Getting Trapped in Nostalgia in 'That 80s Show'

[TMC]

http://splitsider.com/2013/05/gettin...that-80s-show/

As the spiritual spin-off of That 70s Show, Mark Brazil, Terry Turner, and Linda Wallem’s nostalgia goldmine, That 80s Show wants nothing more than to recreate the success of its predecessor. Set in a new decade with a fresh batch of cultural stereotypes, 80s Show finds Brazil, Turner, and Wallem once again digging up overt and digestible references that can ring with older and younger audiences. And at a cursory glance, it’s hard to see their failings. Like, say, if you watch the show without dialogue and simply listen to the pretty excellent soundtrack, you’d probably be inclined to agree and say, “Yeah, that looks enough like That 70s Show to warrant 22 of the precious minutes I have on this planet.”

But you’d be wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

The creators of That 80s Show attempt to recycle their winning formula, making Corey, Kristin, and their curmugenly father look as much like the Formans as possible, both in tone and character. However, instead of letting those cumbersome things called stories get in the way, the creators simply let pop-culture references hang in the abyss.

[PrinceCharming]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpkyNEECC9c

[Dunkin Donuts]

I loved the 80's version of this.

[MacLeaper]

From what little I recall of That '80s Show, I don't know if the concept was that bad- I think it just played up the stereotypes of the 1980s, which is what That '70s Show did...for a while. Eventually, it just felt like another sitcom that happened to be set in the 1970s- particularly when the mannerisms, language and such felt to me like it was more reflective of modern times rather than the '70s- but oh well.
I'd have to really track down episodes and watch That '80s Show before I could comment on it more.