Rules The Cast Of That ’70s Show Couldn’t Break

In the 1970s, they knew how to dance to their own beat and challenge authority, but certain guidelines in life are non-negotiable, especially during rebellious teenage years. This was also true for the cast of “That ’70s Show,” who had to adhere strictly to a set of instructions, whether on set or promoting the show. Occasionally, they embraced these rules wholeheartedly, but at times, they defied them, seeking their unique paths in life and influencing the show’s narrative along the way.

The authorities in charge made every effort to ensure the group adhered to these rules, whether they turned out beneficial or not. However, what specifically did the young actors have to do? We’ve assembled a list of essential guidelines that the cast of “That 70’s Show” had to follow under all circumstances. As time went on, some of these rules ended up being quite restrictive for certain cast members; nonetheless, they continue to reminisce about the sitcom with warmth and the same type of nostalgia shared by its viewers.

The main idea remains the same: The given text discusses rules that the cast of “That 70’s Show” had to follow, and how some of these rules were restrictive but did not diminish their fond memories of the show.

They couldn’t really get high in those circle scenes

The TV series “That ’70s Show” gained popularity for its circular setups where the main characters would sit together, seemingly smoking marijuana. However, it’s important to note that no actors were actually under the influence on set – this was strictly prohibited. Since the show was filmed at CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles, rules regarding the employment of minors and California’s marijuana laws prevented the cast from smoking real joints. So, you might wonder, how did they create those hazy circle scenes? Well, they used prop joints and clever camera angles to give the illusion of marijuana smoke without breaking any rules.

As stated by Danny Masterson, who portrayed the rebellious character Steven Hyde, they combined real cigarettes and smoke effects from Hollywood set machines. Masterson explained to Smashing Interviews Magazine that he, Laura Prepon, and Ashton Kutcher were smoking cigarettes during filming. They would hide their cigarettes and inhale artificial smoke that had a strawberry scent, resembling incense in the background. This technique was effective on screen, with these instances becoming memorable. This is merely one instance where actors got innovative while supposedly using drugs for their roles.

They had to do a special backstage ritual before every taping

Many TV show casts follow unique traditions they observe before filming begins, almost like personal guidelines. These can range from a prayer to a pep talk or cheer. The cast of “That ’70s Show” was no exception; they had a specific ritual that they performed prior to each taping. This tidbit was shared by Wilmer Valderrama (who played the lovable foreign exchange student Fez) in an interview with ABC News, where he disclosed details about their special tradition.

In an interesting twist, Valderrama shared that prior to starting each episode, the cast would gather in a circle, much like a sports team does. He explained that they would interlock their hands in the center of the circle, discuss a word to symbolize the episode, and then disband. As time passed, Valderrama confessed that the words chosen for this ritual grew increasingly silly, leading to much laughter among the actors. “From Season 1 to Season 8,” he noted, “the selected words became more and more absurd.

As situations grew more intense, they all drew nearer together, leading to the lively acts audiences grew accustomed to from the series each week. Over time, as seasons passed, you could see them growing increasingly at ease with their roles – in fact, Topher Grace (who portrayed Eric Forman) confided to Chicks in the Office that early episodes weren’t particularly strong, admitting, “Since many of us were new to acting, including myself.

They had to keep their hairstyles show-ready

One appealing aspect of “That ’70’s Show” is its authentic portrayal of the era, from the stylish set decorations to the trendy clothing and iconic hairstyles sported by the characters. However, not all actors were fond of wearing period-appropriate hairdos; notably, Topher Grace disliked the “helmet hair” he was required to wear as Eric Forman. Despite his objections, he endured the style for a considerable length of time – until he needed to cut his hair for a different film role. The makeup team’s remedy was quite straightforward and left the actor puzzled – they merely placed a wig on his head. “Once we understood how well the wig functioned,” Grace told Time magazine, “I was kicking myself. I’d had the hairstyle for five years.

Two notable hair transformation incidents took place on the set of “That ’70s Show.” Spectators frequently pondered the reason behind Donna’s hair color shift from red to blonde, and the reality is that Laura Prepon altered it for her role in “Karla,” and this alteration persisted throughout Donna’s character during the series’ final two seasons. In contrast, Debra Jo Rupp opted to part ways with her iconic Kitty flip towards the end of the show, and this change was incorporated into the script as Kitty accidentally damaging her hair while attempting to charm Red (Kurtwood Smith). The producers made an effort to instate a no-haircut policy, but occasionally, actors may defy such rules if they seek alternative roles or simply grow tired of their long-standing hairstyle.

