EXCLUSIVE | 'That 90s Show' stars Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith felt 'delightful' returning to 'full house' again
‘That 70s Show’ became an instant hit when it started airing on FOX in 1998 and ran for eight seasons. Throughout its run, the series was a consistent performer for the network and became one of its flagship shows. Apart from having good comedy, the series also featured an extraordinary set of actors that went on to become successful Hollywood stars. However, there were two actors that managed to take everyone by storm with their impeccable acting and comedic timing. Yes, we are talking about Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith.
The iconic actors played the role of Kitty (Rupp) and Red (Smith) in the original series and 17 years later, the legendary duo is now coming back to reprise their respective roles in the spin-off series ‘That 90s Show’. Set in the mid-90s, the series primarily focuses on Leia Forman, the teenage daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti, forming bonds with other teenagers as she spends the summer of 1995 with her grandparents, Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) in Point Place, Wisconsin, two decades after the events of ‘That '70s Show’.
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The grandparents now have the duty to raise a child once again and see her grow becoming a wise, young woman. It’s going to be a fun ride for them as they embark on a new journey after so many years. So, how do Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith feel about returning to Point Place, Wisconsin? To know the answer, MEAWW caught up with the iconic actors and discussed the new series and how they felt when they saw the original cast members once again.
‘That 70s Show’ is a classic and even the new generation is watching the show and loving it. How did you feel when you returned to the same setting and saw a full house again?
Debra: Debra Jo and Katie had two different reactions. Okay, I see where I was going with that. Stepping onto the set, it was overwhelming. It was just overwhelming because all those memories just come flooding in. When you're older, you learn to take it all in and appreciate it. When you're younger, you probably freak out, but older people take it in and appreciate it. It was energetic, it very much helped define the two different decades. Now Kitty Forman was just delighted. There was just delight. A full house again, noise, being able to cook for a lot of people. That's kind of where I was.
Smith: I've forgotten what the question was. (laughs) But I think it had to do with when we first got on the show, how did we feel? I was very excited to be back home. You know, I thought it was very wonderful, and warm and felt really amazing, especially when I saw Red’s new, comfortable chair. It's been a lot of time sitting on those chairs. You know, it was nice, have a nice comfy one. We had such a great time on the 70 show, you know, and you can't help but then go back onto the set, and it's basically the same set with a few fresh elements. It was a very warm, peaceful feeling.
We have seen a lot of spin-off shows or revivals in recent years. You guys serve as producers on this series as well. So, did you look at those revivals and prepared some guidelines of what to do and what not to do?
Debra Jo: I did not personally. I trusted the creators who came from ‘That 70s Show’. We had the same people and our showrunner, Greg Mettler was a writer on the original show, and they came from where we came from. So I trusted that we were all on the same page, you know, and that life would continue in point place Wisconsin nicely.
You were amazing as parents on ‘That 70s Show’, but the stakes are higher this time around for Red and Kitty. They are grandparents now and are responsible for raising a beautiful granddaughter. Is there any difference between Red and Kitty as parents and Red and Kitty as grandparents?
Smith: Well, I think that for Red in particular, I think he's a little bit more easy-going when it comes to raising a child because I think he saw the good aspects of how he had been kind of stern with Eric (Topher Grace), and also the negative parts. So he's just trying to make sure that his little granddaughter gets the best.
Debra Jo: She's not totally responsible anymore. There’s a scene in one of the episodes where something happens with Leia, and she calls Donna and she goes, ‘Come fix this, you know, I'm done’. So, I think Kitty rather enjoys that aspect.
How did you guys feel when you saw Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, and other original characters reprising their roles again? It must have been special seeing them so good in their lives.
Debra Jo: Well, first I cried, and then I just puffed up, because I was so proud of them. I was really proud of them.
Smith: We knew them when they were teenagers for the most part. That's a long stretch to where they are now as young, middle-aged people. I think that, as Debra Jo said, we take great pride in them. They're like members of the family, maybe even closer than some members of the family, especially Jo’s family (laughs). It was just happy times, seeing them back.
As Red and Kitty, what would you like to say to your fans?
Debra Jo: Well, I think for me a large part of the ‘That 70s Show’ was family, but it's also about a small town Point Place, Wisconsin. I would like to invite them back to Point Place, Wisconsin. 17 years later, life has moved on, and life continues.
Smith: Life has moved on except for the home of Red and Kitty.
Debra Jo: Well, they're challenged. They don't get on their deck or don't even get out for a little while. You (Smith) don’t ever get out.
Smith: Yeah, you are right. Yeah.
The series also stars Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi, and Sam Morelos in pivotal roles.
'That 90s Show' will be available for streaming on Netflix on January 19.