That '70s Pilot (23 Aug. 1998)

Eric, Fez, Kelso, Hyde, Donna and Jackie all hang out in the Forman's basement and smoke weed every once in a while. Eric's parents give him the keys to the Vista Cruiser, so he and the ... See full summary »

Director:

Terry Hughes

Writers:

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

Stars:

Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher

Cast

Episode cast overview:
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
Don Stark	...	Bob Pinciotti
Paul Kreppel	...	Jack Burkhart
Wayne Pére	...	Randy

Storyline

Eric, Fez, Kelso, Hyde, Donna and Jackie all hang out in the Forman's basement and smoke weed every once in a while. Eric's parents give him the keys to the Vista Cruiser, so he and the gang drive to a concert against dad Red's orders not to take the car out of town.

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Plot Keywords:

party

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1998 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min 22 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (high definition)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sound of the car burn out is used while the "That '70s Show" logo shakes into view during the intro. This is one of only a few episodes to differentiate from the normal version of the intro used later.

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Goofs

In the opening scene of the premiere episode, the boys are looking at a Playboy centerfold, circa 1976. However, the magazine is perfect bound, not saddle stitched (stapled) as Playboys were at that time.

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Quotes

Reginald "Red" Forman: [to Eric] If I find one beer can in that car, it's over.
Kitty Forman: And no donuts either.
[Red looks at Kitty puzzled]
Kitty Forman: Ants.

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Connections

References The Brady Bunch (1969)

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Soundtracks

"Hello It's Me"
Performed by Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson,
Mila Kunis, and Wilmer Valderrama

User Reviews

That '70s Pilot ****

Original Air Date: August 23rd, 1998

Five local Point Place, Wisconsin teenagers and their foreign exchange student tagalong head out to a Todd Rundgren concert in Milwaukee after their circumstantial leader is given an old Vista Cruiser by his parents. With that simple premise, a modern day television classic was born and laughter could be heard around the world and across the decades. This little show had a mountainous power: a power to capture the spirit of the seventies on top of nineties sensibilities. With its well-defined characters, sharp-tongued dialogue and minimalist approach to situation comedy, "That '70s Show" became an era unto its own (lasting just two years shy of a decade). A lot of the future hallmarks of the show are present right from the start: the awkward, interpersonal relationships of its teen focal point, the first person camera views, the floating wall used to signify the stoned genus. In this day and age, it has become harder and harder to find true, lasting greatness gracing our television screens. "That '70s Show" will forever be the benchmark that reminds us moments of greatness are still within the boob tube's grasp, however few and far between they may seem.

On a final note, from a musical standpoint, am I the only one who prefers the Todd Griffin rendition of the theme song used throughout the first season to the version used by Cheap Trick from the second season onward? Neither one touches Big Star's original "In the Street" obviously, but Griffin's take felt more enthusiastic than Trick's, which ultimately felt as toned down as most of their post-'82 output. It's also a shame a lot of the ancillary music was cut from the DVD releases of the series, considering its use helped transport the viewer back to the decadent time depicted therein.

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