Netflix has officially given the green light for That ’90s show, which is a sequel to Terry Turner and Bonnie Turner’s hit That’70s Show. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith will be the anchors of the spinoff. They will reprise their roles as Red Forman or Kitty Forman. They will co-executive produce That ’90s Show with Gregg Mettler, a former That ’70s Show host, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner and their daughter Lindsay Turner.
The ’90s Show is set in Wisconsin in 1995. It follows Leia Forman (daughter of Eric (Topher Grace), and Donna (Laura Prepon), as she visits her grandparents for the summer. She bonds with a new generation Point Place kids, under the watchful eyes of Kitty, and the harsh glare of Red. It doesn’t matter if you’re into drugs, sex, or rock ‘n roll, it’s just that the clothes don’t change.
The new series will not have any deals with cast members of That ’70s show, but there are expectations that Grace, Prepon, and Ashton Kutcher will be guest stars, reprising their roles.
Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner executive produced 10 episodes of That ’90s Show. They also produced That ’70s Show and That 80s Show.
There has been much talk about a new version of That ’70s show for many years. Netflix is particularly interested in the idea due to the large viewership that That ’70s show drew before it was shut down in September 2020. Mettler, Bonnie Terry, Lindsay Turner and Terry Turner developed the idea late last year and quickly became a Netflix project.
From 1998 to 2006, the ’70s Show aired eight seasons on Fox. The period sitcom, which focused on six teenage friends who lived in a fictional Wisconsin town called Point Place from May 17, 1976 to December 31, 1979, featured Grace, Prepon and Kutcher as well as Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson and Laura Wilmer Valderrama. Rupp and Smith starred in the older cast of the show, often taking their scenes.
Fox launched That ’80s Show to capitalize on the success of That 70s. It only lasted for a few months and was cancelled in May 2002. It was set in 1984 and did not have a direct sequel. However, the main characters from each series, Eric Forman (Grace), and Corey Howard (Glenn Howerton), were first cousins.
After moving to San Diego to host That ’80s, the franchise is now returning to Wisconsin to present That ’90s.
This is the second classic Carsey/Werner sitcom that has a follow-up. It was joined by Roseanne, which was revived on ABC and became The Conners.
Artists & Representatives represents Rupp and Wright Entertainment manages Rupp. Pop Art Management and Progressive Artists Agency represent Smith. UTA and Ken Richman rep Mettler, whose latest work includes Fox’s Call Me Kat. Gendler & Kelly represent the Turners.
