When Did the Show Peak?

[DukeDevils9192]

Obviously, this show isn't in its best years, with the last two seasons all over the place and no really good storylines developed. Jackie and Hyde aren't interesting, Eric's becoming dumber with each passing episode, Kelso/Brooke is too predictable in the way it's going, and Fez is TOO Americanized now.

In my opinion, the show peaked with The Promise Ring/Eric's Depression, which were two awesome shows, in my opinion. They showcased drama and comedy and did everything really well. That was the last real strong storyline the show had before it went back to normality.

Thoughts?

[JD2635]

It mostly peaked when my favorite lady Midge left the show. I know she had to take care of air ill husband but she had no interest in coming back. I also think it peaked when my other favorite Jessica Simpson came along. I believe that when Michael and Donna went to California to find Midge again Simpson's appearance really showed how much the show could really take. So IMHO, the 2001-2003 seasons were at it's peak. Speaking of which and I know if I said it before that '70s, W&G and KOTH are the highest rated syndicated programs from 6-8 PM weeknights!

BTW, does anybody know what Midge's name was short for?

[Rene]

i think in the fith season it did after that it was nothin

[ThirteenInchEscape]

it went downhill when donna ran off to california, but when they didnt graduate it totally jumped the shark, it should have ended with them graduating.

the first 4 seasons really were good tv though

if only they would have opted out of having a laugh track, or had a studio audience.

[TJL]

The show peaked after they graduated High School.

[ThirteenInchEscape]

peaking is when it got the best, it was the best the 3rd season when they had Leo.

It was all downhill from there, it just wasnt steeply down hill until after they graduated

[Moonlit_Suburb]

I think the show is still hilarious...

[JD2635]

It is by far one of the best comedies still around. However, the show really did peak IMHO when Fez and Laurie got married and Red suffered a big heart attack! It was the funniest of episodes but after that the show went awry.

[Céline]

The three first seasons were awesome!I think when Laurie,Midge and Leo left,it was too weird and it never been the same after that.I never like the new ideas either:The new Laurie,Casey with Donna,Fez married to Laurie,Hyde with Jackie,Kelso becoming a cop

[PixieLicious]

they do have studio audience

[ThirteenInchEscape]

if they have a studio audience it must be the most ********,repetitive group of people of all time, because it sounds exactly the same every time, and they frequently laugh at things that arent even funny.

Also, most shows with a Studio Audience make a point of you knowing, and as someone who has seen every episode (well, at least of the first 4 seasons) multiple time, Im sure I would have noticed

edit: Holy ****, you're right, and I apologize, I found a site with tickets to it.


that just plain doesnt make sense, a studio audience has never annoyed me before, but the one for That 70's Show drives me insane

did it ALWAYS have one, or is that a more recent thing they did to revitalize the show?

[PixieLicious]

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
edit: Holy ****, you're right, and I apologize, I found a site with tickets to it.


did it ALWAYS have one, or is that a more recent thing they did to revitalize the show?

i thought everyone knew they had tickets to the show. i dont know how long theyve been doing it but they keep raising the age to get in. i hardly pay attention to them laughing cuz im too busy laughing lol. but when they do laugh at certain times when its not really funny its probably cuz theyre told to laugh. anytime they say anything remotely funny (even when its lame) they have to laugh.

[Number 9 Dream]

This is an old thread but I'm reviving it to provoke discussion

I think the show encountered its first peak in the first season, actually. The show was just THAT good. Lovable characters, great scenarios, real 70s nostalgia; it was a hit right from the get go. It petered out a bit in the beginning of season two, but quickly picked up again sometime in the middle of season two and in season three, which I think was its ultimate peak. Somewhere in season four & five it really lost steam (I think it was the whole Donna/Eric break-up thing), although there were some definite classic episodes in 4, 5, and 6. I actually really liked the introduction of Annette as Kelso's new fling, and those episodes were fun for me to watch. Season seven signified the end to me, although I watched til the very end of the show. Without Eric and Kelso, there really was no show for me. Randy was a pathetic subsitute, and by that time the jokes were really getting stale. Jackie/Fez was just plain stupid and senseless. I also hated Samantha. What was the point of her character again? So, to answer the question: Season three was the season where everything was great and the chemistry between the characters was amazing. After that, it was a slow decline...but still some really great episodes mixed in til the very end!

[howierules86]

^Season three (2000-01) happened to be my favorite as well. As for my least favorite season, I would vote for season seven (2004-05). This was when the writers turned the character of Donna into a typical dumb blonde (thanks to Laura Prepon getting rid of her beautiful red hair), yet no one bothered to update the intro that season (I actually liked the season 8 intro where the cast was shown singing a line of the theme song one at a time, though).