What do you think the biggest problem is with the show now? Everyone agrees that it's gone down hill, but my question to you all--what, in your opinion, has been the main problem in the show's decline?

For me, I think the show has lost focus of its characters. Eric has become too quirky and has regressed in maturity. Alcohol jokes about Kitty aren't funny and I'm still not sure when that became such a running gag. Kelso is too stupid and it's not even smart stupidity from the writers--he's just an idiot. Hyde and Jackie don't work well together and there's no on-screen romantic chemistry no matter how hard they try.

Also, the laugh track is out of control. You can't enjoy a joke because the laugh track drowns out everything and it's so obviously fake that it's almost insulting. Things that aren't funny at all are getting ten minute laughs. I hate it.

Your thoughts?

i totally agree with u about the hyde and jackie no chemistry thing. and the alcohal jokes are from kitty's metopause and there getting kind of old. and i also think that the hyde and jackie has taken away hydes coolness he seems different with jackie it totally screwed his character up. and i also think they should have more storylines involving bob he's really funny and they could come up with great jokes involving him. and i thought kelso and jackie made a much better couple there both shallow and stupid it was so funny and fez needs a girl:D :rolleyes: :cool: :p

It's a lot of things.

They really have screwed up the characters. Eric's become pathetic. Fez has become a perverted, candy-obsessed, idiotic voyeur. Jackie was starting to become mature in season 5, now she's shallow again.

And they have some really bad storylines, like Kelso knocking up Brooke, come on, babies aren't funny and ruin shows. And Kitty being an alcoholic isn't funny either.

And it's just not funny anymore. It lost the charm it had in seasons 1-4.

What's wrong with the show?Too much changes.
Who would thought that Jackie and Hyde would
fall in love when the show started?They used to
hate each others.Now,they're all over.Come on!
Hyde is not the rebelious character that he used
to be,Jackie is still the bich that she was.Kelso a
father?He has hardest time to take care of himself.
What is he going to do with a baby?May be if it was
Kitty who was pregnant.Eric is not wise-cracking guy
that he was before.Just because you loose your viginity
it's not necessary means that you become a jerk.Fez
was so kind and sweet now, he's just crazy.He need a
girl quickly.My guess is that the writers don't have
good stories anymore,they run out of ideas.Too bad it
was a very funny show once:(

ok im gonna answer a few of ur questions with what i think...

i agree that the show has gone down hill but not enough for me to stop watching it. i still think its funny just not as funny.

eric i have noticed has become more of a smartass but not like he use to be. its more of a im not gonna take ur **** i have to try too hard to be a smartass. thats what bugs me about him. it seems like a lot of the funny parts are pushed too hard :( i still like the alcohol jokes about kitty and they started cuz when she hit menopause, she started drinking more.

Also, the laugh track is out of control. You can't enjoy a joke because the laugh track drowns out everything and it's so obviously fake that it's almost insulting. Things that aren't funny at all are getting ten minute laughs. I hate it.

i dont see why theres a laugh track. i mean ppl actually go to the taping and sit there and laugh. i know a couple of ppl who do attend the show.

i also think that the hyde and jackie has taken away hydes coolness he seems different with jackie it totally screwed his character up.

hyde needed a girl in his storyline and what better way to do it then change it up a little bit. they put it that way cuz it was waaaaayyyy different u know. yeah he might not be as rebellious anymore but things change ppl.

Fez has become a perverted, candy-obsessed, idiotic voyeur.

i agree with u on this one. fez has become way more obsessed with candy and perverted. his character just doesnt do it for me :(

And they have some really bad storylines, like Kelso knocking up Brooke, come on, babies aren't funny and ruin shows.

the show isnt just about how funny it is. i think they put the baby storyline in cuz thats what happens all the time especially back in the 70s. yeah he can barely take care of himself but thats whats suppose to be funny about it.

and i think the writers are probably running out of ideas and thats probably why its ending after next season :( and i think the worst mistake they ever made was replacing lisa robin kelly with that stupid "actress" christina moore or whatever the hell her name is :rolleyes:

The main problem is that the writers and producers seem not to know the direction of the show and appear like they are buying time until they get a clue.

