Netflix Has Canceled 'That ‘90s Show' After 2 Seasons
Three parts and 26 episodes, it seems this 'That ‘70s Show' sequel is over.
Agatha All Along viewers are still mourning the death of Debra Jo Rupp’s Sharon Davis as she failed the first trial of the Witches’ Road, even after the episode following it has already premiered with its own noteworthy developments. Now, it seems she’s putting another character to bed, in this case for a second time. That character is Kitty Forman. Netflix has canceled its That ‘70s Show sequel series That ‘90s Show after two seasons, the second released in two parts in June and August, making for three total parts.
It was Rupp’s onscreen husband, Red Forman actor Kurtwood Smith, who made the announcement. “I know you have been asking me when Season 3 is coming, but I have tough news…Netflix will not be renewing,” he wrote on Instagram. “I just want to take a minute to say THANK YOU to all of the fans everywhere who supported and watched the show. You have come up to me in random parts of the world when I’m traveling and reached out to me through social media and just been so wonderful. I’ve loved every minute of getting to bring Grandpa Red to life for you all. I’ve said it before but it’s worth mentioning again…this show had so much heart behind it and the most wonderful cast, writers, directors, producers and crew an actor could hope to work with. Thanks for letting Red and Kitty, their grandkid, all their grandkids friends and neighbors, the original cast members of That 70’s Show and all of our wonderful guest cast members entertain you for two seasons. To steal Red Forman’s words…we aren’t going to be dumbasses…we will shop the show, because good grandparents would try hard to get these kids graduated from high school.” So yeah, there’s a promise to shop the show, let’s see if it goes anywhere. In fact, part 3’s premiere was expedited by about 2 months, it was originally set to be released in about three weeks on October 24. At least it lasted twice as long as That ‘80s Show, the original spinoff.
That ‘90s Show took place during the summers of 1995 and 1996, more than 15 years after the end of the original series. Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia, played by Callie Haverda, visits her grandparents in Point Place for the summer and makes a new group of friends she didn’t really have in Chicago, namely Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide), Jay Kelso (Mace Coronel), Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan), Ozzie (Reyn Doi) and Nikki (Sam Morelos). Interpersonal and romantic relationships form and grow, going into the next summer, but even through it all, things turn out alright. So much that by the end of season 2, jumps to subsequent summers were no longer going to happen as Leia convinced her mother, played once again by Laura Prepon, to let her go to school in Point Place.
After the initial publication of this article, several of Smith’s co-stars, stars of this series, commented on his post. Coronel, whose Jay Kelso is the son of Ashton Kutcher’s Michael and Mila Kunis’s Jackie Burkhart, who each put in their appearance in the series premiere, said, “Such an honor to meet and work with you.” Smith replied, “Mace, you’re a wonderful young man with a ton of talent to go along with it… it was [a] pleasure every day to see and work with you! Thanks for all those good days!”
Haverda called Smith “The best TV grandpa I could’ve asked for,” while Smith wrote back, “…and there couldn’t be a better TV granddaughter! Callie, I was blown away by your talent and growth as an actor. I really believed you were the offspring of Topher and Laura. Not to mention some natural comedy chops. Thanks.”
Unfortunately, it’s definitely the viewership for season 2 that spelled the show’s downfall. Part 2 only charted the Netflix Top 10 once, in its first full week of release, with 1.8 million views. The eight episodes of part 3, again released 2 months earlier than originally announced did not chart, meaning that they drew under 1.9 million views in that opening weekend, under 1.6 million views in its first full week and under 1.4 million views in its second week. To compare, season 1 opened big scoring 10.4 million views (41.08 million hours) in its first four days. Analysts very much believe it’s an awareness issue just as much, that people didn’t know or weren’t kept aware that season 2 was coming for either part. Which means they have barely any idea that this weird Doug-based fantasy, fully-animated and juuuuust enough of a knock-off to get by, happened. Watch it below.
Sources: Variety, What’s On Netflix, Deadline