It's time to kick off a new episode guide! Over the next couple months, I will be looking at That 70s Show during my weekly Thursday episode guide! A reminder about my breakdown in ratings of episodes:
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Strong
5-6: OK
3-4: Mediocre
1-2: Terrible
THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON ONE
1998-1999
25 episodes
That 70s Show kicked off its run with a season that establishes its large ensemble cast very well. For a show with this many characters, it really does a nice job giving everyone their times in the spotlight throughout the run. This season did not grade out as the highest but it was certainly the one that was most in tune with its 70s setting. There are more 70s-themed storylines and more attention to the detail of its time period than any future season.
Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (25 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (25 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (25 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (25 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (25 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (25 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (25 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (25 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (19 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (18 episodes)
Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman (9 episodes)
1. That 70s Pilot (8/23/98)
Eric gets his parents' Vista Crusier, but then disobeys them by taking it out of town where the car breaks down.
While it's a little hard to judge since I know the show well before this re-watching, I think the pilot of That 70s Show does a great job of world building. The plot really isn't even that important here, the character development is. We really get to know the personalities of so many of the characters within the first couple minutes of the pilot. I also think it was a little gutsy of them to do a "getting high scene" in the pilot. I know that would become a staple of the show, but it could have been a turn off in the pilot and instead they went for it. It's handled with a lot of humor and the scene with high Eric talking to his parents is pretty funny. The episode loses some momentum when the kids head to the concert, but it still does a good job of building the 70s culture.
RATING: 7/10
2. Eric's Birthday (8/30/98)
Eric can't stop his mother from throwing a surprise birthday for him while he and Donna wrestle with their feelings for each other after their kiss.
Let me just say, the Petticoat Junction discussion is hilarious at the beginning of this episode even though most people watching it today probably don't even know what they're talking about in that scene. This episode is more consistently funny than the pilot as Kitty trying to hide the obvious fact that she's throwing a party for Eric. We also get to meet Lisa Robin Kelly as Eric's older sister, Laurie, in this episode. Although it's a little sad to watch Kelly now knowing what happened to her life, she is perfect for this part. Something that doesn't work in this episode (and didn't work in the pilot either) is the adults doing a voice-over for the kids (or vice-versa in the pilot). It is cheap laughs and brings the episode's momentum to a halt.
RATING: 8/10
1998-1999
25 episodes
That 70s Show kicked off its run with a season that establishes its large ensemble cast very well. For a show with this many characters, it really does a nice job giving everyone their times in the spotlight throughout the run. This season did not grade out as the highest but it was certainly the one that was most in tune with its 70s setting. There are more 70s-themed storylines and more attention to the detail of its time period than any future season.
Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (25 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (25 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (25 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (25 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (25 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (25 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (25 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (25 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (19 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (18 episodes)
Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman (9 episodes)
Eric gets his parents' Vista Crusier, but then disobeys them by taking it out of town where the car breaks down.
While it's a little hard to judge since I know the show well before this re-watching, I think the pilot of That 70s Show does a great job of world building. The plot really isn't even that important here, the character development is. We really get to know the personalities of so many of the characters within the first couple minutes of the pilot. I also think it was a little gutsy of them to do a "getting high scene" in the pilot. I know that would become a staple of the show, but it could have been a turn off in the pilot and instead they went for it. It's handled with a lot of humor and the scene with high Eric talking to his parents is pretty funny. The episode loses some momentum when the kids head to the concert, but it still does a good job of building the 70s culture.
RATING: 7/10
2. Eric's Birthday (8/30/98)
Eric can't stop his mother from throwing a surprise birthday for him while he and Donna wrestle with their feelings for each other after their kiss.
Let me just say, the Petticoat Junction discussion is hilarious at the beginning of this episode even though most people watching it today probably don't even know what they're talking about in that scene. This episode is more consistently funny than the pilot as Kitty trying to hide the obvious fact that she's throwing a party for Eric. We also get to meet Lisa Robin Kelly as Eric's older sister, Laurie, in this episode. Although it's a little sad to watch Kelly now knowing what happened to her life, she is perfect for this part. Something that doesn't work in this episode (and didn't work in the pilot either) is the adults doing a voice-over for the kids (or vice-versa in the pilot). It is cheap laughs and brings the episode's momentum to a halt.
RATING: 8/10
3. Streaking (9/6/98)
Eric and friends make a plan to streak across the gymnasium when President Ford is coming to Point Place.
That 70s Show has come up with some good plots to start its run. The idea of a bunch of high school kids streaking when the president comes to town is totally believable and seems like another 70s-era stunt (that may not happen today). This episode doesn't execute the plot as well as the first two do though. One problem the show has is not knowing when to quit a joke and that happens here with the lights above the heads. It's a very middling joke to begin with and then they run it into the ground. There's a few other moments that make me cringe more than laugh (like the Last Supper moment and the multiple trips from Ford). The climax of the episode with the streaking is pretty funny though.
