10 Things That 70s Show Got Wrong About the 70s

As a dedicated fan of ‘That ‘70s Show‘, I must say that my appreciation for the series has always been accompanied by a keen eye for detail and a love for historical accuracy. However, it seems that the writers of this beloved sitcom may have taken a few creative liberties in their portrayal of the 1970s, as I’ve come across several instances where they’ve stumbled upon the facts.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, “That ’70s Show” was a well-liked sitcom. This show was set during the years 1976 to 1979, offering a nostalgic glimpse of 1970s America, encompassing the societal concerns, pop culture fads, and fashion trends of that era. Stars such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were catapulted to fame by this beloved sitcom. However, “That ’70s Show” had its share of inaccuracies when depicting the 1970s. There were several aspects of the 1970s that the show got wrong, including pop culture references that didn’t exist and historical inaccuracies.

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10 Snack Pack Packaging

Do you recall the delightful Snack Packs? Those petite cups of pudding that my mom used to pack in my brown paper lunch bag for school back in the day? Snack Packs, as you might know, have been a part of our lives since 1968. It’s only natural, then, that characters on shows like That ’70s Show were often seen enjoying them. However, what stands out is their packaging – during the 1970s, Snack Packs came in aluminum/metal cans, not clear plastic ones. It wasn’t until 1984 that they switched to plastic containers, and it wasn’t until 1990 that the packaging became transparent.

9 Krispy Kreme

It’s worth noting that Snack Pack wasn’t the sole delicious item misrepresented on That ’70s Show. Krispy Kreme, a well-known doughnut brand, was frequently mentioned across the series. In fact, various characters were depicted carrying the distinctive white cardboard box with its bold, red cursive writing.

Despite being founded in 1937 and active in the 1970s, it wasn’t until the 2000s that Krispy Kreme entered Wisconsin, the location for That ’70s Show. However, it’s possible that these characters were secretly devoted Krispy Kreme enthusiasts, possibly making long trips across state borders to get their hands on these doughnuts.

8 Pull Tabs on Canned Beverages

Back in the groovy 70s, canned beverages like soda and beer had something unique – a little metal gadget called a pull tab. This nifty device was attached to the top of the can, and when you’d give it a tug, it would pop off, allowing you to enjoy your drink. Quite different from today’s easy-open tabs, those pull tabs were detachable from the container itself. But alas, like many things from that era, they seem to have disappeared with time.

Pull tabs, once commonly discarded on streets and considered harmful for both safety and the environment, were originally attached to cans of drinks like those shown in ‘That ’70s Show’. Nowadays, we observe characters drinking from cans with the contemporary, reusable stay-on tab. It’s fascinating how canned beverage history has evolved over time, isn’t it?

7 So Many Wrong Cars

In the 1970s, the Volkswagen Rabbit was quite a hit on the roads. However, in the series That ’70s Show, there seems to be a slight mistake regarding the cars. While the overall depiction of the car is fitting for the era, it’s important to note that the specific Volkswagen Rabbit shown in the show is actually from 1981, not the 1970s as might be suggested.

Hold on now, there’s an interesting twist. Unlike the period-accurate rest of the show, its captivating opening credits scene features the main characters traveling in a car amidst a traffic jam. However, it seems that these cars in the background aren’t from the 1970s as one might expect; they are actually vehicles from the 1990s instead. Does this mean they’re cruising around in a DeLorean like in Back to the Future?

6 1990s Spider-Man Bedsheets

Spider-Man, Marvel’s leading superhero, had already gained a significant following before actors like Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland took on the role. In fact, the character made his small screen debut in two different TV shows during the 1970s. One of these was a live-action series called “The Amazing Spider-Man,” which aired from 1977 to 1979, coinciding with the time period of the popular sitcom “That ’70s Show.” The other was an animated series simply titled “Spider-Man,” which ran from 1967 to 1970 and is famous for its memorable theme song.

Eric (played by Topher Grace) is often referred to as the resident nerd in “That ’70s Show.” One of his endearing quirks is his fascination with Manhattan’s web-slinging icon, Spider-Man; he even has Spider-Man cartoon bedsheets. While it’s perfectly fine for a high school student to have superhero bedsheets, the issue lies with the sheets themselves. Any ’90s kid can attest that these sheets are linked to the popular animated series, “Spider-Man” — not the one from the 1970s, but the one that ran from 1994 to 1998.

5 The Dark Lord of the Sith

In 1977, the initial release of Star Wars sparked a significant cultural impact, and this iconic franchise left its mark on shows like That ’70s Show. The show’s character Eric is an ardent Star Wars fan, often making references to it. However, at one point, he refers to Darth Vader as “the Dark Lord of the Sith.” Although this title is accurate, it’s important to note that fans from the 1970s wouldn’t have used the term “Sith,” since the concept didn’t surface until the novelization of The Empire Strikes Back in the 1980s.

4 Green Lightsaber

In “That ’70s Show,” there’s not just one mistake related to Star Wars. Even if you’re not a fan of the series, you might recognize a lightsaber – it’s one of the most renowned elements from Star Wars. However, only die-hard Star Wars fans would catch the inconsistency in “That ’70s Show.” In one scene, Randy (Josh Meyers), who was introduced late in the series, is depicted using a green lightsaber. But in the Star Wars universe, lightsabers are not available to characters outside of the Jedi Order, and they don’t come in green unless wielded by a Sith Lord.

In this image, there are a couple of inconsistencies to note. Firstly, the lightsaber Randy is holding appears to be a toy from “The Phantom Menace,” released in 1999 – long after the series ended. Secondly, green lightsabers didn’t debut until “Return of the Jedi” in 1983; therefore, the lightsaber should have been either blue or red instead.

3 Unreleased Music

The 1970s were a time that produced some unforgettable music. One of the most famous groups to emerge from this decade was ABBA, a Swedish pop quartet. ABBA ruled the airwaves with songs such as “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Mamma Mia”, and “Dancing Queen”. In an episode of That ’70s Show, characters Hyde (played by Danny Masterson) and Jackie (portrayed by Mila Kunis) are seen enjoying ABBA’s Greatest Hits, dancing to the catchy tune of “Dancing Queen”.

1976 saw the release of the album that matches the time period of this specific episode, but “Dancing Queen” was not part of it and wouldn’t be released for another year. Furthermore, in a different episode, the characters are heard playing Journey’s “Anyway You Want It,” which is interesting because this song didn’t debut until 1980, a year after the series ended.

2 Six Flags Name Change

As a movie enthusiast reminiscing about “That ’70s Show,” I can’t help but notice the characters’ affection for Six Flags theme parks, even though it seems a bit puzzling. In the episode titled “Everybody Loves Casey,” they refer to the park in Gurnee, Illinois as Six Flags. However, that’s only accurate if we were talking about 1984. During the ’70s, this very same park was known as Marriott’s Great America, not Six Flags Great America, which it didn’t become until 1984.

1 Certain Countries Didn’t Exist

It appears that Eric’s room contains an assortment of historical inconsistencies. Among other things, there’s a wall poster displaying various flags representing countries from across the globe. Yet, some of those nations were not in existence during the depicted time period of the show.

From the 1970s until 1991, Georgia and Estonia were part of the Soviet Union, having joined after the Russian Revolution in 1917. It wasn’t until the USSR was dismantled in 1991 that they regained their independence. Essentially, this poster displays flags from the international community during the 1990s, not the 1970s.

2024-11-03 23:39