Mila Kunis had to take study breaks

California law requires child actors to have extensive academic work alongside their acting roles; entertainers active in Hollywood prior to the debut of “That ’70s Show” have long advocated for this privilege. When Mila Kunis, aged 14, joined the cast of “That ’70’s Show”, her education became equally important. She divided her time between studying with an on-set tutor and attending classes at a nearby school – a setup that served her well initially as she maintained a 3.8 GPA at one point.

In an interview with “The Jess Cagle Podcast with Julia Cunningham” (as reported by Gallatin News), Kunis described her schedule as unpredictable at that time. She mentioned having tutors while filming and the irregular pattern of sitcoms, such as three weeks on, one week off; or two weeks on, one week off. During these off-weeks, she could engage in other projects if her schedule allowed, or she would return to public school. This explains why her actions might have appeared erratic, frequently disappearing and reappearing from her public high school for work and then returning to complete her studies on set.

During her school years, Kunis found it challenging to fit in because people constantly recognized her as a TV star. “Kids would approach me with magazines, asking for my autograph,” she explained. “And when I was trying to blend in, that didn’t help.” After finishing high school, Kunis eventually attended UCLA and Loyola Marymount University but ultimately dropped out. Despite her intention to earn a degree, as everyone in her family is college-educated, her career took precedence, and she never managed to achieve it.

They had to obey the writers even if it made them feel uncomfortable

Fans of the TV series “That ’70’s Show” have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with certain storylines in Season 8, particularly the plot twists which didn’t sit well with many viewers. It appears that even behind the scenes, these decisions were met with criticism. Mila Kunis, for instance, has publicly expressed her disapproval of Jackie’s romantic life, as her character’s frequent changes in partners was a point of contention for Kunis herself and her family, causing embarrassment.

On “The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn,” as reported by Business Insider, Kunis confessed that she found Jackie’s frequent kissing of male characters on the show challenging to handle. She jokingly said, “I was the only one who didn’t kiss Topher, but I kissed every other guy.” Jackie’s affectionate smooches didn’t end there; she even kissed some guest characters. When Kilborn inquired about the writing team’s intentions, Kunis admitted, “I’m not sure what they were planning.” However, issues arose when Jackie’s storyline on “That ’90’s Show” developed her into an on-again-off-again love interest of Kelso and involved her in the business world instead of keeping her with Fez. Regardless, she remained positive about her role and commended “That ’90’s Show” overall.

In an interview with The Today Show, Wilmer Valderrama, who played Fez in the sitcom “That ’70s Show”, defended the show’s writing room and explained his creative process for developing Fez’s unique accent. He combined various accents to create a distinctive sound, which he was allowed to continue using. Valderrama stated, “I felt that this accent added another layer to the character, offering a fresh aesthetic I hadn’t seen on TV before.” He was given the freedom to draw inspiration from multiple sources, allowing him to bring depth and originality to Fez.

You had to be a role model

The Point Place gang, as depicted, would never be seen as role models by others. They secretly drink alcohol, smoke in Eric’s basement, and occasionally ditch school. However, within the show “That ’70s Show”, the cast members viewed each other as role models, particularly Mila Kunis who sought guidance from her older co-stars. She admired them greatly, finding them cool and more sophisticated than herself. In fact, she modeled her behavior based on their actions since everyone in the cast was older than her. Kunis credited her fellow cast members for keeping her on the right path, discouraging her from engaging in risky behaviors.

She explained to Vanity Fair that she stayed drug-free during her time on “That 70’s Show” because no one else on set used drugs, which she admired and looked up to. At just 14, the course of her career and life could have taken many different paths, but it didn’t. She added that if she ever felt belittled while working, her castmates would defend her. Now, despite not having watched a full episode in years, she still cherishes that time, as it brings back memories of her adolescence – something she sometimes finds difficult to revisit.

Absolutely, it’s understandable that her older peers would have interacted differently with her. For one, she wasn’t included in the group’s regular poker games with beer, as a youngster. Even Ashton Kutcher, her future husband, admitted to treating her differently because of their age gap. In an interview with People magazine, he shared that kissing her was nerve-wracking for him. He felt like a “little girl” and he was the one who had butterflies, while she seemed experienced and cool about it.

