Battle of the Sexists (20 Sep. 1998)

Donna keeps beating Eric at games, which isn't very good for their relationship.

Director:

David Trainer

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

Storyline

Now the plant where Red worked is closing down, the grumbler tries to keep himself occupied with useless domestic 'repairs', which Kitty finds irritating and badly on top, while blaming everyone, especially Eric. The boys laugh at Eric because his girl Donna keeps beating him at basketball and other games, even Jackie and Midge warn her a boyfriend's ego can't take that, while Kitty claims scores are meaningless in a lifelong relationship like her marriage to Red. Kelso has his own dilemma, between being more manly or Jackie's female charms, only he can shut the others up 'getting some'. Red's drill version of basketball training till you drop has literally that effect on Eric.

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Plot Keywords:

air hockey | boy dressed as girl | boy dressed as a girl

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1998 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

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 final basketball scene with Donna and Eric Donna's pigtails go between lying on her shoulders and being caught on the neck of her shirt.

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Quotes

Michael Kelso: Donna beat you at basketball?
Fez: Is this true, Eric?
Eric: Yeah, is that a big deal?
Steven Hyde: Of course not. Unless Donna happens to be, you know, a girl.
Michael Kelso: Especially a girl you love.
Fez: In my country, if a woman beats you it makes her want you.
Eric: Really?
Fez: Yeah, but this is America, wuss.

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Connections

References A Star Is Born (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Let It Ride"
Performed by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

User Reviews

Battle of the Sexists ****

Original Air Date: September 20th, 1998

With Red Forman low on work hours due to cutbacks, he drives his wife crazy with his incessant household fix-it spree. Meanwhile his son Eric is being driven crazy by the fact that the girl he loves has beaten him in one-on-one basketball. For the first time in the show's short history, there are no extravagant extra details (concerts, birthday parties, political rallies) going on in the lives of our favorite television family. In truth, that makes it hard to remember this is indeed a simple sitcom and not an every day slice of American life seen through comical goggles.

Every member of the cast plays at least a semi-integral role in the development of major situations, giving them all opportunities to shine instead of having one or two standouts among the crowd like the initial episodes. More depth is given to Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis) and Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson) during the episode's subplot which focuses on the annoying-but-comfortable relationship between Jackie and Kelso. More validity is given to the budding relationship between Eric and Donna. There's even more room for Wilmer Valderrama to expand on the mannerisms of his foreign exchange student personification, Fez. It's nice to see such intricate detail being woven into the fabric of these characters' interactions with one another and it was easy to see that the show would keep solidifying itself from here. Overall, "Battle of the Sexists" might not be one of the most memorable installments from the first season, but you could do a whole lot worse with other television tidbits from the same era.

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