As Porky Pig would say "THAT's All Folks!!"

[NASHMAN]

Goodbye That '70s Show. (1998-2006)

"THAT '70s SHOW" SAYS GOODBYE TO AN ERA WITH THE 200TH EPISODE AND SERIES FINALE THIS MAY ON FOX
Released by FOX


"THAT '70s SHOW" SAYS GOODBYE TO AN ERA WITH THE 200TH EPISODE AND SERIES FINALE THIS MAY ON FOX

THAT '70s SHOW packs up the polyester bellbottoms, Zeppelin 8-tracks and lava lamps when it ends its eight-season run Thursday, May 18 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The series finale also marks the 200th episode milestone.

THAT '70s SHOW premiered on Aug. 23, 1998. Set in Point Place, Wisconsin, the series follows a group of friends who get by with a little help from each other. The show stars Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp, Josh Meyers, Don Stark and Tommy Chong. For seasons one through seven, Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher were also regular cast members.

The series created some signature elements that made it a hit over the years, including the surreal dream sequences, the 360-degree basement scenes and the classic '70s score. Numerous '70s icons have stopped by to guest-star, including Danny Bonaduce, Alice Cooper, Marion Ross, Eve Plumb, Ted Nugent, Valerie Harper and Roger Daltrey from The Who. This season, Don Knotts, Mary Tyler Moore Tom Bosley and Isaac Hayes are joining the list. Additionally, Luke Wilson, Lindsay Lohan, Bruce Willis, Brooke Shields, Seth Green and Jessica Simpson have also guest-starred.

The show was ranked No. 1 among entertainment programming in its Wednesday night time period among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Men 18-49/18-34/25-54 and Teens. THAT '70s SHOW also ranks in the Top 10 primetime comedies of the season among Adults 18-34 (No. 9) and Teens (No. 8) [out of 47 regular 6-net comedies].

"The reason THAT '70s SHOW has been such a smash hit is due to the talent: the actors, the writers, the director, and everybody else who helped make each episode so groovy," said executive producer Tom Werner. "Has it really been eight years?"

"THAT '70s SHOW is one of our longest-running hit comedies," said Peter Liguori, President, Entertainment for FOX. "The show's success is definitely a testament to the creativity and dedication put forth each week by the talented cast, outstanding writers and producers, and the great crew. There are a lot of things about the '70s we'd like to forget - especially those involving polyester - but this series has been a wonderful look back at this most memorable decade."

THAT '70s SHOW is a Carsey-Werner production created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and Mark Brazill. Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel and Mark Hudis are executive producers.
We will always see you in reruns!!

P.S. I will be at the final episode taping this Feburary so if I have any photos, I'll post them up.

[Mr. Television]

Is Ashton and Topher going to be in it?

[Adamantium]

So much for my prediction of a 9th season. In a way, I'm kind of glad. I'm mean it's golden years were early on in the show. I'm tired of everyone bashing the current season.

I've always thought that shows shouldn't go past eight seasons. Anything past 8 seems too much, especially for this show. It's still good (in my opinion), but clearly it will never be as good as it used to be. So it could only get worse.

Randy - We Hardly Knew Ye!

I wonder if it still would have ended if Topher and Ashton were still in the cast.

Also, are they ending the show on their own or is it being canceled?

[NASHMAN]

Originally Posted by TVAdam

So much for my prediction of a 9th season. In a way, I'm kind of glad. I'm mean it's golden years were early on in the show. I'm tired of everyone bashing the current season.

I've always thought that shows shouldn't go past eight seasons. Anything past 8 seems too much, especially for this show. It's still good (in my opinion), but clearly it will never be as good as it used to be. So it could only get worse.

Randy - We Hardly Knew Ye!

I wonder if it still would have ended if Topher and Ashton were still in the cast.

Also, are they ending the show on their own or is it being canceled?

TVAdam, they aren't cancelling the show, they are only just ending the series. Same thing goes for Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Malcolm of which W&G/KOTH were ending as of the start of this season. That '70s Show will match the run of Who's The Boss? (1984-1992) and Home Improvement (1991-1999). Being cancelled would be like AD in which that show never got it's chance on FOX. Also meaning that the show got yanked without proper closure. But That '70s Show, Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Malcolm are ending their storylines while the show is good.

As for Ashton/Topher being on for the series finale, I don't know as of yet but I will be attending the series finale when it tapes on Feb 17th.

