That '70s Show

Ensemble teen/parent comedy that minted a generation of film stars.

Why it matters

Episode guide

200 episodes across 8 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.

At a glance

Wisconsin teens kill time in a basement circle while parents do the same upstairs — catchphrases, shag carpet, and "hello Wisconsin" energy included. Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill built ensemble teen/parent comedy that minted a generation of film stars. Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, and Danny Masterson orbited the Forman house like a sitcom solar system. 1970s nostalgia was the set dressing; friendship inertia was the joke. It ran long enough to become its own time capsule.

Network & studio

• Fox — broadcast network
• 20th Television — production studio
• The Carsey-Werner Company — production studio

Why watch now

For basement ensemble chemistry and the pure hit of late-1990s/2000s Fox teen-parent farce. The circle sequences are comfort TV architecture.

Cultural impact

That '70s Show turned 1970s nostalgia into a multi-year hit and a star factory for 2000s film comedy. Its catchphrase economy and basement mythology entered permanent syndication. The later That '90s Show only underlined the brand's durability.

Creators

Bonnie Turner · Terry Turner · Mark Brazill

Key cast

• Topher Grace as Eric Forman
• Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart
• Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso
• Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
• Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
• Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde

Flash facts

• Created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill; Fox premiere August 23, 1998.
• Ran eight seasons (1998–2006).
• Set in Point Place, Wisconsin, primarily in the late 1970s.
• Launchpad for multiple cast members' film and TV careers.
• Known for the basement hangout circle and era-specific soundtrack/visual gags.

FAQ

Back to the decade

More from the 1990s — Must-See & Must-Talk. All shows.