We are not stupid.
We know these people are just throwing things out and agreeing with each other that it works when they know full well something is wrong.
Who is the "yes man" behind this?

Jackie and Hyde is ok- we already saw that Jackie had a thing for Hyde and that Hyde defended her a long time ago.
There is actually real comic potential behind this opposites attract situation.

With Fez they should have let him have a girlfriend but I suspect there is a problem with paying a recurring character. But she could be a never seen one ala Norm's wife on Cheers. At least stop making Fez pathetic and complementing the guys on how nice looking they are. I say hook him up with an older divorced woman who makes one or two appearances.

Obvioulsy they have lost it with Kelso. Getting a girl pregnant? Going into the police academy? These are some of the most seriously lame ideas that they ever had.

And ever since Eric and Donna got engaged the writers seem to have no clue on how to make them act together. This season they have barely even had conversations beyond the last 2 episodes.

There is really not much for them to do- it's like they are biding their time. And when you take your main character- Eric- and reduce him to being window dressing, you are destroying your show.

And this whole season with Eric and Donna and marriage and never talking about college or everyone's direction is totally being mishandled or basically being winged or ignored.

It comes down to, "do you think you could do a better job?"

And when my answer is yes, you have a problem.

I still watch the show.It's just that I whish they didn't
changed so much over the years.They should stick
to the main story:the mama's boy,the girl next door,the
rich bitch,the macho idiot,the delinquant and the foreigner.
Eric and Donna are the couple.The others don't have
to fall in love with a member of the circle too.Jackie and
Kelso was funny but, it was getting old.Now,that she's
with Hyde it's already boring.Hyde's character as
incorrigible delinquant is completly destroyed.One of
the problem came when they let go:Laurie,Leo,Midge.
They were secondary but,necessary.After they left,
the show never been the same.

Obvioulsy they have lost it with Kelso. Getting a girl pregnant? Going into the police academy? These are some of the most seriously lame ideas that they ever had.

why are they lame? cuz hes finally doing something with his life and he has to grow up?

i do agree with u on the whole donna and eric not having much of a conversation with each other. i mean they talked more in season four then they do in this one :(

but come on ppl things change and ppl change. theyre out of highschool now and theyre not always gonna be the same immature group. lets say this was for real. when theyre in their 30s and all grown up u gonna complain that theyre not still stealing high st signs, sitting in the circle, eating all the parents food, etc?? :rolleyes: they gotta make them grow up some how.

For me it looks like the characters are going through the motions. Many of them just don't have anything to do.
Kelso is the only one who is trying to make something of himself since the gang graduated. Granted, if the gang all got jobs or went off the college, they wouldn't be together, and that would suck, but all they seem to do is hang out and talk about Eric and Donna's wedding.

Also, the guest stars have ruined things. While it was fun having Brooke Shields on for a few eps, her storyline is now left hanging until she makes another appearance. How much you want to bet she'll return to dump Bob?
Same thing with Shannon Elizabeth. Is she going to get together with Kelso when she has the baby, or will she only be reffered to by the characters until she returns for sweeps week?

As many of you pointed out, many recurring bits like Kitty's boozing and Fez's wierdness has gotten a bit tiresome.
But keep the Star Wars jokes I love those.

As I have mentioned in other posts, I think the show has run its course. They should just wrap up next season. They've had a good run.

I don't think there's going to be the show nomore when
they're adult;) Just because they go to college that doesn't
mean that they had to change as much.They writters could
write stories without loosing the originality of the show.

Originally posted by PixieLicious
why are they lame? cuz hes finally doing something with his life and he has to grow up?



Well, first off, Kelso is too much of an idiot to get into the police academy and they are basically insulting police by letting him get away with being a complete ass. If there is a joke to be made about being a cop it's not used correctly with Kelso. Maybe if his uncle was a cop or somebody put in a word for him otherwise it's like, "I guess I'll just be cop." and the biggest moron you know is then a cop. Granted plenty of dicks in high school became cops but not the borderline mentally challenged dufus you knew.