They couldn’t actually drive the Vista Cruiser

In “That ’70’s Show,” the Vista Cruiser might have given a smooth ride in the series, but the cast members weren’t permitted to drive it for real. The reason being that the car shown on screen was mechanically unsound under its hood and couldn’t run. Consequently, the actors had to pretend driving it, from their lively opening songs to their depicted road trips across the country. This was achieved using green screens and various special effects.

After the show wrapped up, it was actually Wilmer Valderrama who purchased the famous car prop. He shared with People that he had to hire a mechanic to restore its functionality after spending $500 on acquiring it from the props department. Despite the engine issues, the actor fondly reminisced about the vehicle and how it brought back memories of his time on set. “All those little dents, the nose dent… there’s still residue from tape used for microphones and velcro from when they hung the lights,” he explained.

Mila Kunis had to wear platform shoes because of her height

In the groovy ’70s, it wasn’t just about towering footwear being fashionable, but for me, a petite 5’4″ actress like myself, it was a necessity to stay on par with my co-star Laura Prepon who stood six inches taller. To keep our scenes engaging, the directors often came up with reasons for us to be seated when interacting. However, when standing was inevitable, I was often given platform shoes – a perfect fit for the era that ensured both me and the show’s tall actors could share the limelight in the same shot.

In the scenes they appeared together, Mila Kunis and her husband Ashton Kutcher (who stands at 6’3″) faced difficulties due to their height difference, an issue that extended into their married life. During an interview on “Hot Ones”, she admitted that at home, she frequently stands on her tiptoes because their house is designed for someone of Kutcher’s stature. She jokingly added that she has ladders scattered everywhere: one in the closet and another in the kitchen, as she can’t reach things by herself!

Don’t mention Donna’s sisters

There are several characters from “That 70’s Show” that fans seldom discuss – like Randy Pearson (Josh Meyers) for instance – but let’s focus on those who were written out of the storyline because they were effectively erased, such as Donna’s little sister Tina (Amanda Fuller). She was last seen in Season 1 and afterwards, neither Donna nor her father Bob (Don Star) would ever refer to her again, despite a brief mention in Season 2’s “Vanstock” during an inside joke. Fans at least got to meet Tina, but there is another Pinciotti sibling unaccounted for. Similarly, Donna briefly mentions an older sister, Valerie, who never appeared on screen as a character. At some point, the writers chose to portray Donna as an only child, so her sisters were no longer mentioned.

Back in the day, I had a brief stint working with Laura Prepon, little did I know our paths would cross again years later on “Orange is the New Black”. In this hit Netflix series, she transformed into Madison “Badison” Murphy, a secondary antagonist in Season 6. As fate would have it, we shared some common acquaintances and it felt like deja vu when I found myself working alongside her again. It was quite surreal, we were both thinking, ‘This can’t be happening!’ It wasn’t the full-circle moment I ever expected, but it was a pleasant surprise to reconnect with Laura under these circumstances, making the experience all the more enjoyable.

Don’t do anything stupid

In the show “That ’70s Show,” Eric and his companions often engage in goofy activities such as spending time at an old water tower in town. Notably, several characters took a tumble from it at various instances, with some falling more than once. Despite their characters occasionally being foolish on screen, the cast adhered to a personal rule during filming: Avoid any real-life foolishness.

In essence, Danny Masterson, being the oldest member of the main cast, served as their de facto leader, issuing a decree. According to Ashton Kutcher, Masterson cautioned his younger colleagues about engaging in actions that could potentially endanger the show’s future. Masterson allegedly expressed this advice during an interview with Esquire in the following manner: “He essentially said, ‘One rule: Don’t do anything foolish and mess things up. Because if you mess things up, you mess things up for everyone.’

Indeed, it has been made clear that Masterson, who seemed like an exemplary figure, had a darker side: He was found guilty of two rape charges in 2024, earning him a sentence of thirty years to life. These crimes were committed in 2003, during his time portraying Hyde on “That ’70s Show.” After this revelation, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis received criticism when it was discovered they had written letters to the judge in support of Masterson. Given their leadership role within the group, it may have been the reason for their initial backing, but their actions were widely condemned and they eventually issued an apology.

2025-03-26 21:31