RATING: 4/10
4. Battle of the Sexists (9/20/98)
Donna doesn't think it's a big deal that she beat Eric in basketball but her mother and Jackie disagree. Red is bored after his hours were cut back on the plant and he drives Kitty crazy by fixing things he doesn't need to.
That 70s Show always did a sneaky good job of dealing with gender issues while set in a decade where the world was changing. Not everything about this episode is graceful and it doesn't need to be, but it deals with it in a realistic way, especially a realistic way for teen boys and girls to interact then (and still now). You may learn in the coming episodes and seasons that I am not always the biggest fan of Laura Prepon, but she is really good in this episode feeling at odds between how she feels and what both her mother and friends are telling her. The side story of Red fixing things around the house is funny too mostly thanks to Debra Jo Rupp's reactions.
RATING: 8/10
5. Eric's Burger Job (9/27/98)
Eric gets a job at Fatso Burger over Kelso. Donna's parents are going to be out of town and Donna and Eric are tempted to do something.
This is an episode where That 70s Show can't seem to settle down and stick to a cohesive plot. The plot bouncing back and forth between Eric at Fatso Burger, Donna's party and furthering the Eric & Donna sexual tension just doesn't work. I wish they had stuck more to one plot. It's so interesting to watch shows from the 1990s compared to the 1970s and how often they used multiple plot lines compared to 70s shows which didn't often have real strong "B" stories, much less "C" or "D" stories. I think there are pros and cons to the two different approaches. Also there is a younger sister for Donna in this episode who is never heard from again. Finally, I love that That 70s Show routinely uses 1970s TV stars in guest roles but Danny Bonaduce is not one of my favorites.
RATING: 4/10
6. The Keg (10/25/98)
Eric and Donna find a keg in the road when they ditch study hall and decide to throw a party.
This episode has some funny moments with another good 70s-era plot line: a keg party. I realized watching this that That 70s Show is a show where in most episodes, I roll my eyes at least a couple times and laugh at least a couple times. It very much vacillates between being a sharp and funny comedy (like Kelso at the beginning with the keg location) and a pretty dumb show (like when Eric and company find the keg). At least in these early episodes though, it veers more towards being a funny comedy more often. Jackie's mom is played by Eve Plumb in this episode but there's a later arc for Jackie's mom where she's played by Brooke Shields.
RATING: 6.5/10
7. That Disco Episode (11/8/98)
Jackie and Kelso convince everyone to go to a disco. Hyde doesn't want to go because he can't dance so Kitty teaches him.
That 70s Show was really going hard on the 70s-era fads in these early episodes. And what bigger stereotypical 70s fad is there than a disco? The disco part of the episode is fun to watch even though I don't think the show does that good a job of investing in a potential love triangle. The dance lessons for Hyde are also fun. But the plot line where Bob and Midge think Kitty is having an affair with Hyde is a dumb miscommunication plot that goes on way too long. It wasn't until I watched the series back that I realized how sweet the early Eric and Donna relationship was and again here, there are some really sweet moments between them.
RATING: 6/10
8. Drive-In (11/15/98)
Eric and Donna go to a drive-in with Jackie and Kelso but aren't sure about how to act. Red and Kitty try to have a romantic night out that backfires.
This is the weakest episode so far in a strong early run for That 70s Show. It feels like an awful lot of setup for a funny ending. But it doesn't really pay off until the last two or three minutes and that does not make for a strong episode overall. The lead up to going to the drive-in and Red and Kitty at the restaurant does not elicit any laughs. It's not really until the bait and switch with making out in the car that the episode finally elicits some good moments and it's too little, too late. I will say one thing this show does quite well is making each character pretty prominent in a 22 minute episode. Although this episode doesn't have Bob and Midge in it, there are eight characters who all feel like they have their time in the episode.
RATING: 2.5/10
9. Thanksgiving (11/22/98)
On Thanksgiving, Eric is tempted when Laurie's hot college friend stays with them while Kitty tries to deal with the impending arrival of Red's overbearing mother.
The first of many holiday episodes of That 70s Show, there are some good moments here but I wish the episode had more to do with the fear of the arrival of Red's mother. I think it's kind of cool that we don't actually meet Grandma Forman in this episode because it does build her personality up for when we eventually do meet her. I think that storyline is a lot stronger than what is probably considered the "A" story about Laurie's hot friend. There's nothing really new to that standard plot of so many sitcoms and it seems too soon to be throwing friction into what they were developing between Eric and Donna.
RATING: 6.5/10
10. Sunday, Bloody Sunday (11/29/98)
Grandma Forman vgoes to church and visits with the family on a Sunday, driving Kitty crazy and keeping Eric from doing a term paper.