For example, when NewsRadio got canned in 1999 after 5 seasons, the show was suppsed to have new ground when Mr. james went to New Hampshire and everyone had a go away party for him and after the final episode "New Hampshire" all the cast expect for Dave and Matthew left for NH, and the last line of the show, Matthew: It's me and you Dave, Me and you forever! Dave: I know.

[Adamantium]

Originally Posted by NASHMAN

TVAdam, they aren't cancelling the show, they are only just ending the series. Same thing goes for Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Malcolm of which W&G/KOTH were ending as of the start of this season. Being cancelled would be like AD in which that show never got it's chance on FOX. Also meaning that the show got yanked without proper closure. But That '70s Show, Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Malcolm are ending their storylines while the show is good.

That's good. I'd feel bad if it was cancelled.

Those are all some long running shows. It feels weird that they're all leaving now.

Farewell to the talented cast:
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (1998-2005)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (1998-2005)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhardt
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (1998-2001)
Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman (1998*-2001)
Tommy Chong as Leo (1999-2002 / 2005-2006)
Josh Meyers as Randy Pearson (2005-2006)

*Recurring in first season.

[snl 70s show fan]

imsad to see it go but i also would rather see it go out while it was still funny still it wont be quite the same without the gang from point place

[Number 9 Dream]

Originally Posted by snl 70s show fan

imsad to see it go but i also would rather see it go out while it was still funny still it wont be quite the same without the gang from point place

Exactly...better to burn out than to fade away

[comedyfreak]

Here's an article from zap2it.com:

'Malcolm,' ''70s' Sailing into Sunset

Tuesday, January 17, 2006
02:36 PM PT

Two of the longest-running shows currently on the FOX schedule will end their lives this spring.
"Malcolm in the Middle" and "That '70s Show" will each go off the air in May, ending runs of seven and eight seasons, respectively, on the network. Among the shows currently on FOX's schedule, only "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill" and Saturday-night stalwarts "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted" have been around longer.

"FOX is proud to have been the home of this groundbreaking comedy," FOX Entertainment head Peter Ligouri says of "Malcolm," and he has similar kind words for "That '70s Show," calling it "a wonderful look back at this most memorable decade."


"Malcolm's" season finale is scheduled to air Sunday, May 14, soon after its 150th episode. The show, which has followed the growth of boy genius Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his family. The show has won six Emmys and a Peabody Award in its lifetime.
"That '70s Show," meanwhile, will wrap with its 200th episode. Although down some in the ratings recently, the series has been a consistent draw among the young viewers FOX targets and made stars of the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace and Wilmer Valderrama.

Ligouri says FOX is talking with Grace and Kutcher, who left the show after last season (Kutcher has guested a few times this year), about returning for the series finale. "We would love to have them both," he says.

[Brian Damage]

Hopefully Ashton and Topher are a part of the finale. If they aren't, they would seriously taint the show. Let's just hope either one of them aren't filming a movie at the time of the 17th.

[NASHMAN]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Hopefully Ashton and Topher are a part of the finale. If they aren't, they would seriously taint the show. Let's just hope either one of them aren't filming a movie at the time of the 17th.

I'll be going to the last taping of the series. I should have gone last Jan 14 during the episode "Oh, Baby, (We've got a Good thing Goin') But never made it. Hopefully i get myself a reprival for that mishap. Besides I do believe when they make that final shot, they will have it in Eric's basement because that's where the show started off in the beginning so why not end it celebrating New Years eve 1979/80. At least a good idea to think about for the finale!!

[DukeDevils9192]

It's a good thing that it's wrapping up. It gives everyone some focus going into the final few episodes. It's been a tremendous run, but at least next fall we won't have anything to complain about. It's better to end now than to continue running it into the ground.

[Adamantium]

This is the first big finale in a while, I'm excited to see. I liked "Friends" but I wasn't really excited about watching the finale. Same goes for "Frasier". And same goes for "Everybody Loves Raymond." I think the last series finale I got excited about was "Boy Meets World."

I can't wait to see how they end "That 70's Show."

Also, as much as I think it would be cool to end the show on New Years Eve 1979/80, I belive they've already entered 1980.

I think that the final shot, should be the gang having one last 360. As it goes around to show each character, it would then say what happens to them all.

