CS Daily Archive > DVD of the Day > That '70s Show: The Complete First Season

Retro Postmodernism

by scott castle

That '70s Show: The Complete First Season

Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Mark Brazil, Eric Gilliland, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimilia, Dave Schiff, Mark Hudis, Jeff Filgo, Jackie Behan, Linda Wallem, Philip Stark, and Arthur F. Montmorency
Created by Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner & Mark Brazil

That '70s Show follows the lives of six Wisconsin teenagers coming of age in the title decade. Will Eric (Topher Grace) win the love of Donna (Laura Prepon)? Will Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) ever ditch his obnoxious girlfriend Jackie (Mila Kunis)? Will Hyde (Danny Masterson) ever truly stick it to The Man? These are only a few of the questions posed, and occasionally answered, in this clever postmodern attack on the Seventies sitcom. While the humor is cutting edge, its veneer of nostalgia manages to generate as many laughs as the actual jokes. The show's trademark circle joke where the four guys, whilst partaking of marijuana, build on the laughs of the previous guy's line with punch line after punch line is just as funny in its embryonic form as it will be in later seasons. The only shame is that Fox offers only a basic documentary that's more press kit shenanigans than an actual look at the show's conception.

That '70s Show: Season One
Fox Home Entertainment
Not rated; 575 min.

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Scott Castle is one thesis shy of a master's degree in film. He's written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.

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