I wonder if this episode was supposed to air before the previous one considering the beginning sets it in "October 1976." That would kind of make my argument from the last episode moot about it being a good idea to not meet her yet. But whether it was the creators or FOX who flipped the order, I think it works for the better for this episode to air after "Thanksgiving." This episode features a tour de force by Marion Ross as Grandma Forman, a character very different from her Happy Days persona. This might also be the place to mention how well That 70s Show does the panning around the table. While most commonly used in their "stoner" scenes, I love when they turn that mechanism on its head a little bit and they do that here with the dinner table scene.
RATING: 9/10
11. Eric's Buddy (12/6/98)
Eric becomes good friends with his very wealthy lab partner who turns out to be gay. Red struggles to sell products at Bob's store.
A pretty famous episode with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a strong guest starring role, this episode deals with homosexuality in a very interesting way. It's interesting to watch today how a show made in the 90s but set in the 70s addresses the topic. There's three different sensibilities about this topic, but I think the show does a very effective job of how Eric would react and how this story would unfold in the 1970s. This would have been presented differently if it was actually filmed in the 70s and also probably if it was filmed today. While the main storyline is great, the rest of the episode (except for the best Fez moment to date - calling Gilligan "Jilligan") is pretty forgettable.
RATING: 7.5/10
12. The Best Christmas Ever (12/13/98)
Eric gets permission to hold a Christmas party in his basement and Laurie spikes the punch. Hyde wants to get a gift for Donna to express his feelings about her. Red has to work on Christmas Eve.
The first Christmas episode, this is a pretty fun one. There's a great sight gag with the bird flying out from out of the tree, some funny dynamics between Laurie and Eric, and the return of Grandma Forman in another strong performance by Marion Ross. This episode does all the great things an early Christmas episode should do, it allows us to spend time with the main characters in a fun and festive atmosphere. There isn't a ton of plot (the Hyde-Donna story is ill-advised) but it's just a fun episode. I will say, after a great line from Fez in the previous episode, I want to note that too often the show resorts to letting Fez just saying something outrageous (as he does about the Grinch at the beginning of this episode).
RATING: 7/10
13. Ski Trip (1/17/99)
The gang takes a ski trip to Jackie's cabin but Kelso breaks up with Jackie right before they go and gets uninvited. Hyde tries to woo Donna away from Eric on the trip. Red and Kitty fight about an old girlfriend of Red's.
This episode takes a couple storylines that have been brewing for awhile and deals with them more directly. Kelso breaks up with Jackie (temporarily) and they are able to mine some comedy from that although the whole plot of Kelso driving with the pervy trucker feels a little icky. The Hyde-Donna-Eric love triangle just doesn't work and it's a little annoying to see the show continuing to try in this episode. I love a good ski cabin episode, but this one ends up being a little disappointing. Even the Red and Kitty story, which is almost always good for a few laughs, isn't very funny.
RATING: 2.5/10
14. Stolen Car (1/24/99)
Kelso and the guys get arrested when he unknowingly buys a stolen car. Jackie debates when and how she and Kelso should have sex for the first time. Bob is upset when Midge wants to take a female empowerment class.
It seems over the last couple episodes that the show is starting to do A, B and C stories that overlap to some extent but are less connected than the first several of the season were. I liked the more singular focus episodes but this one is better than "Ski Trip." The storyline between Bob and Midge and Bob's very 70s-era response to Midge's desire to branch out of the kitchen is the most substance those two characters have had and they do it well. It's also one of the first times that Jackie and Donna bond and it's pretty funny when the characters comment themselves on that surprising pairing. The extended scene in jail isn't as funny as I think it could have been.
RATING: 5/10
15. That Wrestling Show (2/7/99)
The gang (including Red and Bob) go to see a professional wrestling match. After having sex, Jackie starts to do anything Kelso wants her to.
I will start here by saying that I have absolutely no interest in wrestling. So that makes this episode not that appealing to me from the jump and it's hard to really enjoy it. There are a couple funny moments (Red trying to bond with Eric at dinner and Hyde trying to buy a beer at the concession stand). It is interesting to see Dwayne Johnson guest starring in this show. No way Johnson would do an appearance like that now with the major star he has become since this episode first aired. Overall though, this is another episode that feels like it's meandering a little bit after the really strong start to the series.
RATING: 3/10
16. First Date (2/14/99)
Donna and Eric go on their first official date on Valentine's Day. Kelso starts to realize how much commitment Jackie wants after having sex.
I don't know why the show kept insisting on playing up the Hyde-Donna-Eric triangle early on in the run. It didn't really work for me at all so early in the show's run. It's something they should have waited on until they got Eric and Donna together. The interaction with the parents as Donna and Eric head out for their date is pretty hilarious with some great moments from Kitty. The episode goes south again when Donna gets drunk at the restaurant. Laura Prepon does not play drunk well at all, it's absolutely not believable and it makes for couple really rough scenes to get through. There are a couple other decent moments (the guys in The Circle at the end are funny) but it's not enough to save this episode from its A story.
