credit: www.amazon.com
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 17, 2006
Number of Discs: 4
Number of Episodes: 25
Running Time: 547 Minutes
MSRP: $49.98
Creator:
Bonnie Turner & Terry Turner & Mark Brazill
Cast:
Topher Grace..”¦”¦..Eric Forman
Laura Prepon..”¦”¦..Donna Pinciotti
Danny Masterson..”¦”¦..Steven Hyde
Ashton Kutcher..”¦”¦..Michael Kelso
Wilmer Valderrama..”¦”¦..Fez
Mila Kunis..”¦”¦..Jackie Burkhart
Kurtwood Smith..”¦”¦..Reginald “Red” Forman
Debra Jo Rupp..”¦”¦..Kitty Forman
The show:
That 70’s Show, the continuing adventures of six friends as they survive the 70’s has always been a pretty top-notch show as far as 90’s sitcoms go; certainly not a classic like Seinfeld, but good enough to have an eight season run. Remember when Ashton Kutcher was just another kid on this show and not out punking people and married to Demi Moore? Those were better days.
Season 4 ended with Donna and Kelso running off to California. This season picks up at the end of the summer and Eric has decided he’s going to California (the name of the episode) to find her and win her back. In fact every episode this season is named after a Led Zeppelin song. And it’s not just a clever gimmick either; the name does have some relevance to the plot of the episode.
Season 5 brings the kids into their senior year of high school. They’re a little bit older and well, not much wiser. Tensions brew as Jackie starts dating Hyde, leaving Kelso fuming. Donna gets shipped of to catholic school for running away opening up the door for every catholic schoolgirl joke under the sun. She does look pretty good in that outfit though. Kitty is going through menopause making her act super crazy, and to everyone’s surprise Fez finally loses his virginity.
It’s 1978 (so says the license plate during the opening credits) now so that opens the door for some humorous Star Wars jokes. Of which Eric is a huge fan, much to everyone else’s dismay. The show is very humorous, if you watch it odds are high you’ll laugh. However, the season starts off slow, a chuck of this falls on the Jessica Simpson cameo. As soon as she’s gone the episodes start improving and the laughs get better and better. Simpson does come again later in the season, but it’s not all bad. Jackie constantly insults her intelligence as Simpson plays an idiot, not a huge stretch for her.
Not all the cameos are bad. Betty White plays Kitty’s mom and is utterly hilarious. Then in one episode you get Bobcat Goldthwait, Seth Green, and the always-funny Fred Willard. All-in-all this is a pretty solid season. Maybe not worth owning, but certainly worth a rental.
Episodes:
Disc One:
Going To California
“Eric goes to California to try to persuade Donna to come home, while Kelso tries his hardest to persuade a young California beach babe to lose her virginity.”
Red: Let me tell you something. If the US Government decides to stick a tracking device up your ass, you say “Thank you!” …And “God bless America!”
I Can’t Quit You Baby
“Hyde and Jackie are busted while making out, and Donna and Eric learn their separate punishments for taking off to California.”
Eric: How was your first day?
Donna: Grim. This nun totally spanked me with a ruler.
Fez: Yet another reason I wish I was a ruler.
What Is And What Should Never Be
“Kitty tells a shocked Red that she’s pregnant while Kelso receives and equally shocking surprise when he sees Hyde and Jackie kissing in the Formans’ driveway.”
Red: Five generations, not one bald head in my family. Then you came along and-well, look at it. (bends over and points at his head) Children make me bald.
Heartbreaker
“Kitty gets more news from her doctor and Kelso vow to kick Hyde’s butt over Jackie — especially after learning everyone knew about their affair and no one told him.”
Eric: Oh no, look at the symptoms. Temperamental behavior, mood swings, facial hair… Oh, Dad, I think you have menopause
Ramble On
“While Eric doesn’t know what to do with an ugly ring Donna buys him, Fez is convinced the ring has magical powers after he wears it to an interview and ends up getting hired.”
Donna: How could you lose it?! I told you it was a symbol of our loving freakin’ relationship!
Over The Hills And Far Away
“Eric worries that he and Donna may end up going to separate colleges, and Jackie is upset that Hyde won’t promise to be faithful while she’s gone for the weekend.”
Kitty: What is wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head?
Kelso: Yes, I was. And up until now, everyone had the good grace not to mention it!
Hot Dog
“Eric is elated when Donna decides to keep the ring he bought her, while Red buys Kitty a dachshund puppy in a desperate attempt to calm her wild menopausal mood swings.”
Jackie: Okay look you! I’ve been thinking about all your conspiracy mumbo jumbo about presents and diamonds and buying me stuff. And I’ve realized that all your paranoid, delusional crap about romance is just a cover-up for you being cheap!
Disc Two:
Thank You
“Eric’s plan to announce his engagement to Donna at the Formans’ big Thanksgiving dinner ties in nicely with his ‘promotion’ to the adult table, but then Fez has to open his big mouth.”
Hyde: Hey Red, will you sign this? My gym teacher’s failing me because I won’t wear shorts.
Red: Why won’t you wear shorts?
Hyde: Would you wear shorts?
Red: Fine.
Black Dog
“Jackie is disappointed when she turns to Hyde for comfort and support after her father is sent to prison, and Fez finds love during a fingerprinting lesson at the DMV.”
Jackie: So come on Steven, let’s shave that beard!
Donna: Jackie, you just said that in a form of a cheer.
The Crunge
“When Eric learns that everyone (even Kelso!) scored higher than him on their SAT exams, he’s convinced that his distracting thoughts about Donna are the problem.”
Eric: I’m the man and the man’s the man and that’s just the way it is!
