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Let me save you some time: If you’re old enough to actually remember the ’90s, then That ’90s Show probably isn’t for you. Netflix is trying to recapture the retro magic of That ’70s Show with an all-new reboot — they’re calling it a “sequel series,” but really, it’s a reboot — with suburban parents Red and Kitty Forman enduring a new generation of unruly teens. But That ’90s Show (debuting today; I’ve seen the first three episodes) is an uninspired buzzkill: half tired nostalgia tour and half mediocre retread.
It is disappointing, because That ’70s Show never won a bunch of Emmys, but it was a perfectly good little sitcom, thanks to a cast full of future stars who had instant chemistry together. That kind of chemistry is a tricky thing to pull off, though, and That ’90s Show is a perfect example of just how tricky it can be. The show’s young cast is just not as compelling as the originals, and the weak writing here doesn’t do them any favors, either. [pmc_inline_gallery]
The premiere kicks off in 1995 over the July 4th weekend, with Eric and Donna’s awkward teen daughter Leia (Callie Haverda) coming to visit Kitty and Red, who still live in the same house in Point Place, Wisconsin. While she’s there, Leia befriends Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide), the cool alt-rock girl next door, and also catches the eye of Kelso and Jackie’s dopey son Jay (Mace Coronel). (Yes, Kelso and Jackie are back together in the ’90s — and getting remarried for the second time.) Leia decides to stick around and hang out with her new friends for the whole summer… and take advantage of her grandparents’ basement, which is still a pretty awesome hangout spot.
If you were tuning in hoping to reconnect with your That ’70s Show favorites, though, don’t bother. Most of the original cast members do pop up here and there, but only for brief cameos, and while some actually put in an effort, others are just going through the motions. Kurtwood Smith is in his grumpy, dumbass-hating wheelhouse as Red, and Debra Jo Rupp is still as cute and clueless as ever as Kitty, but they’re mostly confined to the background while the new kids take center stage.
That ’90s Show never lets you forget it’s set in the ’90s, either, with the characters self-consciously name-checking trends from A (Alanis) to Z (Zimas), instead of just existing in that era. (Having lived through the ’90s myself, I can confirm that we didn’t loudly announce it every time we were doing something quintessentially ’90s.) At the same time, the show has a distinctly modern sensibility that doesn’t fit the era at all. Reyn Doi is charming as Leia’s friend Ozzie, but it’s very hard to believe that a gay Asian teen in 1995 in suburban Wisconsin would be thinking about coming out to anyone — let alone his new friend’s grandmother.
If it won’t appeal to That ’70s Show fans, maybe That ’90s Show will find a following among younger viewers — but given the lame punchlines and clumsily manufactured storylines, I doubt it. (Is it as bad as That ’80s Show, which infamously bombed after just one season on Fox? I couldn’t tell you, because I never watched it, and neither did you.) It actually feels like a run-of-the-mill network sitcom from the 1990s, with its brightly lit sets and overly broad performances mugging for laughs from the studio audience. So in that way, That ’90s Show is a throwback… just not the kind of throwback we wanted.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: With tired punchlines and a new cast that lacks the easy charm of the originals, Netflix’s That ’90s Show is a total buzzkill.
I haven’t watched That 70s Show in ages. I would need to go rewatch those first few episodes of Season 1 and compare them.
Most of the times when it comes to these reboots and sequel shows during a rewatch you noticed that the earlier episodes weren’t as great as you thought they were.
Very good point
Ouch
I’m sorry, but to be blunt, this reviewer David Nemetz must be watching a totally different reboot than what I just watched.
These 10 episodes had me laughing so hard, my gut hurt. Although, I do agree, the new cast doesn’t have the same chemistry as the OGs, the writing and directing and cameos, brought these 10 episodes together in a very delightfully funny way.
I hope more people think the way I do, so that Netflix will give this show another go.
I actually didn’t think it was terrible, either. I found myself laughing and enjoying it more than I thought I would. I hope it gets another season.