RATING: 2/10
17. The Pill (2/21/99)
Jackie worries that she is pregnant. Donna considers going on birth control.
That 70s Show gets back on the topical 70s track with an episode about "the pill." It is not really handled with subtlety and that's ok, it's still pretty well done. There are some great moments like the moment in the pharmacy where Bob finds out Donna got birth control at the same time Eric and Laurie do. The extended black and white sequence with Bob is clever in concept but only so-so in execution. This is one of the first episodes that really focuses almost exclusively on the girls and that's nice to see.
RATING: 7/10
18. Career Day (2/28/99)
On Career Day, Eric goes to work at the hospital with Kitty, Hyde and Fez go with Hyde's mom, Kelso goes to work with his dad, Donna goes to work with Bob, and Jackie spends the day with Red.
This is a really well done episode because it juggles so many stories and does them all well. We get a rare glimpse at Kelso's dad, we get a strong guest turn by Katey Sagal as Hyde's mother and we get the very unusual pairing of Red and Jackie. There is not a single weak link in the many stories they choose to tell here. It is also the most sentimental and serious the show has gotten to date and it surprisingly pulls it off well. There are shades of The Wonder Years in this episode and that's fun to see. Among the many good plots, my favorite is the Kitty and Eric one. It really strengthens that core relationship of the show and we get to see more depth to the Kitty character. All in all, a very strong entry.
RATING: 9.5/10
19. Prom Night (3/7/99)
On Prom Night, Eric and Donna decide to get a motel room to have sex and Hyde goes with Jackie after Kelso decides to go with Pam Macy.
What's a good high school show without a prom episode? This episode has all the great 70s fashions in full glory and a couple fun moments. While it's always fun to hear Gloria Gaynor sing, this is a pretty flimsy story she's placed in that leads her to actually appear and sing "I Will Survive." That 70s Show sometimes had very clever uses of 70s stars and other times, it was lazy cameo appearances. This falls in the latter category. The rest of the plot is solid though. While it's an abrupt shift to have Hyde taking Jackie to the prom after his interest in Donna, there's some good moments for Kelso and Jackie and Hyde figures in in a much better way. The Donna and Eric material is good too.
RATING: 6.5/10
20. A New Hope (3/14/99)
The gang goes to see the Star Wars movie. Red goes back to work and his boss's son gets in the middle of Eric and Donna's relationship.
Full disclaimer, I am not a fan of the Star Wars franchise (I've only seen one movie in the franchise, it's not for me). That being said, I completely understand why a Star Wars tribute was needed on the show, especially since this episode originally aired just a couple months before The Phantom Menace hit theaters. The extended parody scene is one I'm sure many appreciate but I don't. The bigger issue is the problem with the Eric-Donna relationship: Laura Prepon just can't hold her own in acting scenes. A perfect example is the fight they have when Eric walks in on Donna and David (guest star Scott Whyte). Topher Grace has some really comedic moments but he's met with bad acting from Prepon and the scene falls flat.
RATING: 3.5/10
21. Water Tower (6/14/99)
While the gang is painting a pot leaf on the water tower, Kelso falls off and injures himself. Eric walks in on his parents having sex.
This is an episode where the beginning of the episode and the title imply it's mostly about the water tower when in fact it's really the "B" story that takes center stage for much of the episode. It's a pretty funny episode though with Eric living through every kid's worst nightmare. His wild reactions are pretty hilarious no matter who he's talking to starting with his high and mighty approach to sex after what he saw. There's even the first sign ever of sweetness between Eric and Laurie and a very funny one-liner by Red at the end of the episode. The other story, featuring a fight between Kelso and Hyde, is only ok.
RATING: 8/10
22. Punk Chick (6/21/99)
A traveling punk chick walks into The Hub and Hyde instantly falls in love with her. Jackie tries to learn about cooking from Kitty. Eric has trouble getting Donna's bra off while making out.
This episode is a little frenetic with a lot of different stories happening. "Career Day" proved that That 70s Show was capable of juggling a lot of stories well so I don't have a lot of sympathy for them not being able to make this as coherent. The most interesting storyline, by far, is Hyde potentially leaving home to run off with Chrissy (guest star Jade Gordon). I wish that story had been developed more because it was the best insight yet into Hyde as a character. Every other story, which does put some interesting pairings together, just feels a little bit "extra" here.
RATING: 5/10
23. Grandma's Dead (7/12/99)
Eric's grandmother dies while Eric is driving her home and no one is quite sure how to act since many disliked her. Eric and the gang get in a bar fight. Red re-connects with his brother.
This is a pretty darkly comedic episode of That 70s Show with an odd start where Eric is playing hoops while his dead grandmother sits in the car and also had a riff on the "circle" conceit with the various walk-ups to the casket. I think this was a really interesting episode but I wish it had come later in the series because I wish we had gotten much more of Marion Ross on the show (though she does make one more appearance in Season 2). One thing I appreciate about That 70s Show is it never gets that sentimental. Sure, there are a few sweet moments here and I really like sentimentality in other shows. But this didn't set out to be The Wonder Years. It has its own voice and it stuck to it even when dealing with serious subjects (usually).
