There’s one reason and one reason only why I have a soft spot for Topher Grace – in my mind, he will always be Eric Forman. That ‘70s Show is one of my favorite sitcoms of all time, boasting a young cast that the series launched into stardom. Who hasn’t seen a meme of Kitty drinking a margarita from her blender or of Red threatening to put his foot in someone’s ass? The original series is a classic for a reason. 

In 2021, following the original series enjoying a boost in popularity due to the success on streaming platforms, Netflix announced that it had ordered a spin-off series titled That ‘90s Show. In the announcement, it was confirmed that Kurtwood Smith (Red) and Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) would reprise their roles from the original series. 

With the spin-off announcement came a familiar question. Was this show really necessary? 

Since the 2010s, the film and television industry has been attempting to revive old IP for new audiences. A few television examples include: And Just Like That…, Charmed, Will & Grace, Fuller House, Party Down and iCarly. 

Reboots and spin-offs can be a mixed bag. Take And Just Like That… as an example. The Sex & The City revival series premiered on HBO Max (now Max) in 2021. Head to TikTok or Threads after a new episode and you’ll see countless complaints about how the old characters don’t seem the same, how the new characters are dragging the show down or how the dialogue is cringey. Compare that to the iCarly revival series on Paramount+. The show was released in 2021 and has aired three seasons, with more on the way. Fan consensus on TikTok and other social media platforms shows that audiences of both the original series and the reboot are fans of the revival. They enjoy seeing Carly and the gang take on new, more adult, adventures. 

On a scale of And Just Like That…  to iCarly (2021), where does That ‘90s Show fall? In my opinion, somewhere in the middle. 

That ‘90s Show premiered in January of this year. The series follows Leia Forman, the daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pincotti of That ‘70s Show. In the pilot, we see Leia accompany her parents to Point Place, WI in July of 1995 to visit her grandparents. While there, she meets Gwen, a young teenager living in the house next door to Red and Kitty. They become fast friends and Gwen introduces Leia to the rest of her friends – Jay Kelso (yes, of *that* Kelso family), Ozzie, Nikki and Nate. Hijinks ensue and Leia tells her parents that she wants to stay in Point Place for the rest of the summer. Cue the next nine episodes. 

That ‘90s Show is fine. It has some laughs, shows some character development and packs enough nostalgia for the original series into each episode to keep you watching. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little disappointed, though. I was expecting a bit more edgier humor, similar to the original series. A fatal mistake that the show makes, in my opinion, is the age of the new set of characters. Leia turns 15 in episode six, a plot that startled me. I assumed that each of the characters had to be at least 16. To think that for four episodes we watched a 14 year old drink her first beer, smoke from her first bong and kiss multiple boys? Call me a prude, but 14 is a bit young for all of that. The writers were clearly betting on getting more seasons, a bet that did pay off. 

The show was renewed for a second season in February of this year. The second season will have more episodes, up to 16 from their 10 episode first season. 

With all this said, is That ‘90s Show a worthy successor to That ‘70s Show or another ill-advised reboot? I don’t think it’s either. 

That ‘70s Show is a superior series in almost every way. The scripts were funnier, the cast had more chemistry and the humor was edgier. The difference between a show written for network television versus a show written for streaming is on full display when you compare these two shows. 

But I also think that That ‘90s Show serves a purpose. It fills a gap in the current market – a sitcom focused on teens. Teens today have enough dramas, from Euphoria to The Summer I Turned Pretty. And, as mentioned earlier, the show has enough nostalgia for the original series to keep older viewers’ attention. 

If you’re an avid fan of the original series, I do recommend giving That ‘90s Show a chance. Honestly, it’s worth watching the pilot alone to see Eric, Donna, Kelso and Jackie. You can watch the first season on Netflix now.