The Girl I Love
“Kitty throws a dinner party so Fez can introduce Nina tot he gang, but when Red asks Nina to fix a traffic ticket fro him, the evening quickly turns into a ‘Battle of the Gender Stars.'”
Jackie: So do you want to go to a Girl Scout Alumni pancake breakfast with me?
Hyde: I would rather put on a dress and dance with Kelso on Soul Train.
Misty Mountain Hop
“The Formans offer to help Jackie move her family’s possessions out of their foreclosed shi cabin only to arrive to find Kelso, Fez and Hyde partying it up.”
Red: What’s going on?
Kelso: Oh, just a classic case of hand stuck in vase.
Red: Well get it off. Or you’ll have a classic case of foot stuck in ass.
Your Time Is Gonna Come
“While Kitty faces her own grief over the death of her father, Jackie must deal with her feelings for Kelso after his blonde beach babe showed up from California.”
Jackie: I am not jealous. I just want to pop that inflatable bitch and watch her fly around the room.
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
“Kelso, Hyde and Jackie try to sort out their angled feelings for each other as Kitty, feelings rejected by her mother, refuses to get out of bed.”
Hyde: Well, I’m done with Jackie and I feel like a guy who had a 95 pound mole removed. A 95-pound, Donny-Osmond-loving, shoe-shopping, ice-capade-attending mole.
Disc Three:
When The Levee Breaks
“When Donna’s parents leave town, Eric lies to his parents so he and Donna can spend the weekend together, and Kitty makes a shocking discovery at the jewelry store.”
Red (to Fez): Don’t pussyfoot around! I make three calls, you’re back on that raft you floated in on
Whole Lotta Love
“Eric is delighted to receive the silent treatment from his father concerning his engagement to Donna, and Fez confesses that he finally lost his virginity wit h Nina.”
Fez: Hey, let’s not fight. We all saw a little of Jackie’s side boob. I think we all won.
The Battle Of Evermore
“Kitty hopes to create a bit of bonding between Red and Eric by entering them in a father/son competition, while Hyde’s bond with his father ends — but on a very high note!”
Charlie: You’ve disappointed me, son.
Mitch: What are you gonna do, lock me in the closet? (to everyone) HE LOCKS ME IN THE CLOSET!
Charlie: It’s a walk-in!
Hey Hey What Can I Do
“At the job fair, Kelso decides that becoming a cop will let him stay sexy forever, while Eric loses out on a job with a bank due to a bad reference from a very surprising source.”
Roy: I moved in with a wonderful woman.
Hyde: What happened?
Roy: She found out I was living there.
Bring It On Home
“Red and Kitty discover that Jackie, in her parents’ absence, has been staying in the basement with Hyde, and Fez feels insulted when he finally meets Nina’s parents.”
Red: Every time we have a spare room, you want to fill it up with a stray child. You’re like the old woman who lived in a shoe.
Kitty: Did you call me old?
No Quarter
“Jackie moves in with Donna and quickly takes over the whole room, Eric has to return Donna’s engagement ring, and Hyde gives Kelso a hard time at his new job.”
Fez: I’m too much of a man to say. But it involved a half-off sale, a crowded parking lot, and a pair of pants that made my ass look like an oil painting.
Trampled Under Foot
“Fez is crushed when Nina dumps him, but he takes Hyde’s advice and gives her the brush-off when she stops by the next day and says she wants to get back together.”
Eric: Aloofer… is that even a word?
Hyde: We can make it one… we have the technology.
Disc Four:
You Shook Me
“Fez freaks out after a sexy nurse in his dream morphs into Kelso, and Eric believes that his new job in a dog food factory means that he and Donna are ready to get married.”
Red: Why’s the dog on the counter?
Kitty: He likes to be taller!
Nobody’s Fault But Mine
“Fez is horrified when a boy who always gave him a hard time at school finds out about his Kelso sex dream, and Jackie breaks up with Hyde after he confesses he cheated on her.”
Fez: Ah, this is tomorrow’s school paper. Oh my god, on the front page, there’s a picture of me kissing Kelso by the lake.
Eric: Fez, why are you kissing Kelso by the lake?
Fez: We caught a fish, I was excited. I kissed the fish too, but, of course, they don’t show you that.
Immigrant Song
“When Kelso, Hyde and Fez climb the water tower as part of a senior prank, Fez gets arrested by the police, who then make a surprising discovery about the status of his student visa.”
Fez: Hey stop it, stop it! You two need to grow up and starting painting genitals on the water tower.
Celebration Day
“While Eric and Donna are excited about moving into their new apartment, Kelso and Hyde fight over Jackie, and Fez is heartbroken about having to leave America.”
Kelso: Hey Jackie! You’re going to love these cookies on the camping trip. They’re sweet and tasty, just like me.
Hyde: Kelso, this apple is just like you, too.
Kelso: You mean juicy and delicious?
Hyde: No, red and bruised. (punches Kelso)
Note: Episode descriptions take from the DVDs.
The DVD:
VIDEO: How does it look?
(Presented with a 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratio)
These episodes look fine. No complaints here.
AUDIO: How does it sound?
(Dolby Stereo)
The laughter gets kind of annoying but it’s a sitcom so it’s to be expected. Other than that the sound is just fine.
Extras:
Promo Spots: For each episode you get the original TV promo spot which kind of interesting, mostly it just ruins the bigger jokes in the episode.
Season 5 in 5 minutes: A super montage of the whole season in five minutes. Not really worthy the five minutes, especially if you’ve just watched the series.
A 70’s flashback with Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson: Each actor talks about his character and his time on the set. These are kind of interesting but as the only real special feature in this set, highly disappointing.
The Inside Pulse:
This is a funny show and worth going back and watching but not really worth owning. The special features are very week. No gag reel, no commentaries, nothing really worth watching.