RATING: 8/10
24. Hyde Moves In (7/19/99)
Hyde moves in with the Formans when his mom leaves town. Bob and Midge fight about feminism. Kelso sees Jackie without makeup when she's sick and it freaks him out.
This is a good Hyde-centered story that serves as the "A" story but I once again feel as though it doesn't get enough attention. While the Kelso-Jackie stuff is funny, the Bob and Midge subplot was unnecessary and just took up precious time from a better story. We also get Donna in The Circle and she's an equally bad actress at being high as she is at being drunk. But the main story is a really interesting contrast about Hyde's life and Eric's life, something that probably many have experienced at some point in their lives and it can be eye-opening on both sides. It also is the beginning of Hyde living with the Formans, which became a major part of the series.
RATING: 6/10
25. The Good Son (7/26/99)
While Hyde is living with the Formans, he starts to become the "favorite son" due to his willingness to help out. An old friend of Red's visits and the adults discover that they're swingers.
The first season of That 70s Show ends with quite a few 70s references including a funny Fez moment with Pop Rocks in the beginning. The show also deals with swingers, which is handled in a funny but sort of predictable way. The best thing about this episode is how That 70s Show once again almost always refuses to be sentimental. The main plot of this episode was Eric being jealous of Hyde for becoming the favorite son and then Hyde trying to take the blame when Eric makes a dumb decision to patch things up. While this could have ended with a sweet father and son moment, it instead ends with Red chastising both of them and leaving it at that. Once again, it's good to see a show knowing what it wants to be and sticking to it.
RATING: 7.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON ONE:
6.0/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Career Day" (#18) - 9.5/10
2. "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" (#10) - 9/10
3. "Eric's Birthday" (#2) - 8/10
4. "Battle of the Sexists" (#4) - 8/10
5. "Grandma's Dead" (#23) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "First Date" (#16) - 2/10
2. "Drive-In" (#8) - 2.5/10
3. "Ski Trip" (#13) - 2.5/10
4. "That Wrestling Show" (#15) - 3/10
5. "A New Hope" (#20) - 3.5/10
Eric and friends make a plan to streak across the gymnasium when President Ford is coming to Point Place.
That 70s Show has come up with some good plots to start its run. The idea of a bunch of high school kids streaking when the president comes to town is totally believable and seems like another 70s-era stunt (that may not happen today). This episode doesn't execute the plot as well as the first two do though. One problem the show has is not knowing when to quit a joke and that happens here with the lights above the heads. It's a very middling joke to begin with and then they run it into the ground. There's a few other moments that make me cringe more than laugh (like the Last Supper moment and the multiple trips from Ford). The climax of the episode with the streaking is pretty funny though.
RATING: 4/10
Donna doesn't think it's a big deal that she beat Eric in basketball but her mother and Jackie disagree. Red is bored after his hours were cut back on the plant and he drives Kitty crazy by fixing things he doesn't need to.
That 70s Show always did a sneaky good job of dealing with gender issues while set in a decade where the world was changing. Not everything about this episode is graceful and it doesn't need to be, but it deals with it in a realistic way, especially a realistic way for teen boys and girls to interact then (and still now). You may learn in the coming episodes and seasons that I am not always the biggest fan of Laura Prepon, but she is really good in this episode feeling at odds between how she feels and what both her mother and friends are telling her. The side story of Red fixing things around the house is funny too mostly thanks to Debra Jo Rupp's reactions.
RATING: 8/10
5. Eric's Burger Job (9/27/98)
Eric gets a job at Fatso Burger over Kelso. Donna's parents are going to be out of town and Donna and Eric are tempted to do something.
This is an episode where That 70s Show can't seem to settle down and stick to a cohesive plot. The plot bouncing back and forth between Eric at Fatso Burger, Donna's party and furthering the Eric & Donna sexual tension just doesn't work. I wish they had stuck more to one plot. It's so interesting to watch shows from the 1990s compared to the 1970s and how often they used multiple plot lines compared to 70s shows which didn't often have real strong "B" stories, much less "C" or "D" stories. I think there are pros and cons to the two different approaches. Also there is a younger sister for Donna in this episode who is never heard from again. Finally, I love that That 70s Show routinely uses 1970s TV stars in guest roles but Danny Bonaduce is not one of my favorites.
RATING: 4/10
6. The Keg (10/25/98)
Eric and Donna find a keg in the road when they ditch study hall and decide to throw a party.
