Fox Renews "That '70s Show" for an 8th season (BAD DECISION!)

Fox Broadcasting Company has ordered an eighth season of the comedy series THAT '70s SHOW, it was announced today by Gail Berman, President, Entertainment. The nostalgic series airs Wednesdays (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT).

"THAT '70s SHOW is one of the strongest comedies on television," said Executive Producer Tom Werner. "I am thrilled that this outstanding ensemble is returning next season. After all, it's only 1979."

THAT '70s SHOW revolves around a group of friends growing up and becoming young adults in the suburbs of Wisconsin. But rites of passage aren't all that easy at a time when jumpsuits and platforms are the epitome of cool. The gang includes: Everyman ERIC FORMAN (Topher Grace); his independent girlfriend DONNA (Laura Prepon); the good-looking but gullible KELSO (Ashton Kutcher); conspiracy theorist HYDE (Danny Masterson); Hyde's peppy girlfriend JACKIE (Mila Kunis); and FEZ (Wilmer Valderrama), the foreign kid who's soaking up American culture like a sponge. There's also Eric's stern father RED (Kurtwood Smith); upbeat mother KITTY (Debra Jo Rupp); and Donna's dad BOB (Don Stark), who has a penchant for perms and medallions.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/gofuton.cgi?action=pr&id=20050117fox05

This show is on its 7th season and it was first set in 1976. It's been 1979 forever. At the very least allow the calendar to turn to 1980. Geez. More importantly, it has long since passed its prime. it should have been retired after 5 seasons, and definitely 6.

Whattaya think?

The show was over years ago...

I seriously know of no one who does.

I've stopped watching it, though, in the past few years. What I've always found funny _about_ the show is that it's deliberately designed to avoid the early part of the '70s, when young people were so political. For me, who lived through that period at about the age of the characters, to ignore politics so thoroughly has always seemed like a propoganda message hovering on top of the show.

I personally am not a fan but I know people who are. usually it's people who grew up back then.

I've never seen the new shows on FOX. I think it's a funny, light-hearted show.

a writer/producer on that show. He can't write worth shit but got a big break when he roomed in college with the son of a well-connected Hollywood producer who introduced him around and got him an agent. That 70's Show is his third sitcom. He's lucky to be aboard the gravy train.

that if the writers of that show could not even come up with a better title than "That 70s show" then why should I expect them to come up with any decent humor or plots.
Also, as a male, I am watching TV primarily so I can freely stare at scantily dressed babes, and that show does not seem to feature any.

Market research/focus groups.

The last 2 seasons have been gawd terrible..Obe Eric and donna grew up that was pretty much it..They should have pulled the plug

and send them all to college in the early 80s...

It failed quickly.

because I dont think it made its way across the atlantic

I think it aired during the 2001-2002 TV season, or at least a part of that year.

The only good thing about that show is Red, and even he sucks. I much prefer him as Clarence in Robocop.

are going to make only occasional appearances for the new season. They won't be regulars.

Fox is sucking up every possible bit of life out of this tired franchise. Fox will renew this tired show, but is willing to cancel "Arrested Development"??!!??

they're cancelling "A.D."? For fucking REAL? Is the plug already pulled, is that why they ran a second "Simpsons" last Sunday?

Seriously. The whole "taking a year off" thing . . . GOD that's just dumb. I loved this show for the first five seasons and now it's seriously past it's expiration date. The writing quality has gone so downhill and so have the characters.

I'd never seen him as one of those, just a dude.

He used to rail about the government and plots such as "Cars that run on WATER. WATER, man!" while getting stoned.

The producers were talking about it on some show or in some magazine.
Duckie

I mean just look what they did to the X-Files. They turned it into an absolutely horrible show at the end because they didn't have the sense to end it at the right time.

While Paramount ended Star Trek TNG, DS9 and Voyager voluntarily after 7 seasons. That's the right way to do it.

I wish they would keep Arrested Development, and I just don't understand why the ratings for that show are so bad. Fox was practically begging people to watch after the Outstanding Comedy Emmy. People will watch terrible shows and ignore the good ones.
Though I should talk, I watch Survivor every week.

It seems like Arrested Development appeals to a much broader audience, has better name recognition, and actually is funny, yet still loses in the ratings. Something doesn't add up here.

It may seem that way, but there are dozens of examples of good shows that just don't "pop" (become popular). Arrested is a great show. It has a funny cast, good writing and has been tried in several good timeslots, but very few of us actually like it enough to make it stick.

There are lots of shows like that. On HBO, Carnivale is a very well written, acted and produced show. Its ratings fall far behind shows I consider weaker like the Wire. I don't think there is any conspiracy here, its just that not all that many people agree with us. Believe me, Fox and everyone involved int eh show wishes it was making gobs of money. Fox poured money into advertising it this year, but the ratings have been stagnant. If a show can't get beter ratings with teh money Fox poured into Arrested, the networks fell it never will. Arrested may have a life in cable broadcast or on the WB (which has the same target audience, but far lower ratings demands). We will see. In the meantime, I hope it gets picked up for the final 6 episodes at least, but I doubt it.

Only 1979 after 8 seasons, but they seem so much older.

but the only one I really ever liked was Danny Masterson. As a straight male I find his tough guy with a soft gooey inside irresistible.

What the heck?

i stopped watching it 6 years ago...and the calender hasn't hit 1980 yet??? LOL maybe they should have started in 1970

Best show ever cancelled to keep room for one of the worst.

Bleh!

Fox, Fox, Fox, how the mighty have fallen! from the glory days of Simpsons, Futurama, X-Files Sundays - the only day and the only channel of TV worth watching in a week.

/sigh

david