Grandma's Dead (12 Jul. 1999)

When Grandma Forman dies unexpectedly the Formans have to deal with the loss. Eric goes to a bar, Kitty cooks, Laurie thinks of her inheritance, and Red has to deal with his over-emotional brother.

Director:

David Trainer

Writers:

Bonnie Turner (creator), Terry Turner (creator),

Stars:

Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Topher Grace	...	Eric Forman
Mila Kunis	...	Jackie Burkhart
Ashton Kutcher	...	Michael Kelso
Danny Masterson	...	Steven Hyde
Laura Prepon	...	Donna Pinciotti
Wilmer Valderrama	...	Fez
Debra Jo Rupp	...	Kitty Forman
Kurtwood Smith	...	Reginald "Red" Forman
Tanya Roberts	...	Midge Pinciotti (credit only)
Don Stark	...	Bob Pinciotti (credit only)
Marion Ross	...	Grandma Forman
Lisa Robin Kelly	...	Laurie Forman
Pat Skipper	...	Marty
Buckley Sampson	...	Charlene (as Buckley)
Kevin McClatchy	...	Man #1

Storyline

After Eric tells her it wouldn't kill her to be nice day for one day, his paternal grandmother Bernice, who always bags on Kitty, drops dead on his shoulder. Eric feels he killed her by this and doesn't dare tell Red, even though Donna thinks he should. Meanwhile, Red's very emotional brother Marty has arrived and is a millstone around Red's neck. Laurie doesn't mourn but sees the advantages of her grandma's death. Eric and the guys go to a bar pretending to be soldiers, get hit on by some girls and end up in a fight. Kitty hides her mixed feelings by cooking.

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Plot Keywords:

bar fight | black eye

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 1999 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carsey-Werner Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (high definition)

Did You Know?

Goofs

Kitty is seen carrying in groceries including a carton of eggs. Later on she tells Red she is out of eggs. This is because she had been baking to cope with the lost of grandma.

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Quotes

Steven Hyde: Red, I'm sorry your mom died and I'm sorry Kelso's an idiot.

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Soundtracks

"Ain't Nothin' But a House Party"
Performed by J. Geils Band

User Reviews

Sitcom deals with a serious topic.

This show deals with the topic of death, which is unexpected for a sitcom. Surprisingly, the show deals with the subject in an effective manner, without becoming sentimental. Repression, denial, and projection are dramatized as each character deals in their own way with the loss of a relative, in this case Red's mother. Kurtwood Smith gives the best performance. His character, the droll and cynical head of the household, Red, struggles the most to maintain control, repress his emotions and frowns on others who express theirs. That doesn't mean he is unfeeling, it just means that he is afraid to let loose because he believes that showing feelings is a sign of weakness and will undermine his position as an authority figure. Yet he too eventually succumbs as he reminisces with his son, who blames himself for his grandmother's death. All in all, this sitcom manages to deal with a complex and sensitive topic at a level that transcends the the usual low level of potboiler pulp to which we have become accustomed.