This episode has some funny moments with another good 70s-era plot line: a keg party. I realized watching this that That 70s Show is a show where in most episodes, I roll my eyes at least a couple times and laugh at least a couple times. It very much vacillates between being a sharp and funny comedy (like Kelso at the beginning with the keg location) and a pretty dumb show (like when Eric and company find the keg). At least in these early episodes though, it veers more towards being a funny comedy more often. Jackie's mom is played by Eve Plumb in this episode but there's a later arc for Jackie's mom where she's played by Brooke Shields.
RATING: 6.5/10
Jackie and Kelso convince everyone to go to a disco. Hyde doesn't want to go because he can't dance so Kitty teaches him.
That 70s Show was really going hard on the 70s-era fads in these early episodes. And what bigger stereotypical 70s fad is there than a disco? The disco part of the episode is fun to watch even though I don't think the show does that good a job of investing in a potential love triangle. The dance lessons for Hyde are also fun. But the plot line where Bob and Midge think Kitty is having an affair with Hyde is a dumb miscommunication plot that goes on way too long. It wasn't until I watched the series back that I realized how sweet the early Eric and Donna relationship was and again here, there are some really sweet moments between them.
RATING: 6/10
8. Drive-In (11/15/98)
Eric and Donna go to a drive-in with Jackie and Kelso but aren't sure about how to act. Red and Kitty try to have a romantic night out that backfires.
This is the weakest episode so far in a strong early run for That 70s Show. It feels like an awful lot of setup for a funny ending. But it doesn't really pay off until the last two or three minutes and that does not make for a strong episode overall. The lead up to going to the drive-in and Red and Kitty at the restaurant does not elicit any laughs. It's not really until the bait and switch with making out in the car that the episode finally elicits some good moments and it's too little, too late. I will say one thing this show does quite well is making each character pretty prominent in a 22 minute episode. Although this episode doesn't have Bob and Midge in it, there are eight characters who all feel like they have their time in the episode.
RATING: 2.5/10
9. Thanksgiving (11/22/98)
On Thanksgiving, Eric is tempted when Laurie's hot college friend stays with them while Kitty tries to deal with the impending arrival of Red's overbearing mother.
The first of many holiday episodes of That 70s Show, there are some good moments here but I wish the episode had more to do with the fear of the arrival of Red's mother. I think it's kind of cool that we don't actually meet Grandma Forman in this episode because it does build her personality up for when we eventually do meet her. I think that storyline is a lot stronger than what is probably considered the "A" story about Laurie's hot friend. There's nothing really new to that standard plot of so many sitcoms and it seems too soon to be throwing friction into what they were developing between Eric and Donna.
RATING: 6.5/10
Grandma Forman vgoes to church and visits with the family on a Sunday, driving Kitty crazy and keeping Eric from doing a term paper.
I wonder if this episode was supposed to air before the previous one considering the beginning sets it in "October 1976." That would kind of make my argument from the last episode moot about it being a good idea to not meet her yet. But whether it was the creators or FOX who flipped the order, I think it works for the better for this episode to air after "Thanksgiving." This episode features a tour de force by Marion Ross as Grandma Forman, a character very different from her Happy Days persona. This might also be the place to mention how well That 70s Show does the panning around the table. While most commonly used in their "stoner" scenes, I love when they turn that mechanism on its head a little bit and they do that here with the dinner table scene.
RATING: 9/10
11. Eric's Buddy (12/6/98)
Eric becomes good friends with his very wealthy lab partner who turns out to be gay. Red struggles to sell products at Bob's store.
A pretty famous episode with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a strong guest starring role, this episode deals with homosexuality in a very interesting way. It's interesting to watch today how a show made in the 90s but set in the 70s addresses the topic. There's three different sensibilities about this topic, but I think the show does a very effective job of how Eric would react and how this story would unfold in the 1970s. This would have been presented differently if it was actually filmed in the 70s and also probably if it was filmed today. While the main storyline is great, the rest of the episode (except for the best Fez moment to date - calling Gilligan "Jilligan") is pretty forgettable.
RATING: 7.5/10
12. The Best Christmas Ever (12/13/98)
Eric gets permission to hold a Christmas party in his basement and Laurie spikes the punch. Hyde wants to get a gift for Donna to express his feelings about her. Red has to work on Christmas Eve.
The first Christmas episode, this is a pretty fun one. There's a great sight gag with the bird flying out from out of the tree, some funny dynamics between Laurie and Eric, and the return of Grandma Forman in another strong performance by Marion Ross. This episode does all the great things an early Christmas episode should do, it allows us to spend time with the main characters in a fun and festive atmosphere. There isn't a ton of plot (the Hyde-Donna story is ill-advised) but it's just a fun episode. I will say, after a great line from Fez in the previous episode, I want to note that too often the show resorts to letting Fez just saying something outrageous (as he does about the Grinch at the beginning of this episode).
RATING: 7/10
13. Ski Trip (1/17/99)
The gang takes a ski trip to Jackie's cabin but Kelso breaks up with Jackie right before they go and gets uninvited. Hyde tries to woo Donna away from Eric on the trip. Red and Kitty fight about an old girlfriend of Red's.