And getting a girl pregnant? That is showing growing up? That is showing a grasp at anything to get some ratings with a guest star that they can pubilicize. It isn't some brilliant scheme by the writers or some way to show growth for Keslo, because you know Shannon Elizabeth isn't going to be a regular and the fact that she appears to be a "smart" character tells you that she would never settle down with Kelso. Especially the more idiotic than ever Kelso we now see. If she is converted to marry him or something it will be yet another lame ass move.

I completly agree with you.Kelso's affair with Brooke and the police academy's thing were a very bad move.There's no sign of maturity there.Hyde changed too much since he's dating Jackie.I hope that relationship doesn't last because it destroyed was he was...a rebellious character.I didn't say that they have to sit forever in Eric's basement and smoking pot.But,why they had to change what the characters were before now they all grown up?

I think it is the lack of the dumbass from Red. I think also that Lisa Robin Kelly left for Christina Moore from Just Shoot Me! was probably the turning point. I do think however that '70s still has their juice left in them!:talk:

Originally posted by dlemond
Well, first off, Kelso is too much of an idiot to get into the police academy and they are basically insulting police by letting him get away with being a complete ass. If there is a joke to be made about being a cop it's not used correctly with Kelso. Maybe if his uncle was a cop or somebody put in a word for him otherwise it's like, "I guess I'll just be cop." and the biggest moron you know is then a cop. Granted plenty of dicks in high school became cops but not the borderline mentally challenged dufus you knew.

hes not offically a cop :rolleyes: hes training to be a cop. so ur saying that just cuz hes a dumbass he shouldnt get a fair chance?? we already know the chief is getting upset and this is suppose to be his last chance. im not saying he wont screw anything up and will definately be a cop but its a part of the show. how about u think up some ideas since u think the show's plots are crap.

And getting a girl pregnant? That is showing growing up? That is showing a grasp at anything to get some ratings with a guest star that they can pubilicize. It isn't some brilliant scheme by the writers or some way to show growth for Keslo, because you know Shannon Elizabeth isn't going to be a regular and the fact that she appears to be a "smart" character tells you that she would never settle down with Kelso. Especially the more idiotic than ever Kelso we now see. If she is converted to marry him or something it will be yet another lame ass move.

no it doesnt show growing up it shows what it was like in the 70s(or have u forgotten the name of the show) and nowadays. **** happens :rolleyes: and hes just gotta deal with it. i know shes not a regular and im glad shes not cuz i dont like her. and im not saying i like the whole idea of it but hey what are we gonna do about it? NOTHING. and no she probably wont stay with him. maybe it will turn out that she runs off with the kid. who knows.

Kelso's affair with Brooke and the police academy's thing were a very bad move.

and a lot of ppl thought donna and eric breaking up was a bad move. but everybody seems to have loved season four a lot:rolleyes:

It was interesting to see what it was going to happen between
Eric and Donna because Eric is the star and it was very funny too.
But,Kelso and Brooke are just boring:rolleyes:

hey i dont like them together too but what else is there for them to do? can u think of a couple of great ideas to keep the show running. and if so why dont u email them some then :)

It's the pregnanty that bother me the most.Why they let Kelso be a dad?He didn't even remember that he was allergic to eggs:crazy:

I miss Leo. I wish Leo would come back. Tommy Chong Rules!
The whole thing with Kelso having a baby, just seemed stupid IMO. I also miss Midge, she was funny. There isn't too much more that I dislike about the show.

i think its stupid that he got her pregnant too but really it does go along with his whole slut thing. u know he screws around alot of the times and no one ever got pregnant or any diseases?? come on thats not "the 70s" if they want to make it like the 70s then they gotta show what happens when ur screwing around. now hes gotta show more responsibility.

Besides all the obvious flaws mentioned (especially the Hyde/Jackie thing; NO CHEMISTRY AT ALL), the main problem with the show now is that it doesn't even really take place in the 70s anymore. There aren't really any references to the 70s at all. Now, its just any other random annoying teen comedy show with annoying characters and a laugh track.

yeah there arent really any references anymore huh :( but i still think its a great show. all the actors do a great job.

They're putting too many stupid plots to keep the wedding @ the end

yeah but u cant have the wedding during the middle of the season. lol its predictable its gonna be the finale.