That ’70s Show
Summary
AlthoughThat ‘ LXX Showset up two different replacements for Eric Forman in its final time of year , the hit situation comedy could n’t get either of these characters to stick . It is never easy when a darling quality leaves a successful sitcom . All TV shows bank on the chemistry between their mold members to succeed , but sitcoms are peculiarly vulnerable to cast milk shake - ups . Since sitcoms are character - drive rather than plot - concenter , they tend to rely heavily on specific form member . This was certainly true forThat ‘ 70s Show ’s cast , who fine - tuned an iconic dynamic throughout the show ’s first seven seasons .
Jackie , Fez , Hyde , Kelso , Donna , and Eric were a memorable tout ensemble whose personalities were absolutely balanced . Even in its 2d season , That ‘ 70s Show ’s spinoffThat ‘ 90s Showstill scramble to work up a similar interplay between its heroes . However , That ‘ 70s Showwasn’t without its casting problem . One of the situation comedy ’s lead doer , Topher Grace , left the series at the end of season 7 to pursue other labor . As a answer , the case of Eric Forman was ship off to Africa to instruct , andThat ‘ seventy Show ’s final season start a long , fruitless hunting for Eric Forman ’s replacement .
Netflix ’s That ' ninety Show season 2 , part 2 convey Leia Forman and the teenager of Point Place back for more misadventures before the end of 2024 .
Charlie & Randy Were Both Set Up As Topher Grace’s Replacements For That ’70s Show Season 8
That ‘70s Show’s Final Season Struggled To Replace Its Protagonist
As strange as it seems , That ‘ 70s Showtried to replace Eric twice with two different characters in time of year 8.Neither Charlie nor Randy worked as an Eric replacement , but this did not stopThat ‘ 70 Showfrom pushing both lineament . Bret Harrison ’s Charlie was the show ’s first Eric substitute , appearing as early as time of year 7 , instalment 23 , “ Take It Or Leave It . ” A meek , feeble high shoal scholar , Charlie intend to take Eric ’s position throughout time of year 8 after Grace ’s character left for Africa . However , Harrison was offered a lead part inThe Loop , resulting in his character ’s unceremonious death .
Randy was a laid - back , suave , and challenging character who did n’t portion out Eric ’s insecurity or vulnerability .
Shockingly , That ‘ 70s Showkilled off Charliewhen the character fell off the water towboat off - screen . He was soon replaced by Josh Meyers ’ Randy , who supercede Eric ’s character in the crew throughout much of time of year 8 . introduce in time of year 8 , episode 2 , “ Somebody to Love , ” Randy was a laid - back , suave , and challenging lineament who did n’t apportion Eric ’s insecurities or vulnerabilities . Randy live a lot longer than Charlie , appearing in over 20 episodes . However , the show ’s attempt to replace Eric with this newcomer were doomed to failure since his personality did n’t gel well with the show ’s existing lineup .
Why Charlie & Randy Didn’t Work To Fill Eric’s Spot In The Gang
Charlie Was Too Meek While Randy Was Too Cool
Even if his role player was n’t busy with another project , Charlie could never have supervene upon Eric Forman inThat ‘ LXX Show . The character was too shy and docile to work as Eric ’s replacement , and his picture ignored a fortune of what made Eric funny . Although Eric was n’t physically imposing and was often a pushover , he was also fiercely challenging at times and surprisingly stubborn . Eric had a credible level of home contradictions , whereas Charlie was too one - government note . Admittedly , Eric’sThat ‘ 70s Showexitwasn’t particularly well - timed , but it was Charlie ’s personality itself that made him a frail champion .
Randy was too popular , well - liked , and cool to work out as a comedic fighter .
Meanwhile , Randy had the opposite problem . Like so many situation comedy characters blueprint in to replace survive protagonists , Randy was too popular , well - like , and cool to work out as a comedic hero . He was skilled with tools , charismatic , romantically well - adjusted , and kind to boot . While these qualities might have made Randy a nice guy to get laid in real life , they did n’t make for a appealing situation comedy protagonist . Instead of his flaws making him feel relatable , Randy ’s many positive attributes submit him deathly dull . Unlike Eric , no one could see themselves in this saint of ‘ 70s teenhood .
That ’70s Show’s Finale Admitted Its Charlie & Randy Mistakes
That ‘70s Show Didn’t Mention Either Character In Its Ending
That ‘ LXX Show ’s finale effectively admitted that Charlie and Randy did n’t forge when the show ’s finale brush aside both of themalmost entirely . Charlie ’s death merit a abbreviated mention , but this was mostly because it was one of very few canonical deaths to take place in the total serial . likewise , Randy did get one minor coming into court in the finale since he was season 8 ’s ostensible agonist . However , the two character made so little long-lived encroachment on the serial thatoneThat ‘ 70s Showtheoryposited the hypothesis that the final season never even happened .
Despite being brought in to supercede Eric , neither Charlie nor Randy contributed anything of note to the legacy ofThat ‘ 70s Show . That ‘ XC Showignored both characters , and it is rugged to argue the case for their virtue upon a re - watch . It is very open that both Charlie and Randy only subsist to fill a void , and their failure to replace Eric unknowingly provesThat ‘ 70s Showmay have been undecomposed off ending with season 7 .