This episode takes a couple storylines that have been brewing for awhile and deals with them more directly. Kelso breaks up with Jackie (temporarily) and they are able to mine some comedy from that although the whole plot of Kelso driving with the pervy trucker feels a little icky. The Hyde-Donna-Eric love triangle just doesn't work and it's a little annoying to see the show continuing to try in this episode. I love a good ski cabin episode, but this one ends up being a little disappointing. Even the Red and Kitty story, which is almost always good for a few laughs, isn't very funny.
RATING: 2.5/10
Kelso and the guys get arrested when he unknowingly buys a stolen car. Jackie debates when and how she and Kelso should have sex for the first time. Bob is upset when Midge wants to take a female empowerment class.
It seems over the last couple episodes that the show is starting to do A, B and C stories that overlap to some extent but are less connected than the first several of the season were. I liked the more singular focus episodes but this one is better than "Ski Trip." The storyline between Bob and Midge and Bob's very 70s-era response to Midge's desire to branch out of the kitchen is the most substance those two characters have had and they do it well. It's also one of the first times that Jackie and Donna bond and it's pretty funny when the characters comment themselves on that surprising pairing. The extended scene in jail isn't as funny as I think it could have been.
RATING: 5/10
15. That Wrestling Show (2/7/99)
The gang (including Red and Bob) go to see a professional wrestling match. After having sex, Jackie starts to do anything Kelso wants her to.
I will start here by saying that I have absolutely no interest in wrestling. So that makes this episode not that appealing to me from the jump and it's hard to really enjoy it. There are a couple funny moments (Red trying to bond with Eric at dinner and Hyde trying to buy a beer at the concession stand). It is interesting to see Dwayne Johnson guest starring in this show. No way Johnson would do an appearance like that now with the major star he has become since this episode first aired. Overall though, this is another episode that feels like it's meandering a little bit after the really strong start to the series.
RATING: 3/10
16. First Date (2/14/99)
Donna and Eric go on their first official date on Valentine's Day. Kelso starts to realize how much commitment Jackie wants after having sex.
I don't know why the show kept insisting on playing up the Hyde-Donna-Eric triangle early on in the run. It didn't really work for me at all so early in the show's run. It's something they should have waited on until they got Eric and Donna together. The interaction with the parents as Donna and Eric head out for their date is pretty hilarious with some great moments from Kitty. The episode goes south again when Donna gets drunk at the restaurant. Laura Prepon does not play drunk well at all, it's absolutely not believable and it makes for couple really rough scenes to get through. There are a couple other decent moments (the guys in The Circle at the end are funny) but it's not enough to save this episode from its A story.
RATING: 2/10
17. The Pill (2/21/99)
Jackie worries that she is pregnant. Donna considers going on birth control.
That 70s Show gets back on the topical 70s track with an episode about "the pill." It is not really handled with subtlety and that's ok, it's still pretty well done. There are some great moments like the moment in the pharmacy where Bob finds out Donna got birth control at the same time Eric and Laurie do. The extended black and white sequence with Bob is clever in concept but only so-so in execution. This is one of the first episodes that really focuses almost exclusively on the girls and that's nice to see.
RATING: 7/10
On Career Day, Eric goes to work at the hospital with Kitty, Hyde and Fez go with Hyde's mom, Kelso goes to work with his dad, Donna goes to work with Bob, and Jackie spends the day with Red.
This is a really well done episode because it juggles so many stories and does them all well. We get a rare glimpse at Kelso's dad, we get a strong guest turn by Katey Sagal as Hyde's mother and we get the very unusual pairing of Red and Jackie. There is not a single weak link in the many stories they choose to tell here. It is also the most sentimental and serious the show has gotten to date and it surprisingly pulls it off well. There are shades of The Wonder Years in this episode and that's fun to see. Among the many good plots, my favorite is the Kitty and Eric one. It really strengthens that core relationship of the show and we get to see more depth to the Kitty character. All in all, a very strong entry.
RATING: 9.5/10
19. Prom Night (3/7/99)
On Prom Night, Eric and Donna decide to get a motel room to have sex and Hyde goes with Jackie after Kelso decides to go with Pam Macy.
What's a good high school show without a prom episode? This episode has all the great 70s fashions in full glory and a couple fun moments. While it's always fun to hear Gloria Gaynor sing, this is a pretty flimsy story she's placed in that leads her to actually appear and sing "I Will Survive." That 70s Show sometimes had very clever uses of 70s stars and other times, it was lazy cameo appearances. This falls in the latter category. The rest of the plot is solid though. While it's an abrupt shift to have Hyde taking Jackie to the prom after his interest in Donna, there's some good moments for Kelso and Jackie and Hyde figures in in a much better way. The Donna and Eric material is good too.
RATING: 6.5/10
20. A New Hope (3/14/99)
The gang goes to see the Star Wars movie. Red goes back to work and his boss's son gets in the middle of Eric and Donna's relationship.
