When Netflix releases That ‘90s Show on Thursday, Jan. 19, fans of That ‘70s Show will take a trip down memory lane with a cast that already took them on a trip down memory lane.
Eric Forman and the gang brought out the nostalgia of the 1970s during a run of eight seasons from 1998-2006. A group of young actors developed great chemistry and nailed the comradery of of a group of not-so-serious teenagers living under their parents’ watch in the (fictional) dull town of Point Place, Wisconsin.
The show even jumpstarted the career of popular Hollywood stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
One of the best elements of That ‘70s Show was the consistent dedication to the setting in the context of its time period.
Classic rock (what we now call classic rock) played a central role in the culture of the 1970s. The six main teenage characters have great taste in rock music, and most of their parents demonize it.
The writers tied in creative references to some of the greatest Rock & Rollers of all time in all eight seasons. Donna’s part-time job at a local rock radio station created opportunities to base episodes around music plots during the early seasons. Hyde’s father’s record store business became a similar avenue for clever music references during the late seasons.
Some of the references became central to the plot of individual episodes. The gang attends multiple rock concerts in their area, and big name music celebrities made cameo appearances throughout the show.
Other references had more subtlety. The creators started using the names of classic rock songs as episode titles during the later seasons. The characterization, especially with the costuming, depended heavily on the use of music.
It’s tough to find an episode of That ’70s Show without some reference to Rock & Roll legends of the 1970s, but 10 stood out above the rest.