#12: Blast from the Past

Of the many post Seinfeld sitcoms that have been created, That 70’s Show is one that has attempted to revamp the characters and structure of the traditional sitcom. Instead of creating a plot set in the current time period, That 70’s Show travels back in time and tells the story of the trials and tribulations of the Forman family and their son Eric’s close friends during the 1970s.

The first aspect that shows the sitcom’s attempt to revamp the traditional sitcom is through the characters Red and Kitty Forman. In the traditional sitcom, the parents are viewed as respectable and insightful characters who offer support and help to their child’s problems. However, Red and Kitty are the exact opposite of that outlook. They are similar to Frank and Estelle Constanza because Red and Kitty spend most of their time arguing and providing sarcastic criticism to Eric and his friends.

Another way in which That 70’s Show revamped the traditional sitcom is through the structure of the scenes. The main setting for the characters is in the basement of the Forman’s house where there are chairs and couches for Eric and his friends to hang out and talk. In many episodes, as the gang sits in the basement, the camera makes a 360 degree turn and stops at each character sitting around the table to offer a close of each face of the characters. Then, the characters talk directly into the camera usually to say what they are thinking. This offers the audience to feel a more personal relationship to the characters because it seems that they are talking directly to the viewer.