If you are a fan of That ’70s Show, you might have wondered if there was ever a spin-off set in the next decade. Well, there was, but it was not very successful. That ’80s Show was a sitcom that aired on Fox in 2002, but it only lasted for 13 episodes before being canceled. Despite having a similar name, show structure, and many of the same writers and production staff, it was not a direct spin-off of That ’70s Show. The characters and storylines from both shows never crossed paths. However, there were some subtle and obscure connections between the two shows that you might have missed. Here are some of them.
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The Cousin Connection
The only clear-cut on-screen link between That ’80s Show and That ’70s Show was the fact that Glenn Howerton’s character Corey Howard was the first cousin of Topher Grace’s Eric Forman. Corey was a struggling musician who worked at a record store in San Diego, while Eric was a geeky teenager who hung out with his friends in Point Place, Wisconsin. The two cousins never met on screen, but they were mentioned in passing by their relatives.
Corey’s father, RT Howard (played by Geoff Pierson), was the brother of Kitty Forman (played by Debra Jo Rupp), Eric’s mother. RT was a wealthy businessman who owned several car dealerships and a mansion. He was also a womanizer who divorced Corey’s mother and married a younger woman named June Tuesday (played by Margaret Smith). Kitty and RT had a strained relationship due to his lifestyle and his neglect of Corey.
Eric’s father, Red Forman (played by Kurtwood Smith), was also not fond of RT and his flashy cars. Red was a grumpy and strict veteran who worked at an auto parts store and often insulted Eric and his friends. Red and Kitty also had another son, Laurie (played by Lisa Robin Kelly and Christina Moore), who was Eric’s older sister and a promiscuous college dropout.
The Audition Connection
Another connection between the two shows involved Brittany Daniel, who played Sophia, Corey’s ex-girlfriend, in That ’80s Show. Sophia was a materialistic and ambitious woman who worked at a bank and dated Corey’s boss, Roger (played by Eddie Shin). She also had a rivalry with Corey’s new girlfriend, Tuesday (played by Chyler Leigh), who was a rebellious punk rocker.
Before landing the role of Sophia, Daniel had to audition for That ’80s Show by guest starring on That ’70s Show. She appeared in season 4, episode 14, “Eric’s Hot Cousin,” where she played Eric’s cousin Penny. Penny came from Florida to visit the Formans and caused trouble by flirting with Eric’s friends and making Eric uncomfortable with her advances.
Interestingly, Penny and Corey were both related to Red and Kitty, but it was never explained how they were related to each other. They could have been siblings, cousins, or from different sides of the family. Penny also claimed that Kitty was present at her birth, which implied that she was from Kitty’s side of the family.
The Creator Connection
The most obvious connection between the two shows was behind the scenes. Mark Brazill and Terry Turner co-created both That ’80s Show and That ’70s Show, along with Linda Wallem for the former and Bonnie Turner for the latter. They also served as executive producers for both shows, along with Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach, and Tom Werner.
Many other writers and production staff worked on both shows as well. For example, Ronald W. Browne did all the cinematography, while David Trainer and Terry Hughes directed all episodes. A fun fact about the latter couple is that Hughes directed “That ’70s Pilot,” while Trainer did all the other episodes of That ’70s Show. Four years later, Trainer directed “That ’80s Pilot” but gave up the director’s chair to Hughes for the rest of That ’80s Show.
The costume designer, Melina Root, who also worked on That ’70s Show, researched fashion magazines, merchandising catalogs, and yearbooks from the 1980s to find ideas for clothing the characters on That ’80s Show could wear.
The Failure Connection
Unfortunately, the connections between the two shows did not translate into success for That ’80s Show. The show failed to capture the audience’s interest and attention like That ’70s Show did. It also received mixed reviews from critics who felt that it relied too much on decade stereotypes and nostalgia rather than developing humorous characters and situations.
That ’80s Show also faced competition from other shows that were set in or referenced the 1980s, such as Freaks and Geeks, The Wonder Years, and Family Ties. Some fans and critics even called Freaks and Geeks, a show that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season, That ’80s Show because of its similarities to That ’70s Show.
That ’80s Show was canceled after 13 episodes and became a forgotten footnote in sitcom history. That ’70s Show, on the other hand, continued to air for eight seasons and became a cult classic with a loyal fan base. It also launched the careers of several actors, such as Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama.
The Conclusion
Is That ’80s Show related to That ’70s Show? The answer is yes and no. Yes, they shared some creators, writers, producers, directors, and actors. Yes, they had a similar name, format, and premise. Yes, they had one character who was related to another character from the other show. But no, they were not a direct spin-off of each other. No, they did not have any crossover episodes or references. No, they did not have the same quality, popularity, or longevity.
That ’80s Show was an attempt to replicate the success of That ’70s Show by using the same formula but with a different decade. However, it failed to capture the essence and charm of its predecessor. It also failed to create memorable and likable characters that the viewers could relate to and root for. It was a show that tried to be something it was not, and it ended up being nothing at all.
According to Screen Rant , That ’80s Show was a spinoff from That ’70s Show which premiered on Fox in January 2002, but the connections between the shows were few and far between. The spinoff never lived up to the success of its parent show and was canceled four months later, ending up with a 13 episode run.
According to Wikipedia , That ’80s Show is an American sitcom set in 1984 that aired from January to May 2002. Despite having a similar name, show structure, and many of the same writers and production staff, it is not a direct spin-off of the much more successful That ’70s Show. The characters and storylines from both shows never crossed paths.
According to CBR , That ’80s Show was a failed spin-off of That ’70s Show, with the series failing to catch on due to its poor writing and focusing more on decade trends than humorous characters. It didn’t last long, and it’s mostly been entirely forgotten by fans of the main series.