Full disclaimer, I am not a fan of the Star Wars franchise (I've only seen one movie in the franchise, it's not for me). That being said, I completely understand why a Star Wars tribute was needed on the show, especially since this episode originally aired just a couple months before The Phantom Menace hit theaters. The extended parody scene is one I'm sure many appreciate but I don't. The bigger issue is the problem with the Eric-Donna relationship: Laura Prepon just can't hold her own in acting scenes. A perfect example is the fight they have when Eric walks in on Donna and David (guest star Scott Whyte). Topher Grace has some really comedic moments but he's met with bad acting from Prepon and the scene falls flat.
RATING: 3.5/10
21. Water Tower (6/14/99)
While the gang is painting a pot leaf on the water tower, Kelso falls off and injures himself. Eric walks in on his parents having sex.
This is an episode where the beginning of the episode and the title imply it's mostly about the water tower when in fact it's really the "B" story that takes center stage for much of the episode. It's a pretty funny episode though with Eric living through every kid's worst nightmare. His wild reactions are pretty hilarious no matter who he's talking to starting with his high and mighty approach to sex after what he saw. There's even the first sign ever of sweetness between Eric and Laurie and a very funny one-liner by Red at the end of the episode. The other story, featuring a fight between Kelso and Hyde, is only ok.
RATING: 8/10
A traveling punk chick walks into The Hub and Hyde instantly falls in love with her. Jackie tries to learn about cooking from Kitty. Eric has trouble getting Donna's bra off while making out.
This episode is a little frenetic with a lot of different stories happening. "Career Day" proved that That 70s Show was capable of juggling a lot of stories well so I don't have a lot of sympathy for them not being able to make this as coherent. The most interesting storyline, by far, is Hyde potentially leaving home to run off with Chrissy (guest star Jade Gordon). I wish that story had been developed more because it was the best insight yet into Hyde as a character. Every other story, which does put some interesting pairings together, just feels a little bit "extra" here.
RATING: 5/10
23. Grandma's Dead (7/12/99)
Eric's grandmother dies while Eric is driving her home and no one is quite sure how to act since many disliked her. Eric and the gang get in a bar fight. Red re-connects with his brother.
This is a pretty darkly comedic episode of That 70s Show with an odd start where Eric is playing hoops while his dead grandmother sits in the car and also had a riff on the "circle" conceit with the various walk-ups to the casket. I think this was a really interesting episode but I wish it had come later in the series because I wish we had gotten much more of Marion Ross on the show (though she does make one more appearance in Season 2). One thing I appreciate about That 70s Show is it never gets that sentimental. Sure, there are a few sweet moments here and I really like sentimentality in other shows. But this didn't set out to be The Wonder Years. It has its own voice and it stuck to it even when dealing with serious subjects (usually).
RATING: 8/10
24. Hyde Moves In (7/19/99)
Hyde moves in with the Formans when his mom leaves town. Bob and Midge fight about feminism. Kelso sees Jackie without makeup when she's sick and it freaks him out.
This is a good Hyde-centered story that serves as the "A" story but I once again feel as though it doesn't get enough attention. While the Kelso-Jackie stuff is funny, the Bob and Midge subplot was unnecessary and just took up precious time from a better story. We also get Donna in The Circle and she's an equally bad actress at being high as she is at being drunk. But the main story is a really interesting contrast about Hyde's life and Eric's life, something that probably many have experienced at some point in their lives and it can be eye-opening on both sides. It also is the beginning of Hyde living with the Formans, which became a major part of the series.
RATING: 6/10
While Hyde is living with the Formans, he starts to become the "favorite son" due to his willingness to help out. An old friend of Red's visits and the adults discover that they're swingers.
The first season of That 70s Show ends with quite a few 70s references including a funny Fez moment with Pop Rocks in the beginning. The show also deals with swingers, which is handled in a funny but sort of predictable way. The best thing about this episode is how That 70s Show once again almost always refuses to be sentimental. The main plot of this episode was Eric being jealous of Hyde for becoming the favorite son and then Hyde trying to take the blame when Eric makes a dumb decision to patch things up. While this could have ended with a sweet father and son moment, it instead ends with Red chastising both of them and leaving it at that. Once again, it's good to see a show knowing what it wants to be and sticking to it.
RATING: 7.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON ONE:
6.0/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Career Day" (#18) - 9.5/10
2. "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" (#10) - 9/10
3. "Eric's Birthday" (#2) - 8/10
4. "Battle of the Sexists" (#4) - 8/10
5. "Grandma's Dead" (#23) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "First Date" (#16) - 2/10
2. "Drive-In" (#8) - 2.5/10
3. "Ski Trip" (#13) - 2.5/10
4. "That Wrestling Show" (#15) - 3/10
5. "A New Hope" (#20) - 3.5/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season 2 of That 70s Show!
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