I actually agree witu you.Im only a few episodes in and I don’t think it’s bad.
I agree I think it did kind of start slow but it got very good as the season went on
WOW!!!
My first comment, which pretty contradicted what this article reviewer said, was never posted.
I guess they can say whatever they want, but I don’t get an opinion.
That’s……..how speech works while on a soapbox in someone else’s yard. You have the free speech you’re given
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The First Amendment is between you and the government, not between you and Penske Media.
It was posted….I can see it just above this.
I wasn’t old enough to know if all of the 70s references in That 70s Show were accurate, but there is always a risk with a nostalgia comedy.
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Case in point, 80s Hollywood references ALWAYS include A Flock fo Seagulls, who lasted about as long as That 80s Show, but it’s such a common reference in TV and films it’s become a cliche.
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I was a teenager in the 90s though, albeit on the other side of the Atlantic, so if this is full of anachronisms that will probably just annoy me. Trailers weren’t overly impressive, it was obvious they were loaded with the cameos from the original cast.
I just watched it all because I woke up super early and needed something in the background while I worked on a project.
I don’t think it’s anything revolutionary or groundbreaking but as someone whose spouse recently watched the whole series and was subjected to it secondhand? I will say the original doesnt age as poorly as many sitcoms but it is hard to place how it lasted as long as it did.
But this review is much harsher than I think it should be. As far as the revivals and reboots go it’s much less contrived and forced as many. The plots are much less f painful and more natural.
It’s more of a C.
I binged all ten episodes. For me, it didn’t come anywhere close to the magic that the first seasons of That 70’s Show had, but I didn’t think it would. The kids are the weakest links, as expected. Finding an ensemble cast to fit together as well as the cast from the original did was just never going to happen. Some of the new characters are annoying, so if it gets renewed, I hope they tone it down a bit. Still, I found myself laughing and I got to see some of my favorite characters again from a favorite show. Topher Grace’s Eric was still just as sweet and goofy as ever. It was worth the watch for me.
Also – loved Kitty and Red. I missed those two.
Also – the kids grew on me with each episode. I hated that it was only 10 episodes. I could have watched more.
I think Netflix was just being conservative on episode count until they see how well it performs
How surprising!
How can somebody write an entire review/opinion/post after only watching 3 episodes. I dislike this type of reviews because you can’t form an opinion without watching the entire thing… Wharever I prefer to make my own opinion.
I formed my opinion after watching 20 minutes of the first episode, after that, I couldn’t stand to watch anymore. It wasn’t funny, it just felt forced, and the new batch of kids are completely forgettable. The original characters, while I love the actors, it felt like they were acting the characters, not being them and it threw me out of the story.
I watched the whole 10 episodes. Trust me, nothing changed in the last 7 after they wrote this review. The show never bothered to establish any kind of personality for any of the kids. Even at the end of the season, I can’t tell you who any of them are supposed to be. I guess Nikki is smart because they showed her studying ONCE? Jay is a himbo because someone else said so in episode 1, but he spends most of the series dating one girl? I was rooting for this, just to spend time with any of the characters again, but the new kids all fell totally flat and jokeless.
I find TVLine reviews such a buzzkill lately. I swear the staff hates everything, and the stuff here is weirdly nitpicky. You dont think any gay kids came out in the 90s? What? And if you actually watched That 70s Show, youd notice its also full of references to everythings 70s, they literally constantly name-drop tv, music and movies.
Anyway, most comedies dont begin great – Seinfeld, Friends, Parks & Rec, The Office and yes even That 70s Show, took a while ti get good. Ill stick this one out and see how it progresses and give the cast some time to gel.
Don’t forget also The Big Bang Theory
The first season of Friends is hilarious… But fair point on the other two. However this show doesn’t just have to compete with other new shows. It has to compete with nearly every show ever made that’s available on streaming platforms. It’s hard to be funny to a broad audience. I would watch this just for Red and Kitty.
TVLine gave The Last of Us an A+ so they don’t hate everything.