I just have an idea for one:

Steven Hyde - He decides to go into politics and even runs for President, but word of his teenage 360's causes a bit of controversy and he dropped out. (Not that I think Hyde would ever run for President. I just like the idea of the 360's causing controversy later in life. And the Presidential Candidate is the best choice for that.)

As much as I'd love to see Eric and Donna get back together, I honestly don't see it happening. I don't think Randy's the guy for Donna, either.

Over at IMDB.com, everybody describing their last episodes have Red dying of a heart attack and that's why Eric and Kelso come back. I don't really like that idea. I didn't like it when they killed off Kevin's Dad on "The Wonder Years" series finale, either. I'm pretty sure Red will survive the episode though.

****
Another idea is that Donna decides to write a television series about her life in the 70's. The gang gathers around to watch the first episode on TV. The final scene of the series would be different actors, redoing the very first scene of the pilot episode.

I don't know if anything like that's been done before, but it's still cool, even if it is copying.

[NASHMAN]

Originally Posted by TVAdam

This is the first big finale in a while, I'm excited to see. I liked "Friends" but I wasn't really excited about watching the finale. Same goes for "Frasier". And same goes for "Everybody Loves Raymond." I think the last series finale I got excited about was "Boy Meets World."

I can't wait to see how they end "That 70's Show."

Also, as much as I think it would be cool to end the show on New Years Eve 1979/80, I belive they've already entered 1980.

I think that the final shot, should be the gang having one last 360. As it goes around to show each character, it would then say what happens to them all.

I just have an idea for one:

Steven Hyde - He decides to go into politics and even runs for President, but word of his teenage 360's causes a bit of controversy and he dropped out. (Not that I think Hyde would ever run for President. I just like the idea of the 360's causing controversy later in life. And the Presidential Candidate is the best choice for that.)

As much as I'd love to see Eric and Donna get back together, I honestly don't see it happening. I don't think Randy's the guy for Donna, either.

Over at IMDB.com, everybody describing their last episodes have Red dying of a heart attack and that's why Eric and Kelso come back. I don't really like that idea. I didn't like it when they killed off Kevin's Dad on "The Wonder Years" series finale, either. I'm pretty sure Red will survive the episode though.

****
Another idea is that Donna decides to write a television series about her life in the 70's. The gang gathers around to watch the first episode on TV. The final scene of the series would be different actors, redoing the very first scene of the pilot episode.

I don't know if anything like that's been done before, but it's still cool, even if it is copying.

What about the final episode of NewsRadio from 5/4/99. Even though I think it was real shameful that NewsRadio had to end without proper closure as Mr. james and the gang went to New Hampshire and Matthew took over the station. I think that it's good that they are releasing the 3 seasons of the show. I already have the first two can't wait for the third. My favorite episode is Episode 5 in season 5 in which Matthew drink that Smart Drink with that Placebo effect and also max Tries to win Beth over and made a scene in which Lisa was in Love with him. real funny!

[Adamantium]

Originally Posted by NASHMAN

What about the final episode of NewsRadio from 5/4/99. Even though I think it was real shameful that NewsRadio had to end without proper closure as Mr. james and the gang went to New Hampshire and Matthew took over the station. I think that it's good that they are releasing the 3 seasons of the show. I already have the first two can't wait for the third. My favorite episode is Episode 5 in season 5 in which Matthew drink that Smart Drink with that Placebo effect and also max Tries to win Beth over and made a scene in which Lisa was in Love with him. real funny!

Yeah, I watched the finale when it originally aired. But it was said to be just the "Season Finale." I watched it though feeling it would never come back. It had a nice twisted ending to it (even though it wasn't meant to be the final show). For the real finale, I'd like to have seen Dave leave. That way the show would span his entire job at WNYX. From the first day there (The Pilot) to his last day there (The Finale). But, oh well.

I'm very excited about the new DVD coming soon!

[jom]

Actually, I'm glad they are deciding to end the show. As I've stated here before I think the show has lost it's way for a number of seasons. The season that ended with Lauri and Fez getting married was the last real good one anyway (which, oddly, was Kelly's last show). This season seems to be much better than the last couple of years so at least it's going out on a high note...

On a side note: Anyone know why King of the Hill is being cancelled/stopped? I read that if it comes back it won't be until next year...but then I didn't know it had been taken off in the first place.....

jom