That ’90s Show: Plot, Cast, Release Date, And More

One of our favorite sitcoms from the ‘90s through the early 2000s was That ‘70s Show, so when we heard that it was getting a new spin-off, we couldn’t wait to take a seat in the Forman family’s basement once again, even with the risk of Red putting his foot up our asses. Although viewers are apprehensive about this show so far, mainly because they are certain nothing could live up to That 70s show, they are willing it give a fair shot, and so are we!

So, if you’re ready to be hit with some nostalgia and a mix of modern-day comedy, then That ‘90s Show is the one for you. Keep reading to learn everything we know so far about Netflix’s That ‘90s Show, from the plot, to the cast, to the release date and more:

Same Red and Kitty. Different decade. #that90sshow #that70sshow #sneakpeek @netflix pic.twitter.com/Z22a2oqcnb

— Kurtwood Smith (@tahitismith) April 30, 2022

What Is The Plot of That ‘90s Show?

The original series, That ‘70s Show, revolved around the lives of six teenage friends growing up in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, between May 17, 1976, and December 31, 1979. The teens spend a good amount of their time hanging out in Eric Forman’s parents’ basement, frequently philosophizing and problem-solving while seated in a hazy circle, smoking marijuana.

Netflix published its official description of the spin-off series as follows:

“Hello, Wisconsin! It’s 1995 and Leia Forman, daughter of Eric and Donna, is visiting her grandparents for the summer where she bonds with a new generation of Point Place kids under the watchful eye of Kitty and the stern glare of Red. Sex, drugs, and rock n roll never die, it just changes clothes.”

The original series addressed social issues of the 1970s, including the economic recession, sexual attitudes, and recreational drug use. There are plenty of references to the fashion and pop culture of the decade, including sporting events, video games, Star Wars, and new gadgets like the television remote.

We’re very curious to see which aspects of 1990s culture will be featured on That ‘90s Show. Will Leia and her friends be fans of grunge music, or do we think they’ll be sneaking out on a school night to see their favorite boy band in concert? As a child of the ‘90s, I remember owning a lot of brightly-colored animal print items, as well as several Tamagotchi pets and my fair share of jelly shoes and butterfly clips. It will be fun to see which world events, celebrities, and technology will be featured. 

The Cast of That ‘90s Show

The cast of That ‘90s Show consists of plenty of old and new faces. Callie Haverda, who has starred in a number of television commercials and short films, will star as Leia, Eric Forman, and Donna Pinciotti’s daughter. Leia makes friends with the Riot grrrl Gwen next door, portrayed by Ashley Aufderheide, who recently appeared as Mia on ABC’s mystery thriller series Emergence. Gwen introduces Leia to her brother and friends, all of whom are portrayed by some newer names in Hollywood.

Maxwell Acee Donovan portrays Gwen’s lovable brother Nate. Donovan is known for his roles in 2016’s Good Kids and the Disney Channel series Gabby Duran & the Unsittables. Nate’s smart and laser-focused girlfriend Nikki is played by Sam Morelos, an up-and-comer who has appeared in several short films before That ‘90s Show. Rounding out the cast are Mace Coronel as Jay, an aspiring videographer, and Reyn Doi as Ozzie, an openly gay teen. Coronel is an established actor with multiple credits to his name, one of his most recognizable being the role of Dicky Harper on Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, & Dawn. Doi has been featured in several commercials, but he is best known for his role in Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar, alongside Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.

Both Topher Grace and Laura Prepon are returning to their roles as Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti, the high school sweethearts from the original series. Some of Grace’s more recognizable roles are Eddie Brock/Venom in 2007’s Spider-Man 3 and Tom on the ABC sitcom Home Economics. With the exception of her participation on That ‘70s Show, Prepon is probably best known for portraying Alex Vause on the Netflix comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black from 2013-2019.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis will reprise their roles as Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart, respectively. Married in real life, Kutcher and Kunis share a son and a daughter. Most recently, Kutcher appeared as Quinten Sellers in B.J. Novak’s black comedy film Vengeance in 2022. A prolific actress, Kunis most recently starred in and produced the mystery thriller film Luckiest Girl Alive.

Wilmer Valderrama returns as Fez, the horny foreign exchange student whose real name and country of origin have yet to be revealed. Recently, Valderrama voiced the roles of Gaxton in Disney’s Onward and Agustín Madrigal in Disney’s Encanto. Comedian Tommy Chong is reprising his role as Leo, the hippie owner of a Foto Hut. In 2019m he participated in the reality competition The Masked Singer.

Last, but certainly not least, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith star as Leia’s grandparents, Kitty and Red Forman. Fans of the original series can’t wait to hear Red call a new generation of Forman “dumbass”. We’ve also missed Kitty’s cigarette cravings and wild attempts to catch the attention of her husband and other family members.

When and Where Can You Watch That ‘90s Show?

Season 1 of That ‘90s Show will be available to stream on Netflix beginning Thursday, January 19, 2023. Ten episodes were ordered for the season, and much like other original series from Netflix, we expect that they will all be available to stream on the same day. We don’t know the future of this series just yet, but if That 90s Show is nearly as successful as That 70s Show, we definitely will be seeing more of it.

Is There a Trailer for That ‘90s Show?

Netflix released the Official Teaser for the series on November 29, 2022, and it already has racked up over 5 million views! Many folks in the comments are fans of the original series and excited for the new one. Several folks commented on the chemistry between Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, claiming it never left.

Conclusion

More than 20 years after the original series premiered, we are so ready to dive into the story of the Formans and what we’ve missed since December 31, 1979. This is going to be an incredibly funny watch and will introduce a new generation to the comedy and family we’ve so loved.