Show characters, such as Eric and Donna.
The series description implies that Leia will be staying at her grandparent's house without her parents. However, this does not eliminate the chance that viewers will get a peek at the happy couple. Redditor hpspnmag hopes to see Topher Grace (Eric) and Laura Prepon (Donna) for at least the first episode, but shares that they would not be surprised if they were only mentioned off-screen.
The Essence Of '90s Sitcoms
That '70s Show first debuted in 1998, but the show did a great job at making it feel like it was being shot in the '70s. Fan's have expressed their hope that the new spin-off will give a similar feel, but this time taking viewers back in time to the good-old 90s.
User TalesToAstonish shared on Reddit that they hope that editors use '90s shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters to set the quality for the show. While it may be shot with modern cameras and edited with state-of-the-art technology, capturing that aesthetic will help ensure that fans are fully immersed in the 1990s.
Betsy Kelso
In That '70s Show, Michael Kelso finds out that he is going to be a father, and his daughter Betsy, is born at the beginning of Season 7. At the beginning of Season 8, Kelso takes off for Chicago to be closer and help raise his daughter, but there are hopes that Betsy may return to Point Place somewhere around 1995 as well. Redditor generalzee says "She could be the 'Laurie' of the group. She's older than the rest, and given her father, I wouldn't be surprised if she also turned out to 'like to get around.'"
This could be an exciting dynamic for the show to explore. Betsy and Leia could get to know each other. Whether they get along or not, seeing the daughters of the old childhood buddies together would be something no fan would want to miss.
'90s Technology
The '90s was a boom for technology that none who experienced it could forget. With the Super Nintendo, CDs, and home karaoke machines, it will be fun to watch young actors interact with these technologies as if they are brand new and exciting.
Reddit user Xelousje can't wait to watch Red get frustrated with Windows 95. He will surely have a lot of new classic style Red Forman quotes about their first home computer, perhaps threatening to put his foot somewhere specific (fans know exactly where).
Leo (Tommy Chong)
A fan favorite of the original series is Leo, a dirty hippie (played by Tommy Chong) that Red just couldn't stand to have in his house. Leo is just the type to hang around Point Place for way too long, so fans are hoping they might catch a glimpse of who Leo became in the 1990s.
While in the '70s Leo owned a Foto Hut, user JiveMonkey theorizes that he might have moved on to a more '90s appropriate business: a Blockbuster. This nostalgic video rental store would be the perfect place for the new Point Place gang to run into TV's favorite stoner.
A Little More Diversity
Being set in a small town in Wisconsin, it wasn't too odd to have minimal diversity in That '70s Show. The foreign exchange student known as Fez was the only person of color who seemed to reside in the town, and when Joseph Gordon Levitt guest-starred as Buddy in a single episode, the show had its only gay character.
However, fans like Redditor KittenCouture are hoping to see a little more diversity with That '90s Show, with Leia potentially starting a new group with at least one LGBTQ+ individual and one person of color. This dynamic, combined with the setting being under Red's roof, could make the show a little more relatable and entertaining for today's audience.
Red's Reaction To '90s Politics
1995 had a lot going on that Red would likely not be happy with. Between Clinton's presidency and the growing liberal party, it will be entertaining to see Red's comical reaction to the political goings-on of the time.
"Looking forward to Red’s disappointment with 'Liberal America'" says Redditor reevoknows. Red, who could only be described as traditionally conservative, had several monologues about the political state of the United States in the 1970s, and surely a couple more decades of political shenanigans will give him plenty more to complain about.