That '90s Show
That '90s Show
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That '90s Show

"Growing up is harder than it looks."

6.7
Yr 2023
Status Canceled
Comedy
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

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 dies, it just changes clothes.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 55 /100

That '90s Show received a mixed critical reception, largely defined by its reliance on nostalgia. Many critics regarded the series as effective television comfort food that successfully captures the aesthetic of its predecessor while avoiding the bloated episode runtimes common to Netflix productions. The return of beloved original characters provides an amiable energy that anchors the reboot.

However, the show faced criticism for struggling to establish an identity of its own, with some reviewers finding the new ensemble cast dull and the comedy periodically forced. While some appreciated its low-stakes "hang-out" vibe, others felt the writing leaned too heavily on recreating the dynamics of the original series, leading to predictable or hackneyed results.

“It's nostalgic in all the right places but struggles to find its own identity”

“It’s television comfort food that has no other ambition than giving its target audience a heavy dose of nostalgia.”

“The show is described as retaining an amiable hang-out energy, distinguishing it from more desperate reboot attempts.”

“The series is criticized for feeling like an update of a hackneyed sitcom that recreates original dynamics with little new effort.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The appeal of That 90s Show lies in the rare sitcom bridge between generations. By returning to the familiar basement setting in Point Place, the series grounds high school growing pains in a specific mid-nineties aesthetic. It balances the sunny, feel-good optimism of first love and summer friendships with the recurring friction created by older characters who refuse to change their ways.

Kurtwood Smith anchors the production by maintaining a consistent, grumpy authority that contrasts sharply with the shifts in teenage culture. The humor relies on the predictability of this dynamic, where the anxieties of a new group of adolescents collide with the stubborn traditions of the previous era. It functions as a comfortable exercise in nostalgia, focusing on how relationships evolve even when the surroundings remain largely the same.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 44
Regulars 3
Longest run 7 eps
Kurtwood Smith
Kurtwood Smith
as Red Forman
Debra Jo Rupp
Debra Jo Rupp
as Kitty Forman
Callie Haverda
Callie Haverda
as Leia Forman
Ashley Aufderheide
Ashley Aufderheide
as Gwen Runck
Mace Coronel
Mace Coronel
as Jay Kelso
Reyn Doi
Reyn Doi
as Ozzie
Sam Morelos
Sam Morelos
as Nikki
Maxwell Acee Donovan
Maxwell Acee Donovan
as Nate Runck
Show 36 more
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti-Forman 5 episodes Topher Grace as Eric Forman 1 episode Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart 1 episode Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso 1 episode Wilmer Valderrama as Fez 3 episodes Andrea Anders as Sherri Runck 7 episodes Tommy Chong as Leo 3 episodes Rhett George as George 1 episode Julian Zane as Jake 1 episode Diego Parra as Kevin 1 episode Mona Lee Wylde as Marion 1 episode Olivia Sanabia as Serena 2 episodes Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti 6 episodes Brian Austin Green as Brian Austin Green 1 episode Indar Smith as Trevor 1 episode Tyler Joseph Ellis as Waiter 1 episode Gabrielle Sanalitro as Mama 1 episode Luke Millington-Drake as Wade 1 episode Andrew Hawtrey as Salesperson 1 episode Kandis Mak as Mom 1 episode Kelli Dawn Hancock as Security Guard 1 episode Hudson Sanford as Guy 1 episode Jim Rash as Fenton 2 episodes Lisa Loeb as Self 1 episode Seth Green as Mitch 1 episode Carmen Electra as Self 1 episode Niles Fitch as Cole Carson 3 episodes Eden Rose Ginsberg as Stacy 2 episodes Will Forte as Kiefer 1 episode Wayne Knight as Bruce 1 episode Matt Rife as Travis 1 episode Jason Mewes as Bunch 3 episodes Kevin Smith as Sonny 3 episodes Kira Kosarin as Betsy Kelso 3 episodes Cedric Yarbrough as Otis 1 episode Mike Mizanin as The Party Animal 1 episode
Signal Match

Similarity

Where That '90s Show overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

high school first love sitcom 1990s teenager mischievous hilarious feelgood
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
January 19, 2023
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
224