Nah, the first seasons of Friends and That 70’s shows we’re great. They had it down from the start.
I LOVE That 80’s Show. Have it on dvd, watch it all the time.
Yeah I also really enjoyed That 80’s Show.
This feels like lazy reviewing to rate the series as D+ when you only watched 3 episodes. It’s literally your job to watch tv, it’s not asking too much for you to finish a short quick series before you rip it apart. I haven’t even watched it yet, but I’ll finish it before I fail it lol
That’s exactly what I’m thinking…
Reviewers tend to get advanced screenings of the first few episodes of a series and then get to release their review the day the show premieres or drops. Regardless of whether one agrees with the assessment, it’s pretty standard for a review to be based on a few episodes.
I agree I feel like it got better as it went on the kids grew on me reviewing it after only 3 episodes is lazy
It reminds me of The Connors. Forced funny moments. No chemistry. Obvious line reading (in other words the fact they are acting is obvious). Neither show impressed me at all. I’ll stick with TLOU.
The conners isn’t even bad
If you are unhappy that this review is based on having only seen the first three episodes, blame Netflix. Did anyone see reviews from 2-3 days ago? No, because Netflix had an embargo that seems like it was extremely close to when the episodes dropped on Netflix.
awww bummer. I thought with so much of the original cast signed on that it would be good. that’s a shame!
OK I have now watched the first two episodes and this review is way harsh! Is it an award-winner? No. But it’s cute and watchable and nostalgic and the original cast cameos are a lot of fun. Who pissed in this guy’s cheerios?!
Some ideas seem good at the time. And sometimes good ideas just aren’t able to be executed well.
You’re a buzzkill. It was great. Corby, yes. But I was giggling away all morning on public transit on my way into work.
Unfortunately this doesn’t surprise me at all. Hard to recreate the magic of the original cast. I’ll just stick to watching That 70’s Show & the original cast in their current shows.
If you don’t want to classify it as a sequel series, then it’s a revival, not a reboot. Surprised how even writers for entertainment sites don’t know the difference.
complete train wreck, CALLED IT, LMFAO!
A “D” seems harsh. I’d give it a solid “B-“. I just finished the entire thing in one sitting with a rewatch of episode 1. Those who liked it will understand why. I didn’t hate it. It wasn’t the OG series but I still laughed.
I don’t remember That 80’s show.
Was that connected to these other two?
That 80s show was totally unrelated. It’s not bad, I’ve seen plenty of much worse sitcoms, especially on cbs. It’s fairly forgettable but part of that is due to its short run.
I didn’t watch it, but wasn’t the lead supposed to be Eric’s cousin?
Watched the first episode and will give it a go because 10 half hours isn’t too onerous. Have to say though, the premiere fell flat. To lean into the nostalgia they basically decided Eric, Donna, Kelso, and Jackie would stay in arrested adolescence and not evolve or grow up at all (not even mentioning the retcon of Jackie and Kelso being back together). Watching people in their 40s act the same way they did when they were teens made the comedy feel forced and awkward, almost a satire of guest stars you see in an SNL bit or BoJack Horseman. We’ll see how the younger cast evolves and finds chemistry with each other, but trying to follow the formula of That 70s Show too closely only serves to stop this show from having its own character and feel.
How is it a retcon? Just because they weren’t together when the series ended, doesn’t mean they didn’t get back togethe later again. And again. That’s not a retcon. To be fair I only watched the first episode.
This review is way to harsh. It’s clearly a sequel to that 70s show and not a reboot. It’s uninspired yes but the original wasn’t exactly Frasier. It was basically a teen show, made as a sitcom, filled with 70s nostalgia. This does the same but moves it to the 90s and makes use of the original cast to give it extra nostalgia. It’s really just doing what the force awakens did 7 years ago.
Ive only seen the first 2 so far but couldnt disagree more with this review. I found it to be exactly what I expected and was enjoying it for the most part. I also wasnt going into it with the anticipation of the best comedy of the decade either…