I really do like “That 70s Show.” There’s something about it that reminds me of what it was like to be a teenager – even though I wasn’t a teenager in the 70s and I didn’t do nearly as many things as the kids did on Eric Foreman’s street.

As I was watching the third season on DVD, my wife made a disparaging comment about the show, mainly aimed at the overt drug references. Even though I’ve never used pot nor do I particularly like marijuana jokes, I came to the show’s defense.

You see, “That 70s Show” isn’t a family sit-com. Oh, there are families in it, but it’s not a show for the family. After all, most of the plots involve the teenagers trying to procure beer, smoke pot and have underage sex. It’s not exactly the model show you want your impressionable kids watching. Even though it is the modern version of “Happy Days,” it doesn’t have the same market.

Rather, “That 70s Show” is made for adults who remember what it was like to be a teenager. Even the most straight-and-narrow kid sneaked around for beer – at least once or twice. And every teenager is filled with hormones that caused our bodies to react in a variety of strange and unusual ways. It’s not stuff you’ll necessarily talk about with your kid, but you will remember it.

By the time “That 70s Show” hit its third season, it was in a stride. Its contracted first two seasons were a hit, and the characters had all been established. There was a danger of reusing certain plot points and ideas, but the writers steered away from this by that time. Also, because the show had become such a mainstream hit, it was unnecessary to remind the audience at every turn that we were in the 70s. It offered the writers and directors to develop the characters a bit and move them out of their role of sustaining a nostalgic moment.

There are some casualties of the show’s characters growth, mainly Eric Foreman’s sister Laurie (Lisa Robin Kelly). She served as a point in the love triangle with Kelso and Jackie, but now she had lost her use. In fact, when she was dropped from the series about half-way through this season, she doesn’t even get a final performance... just a jock walking out of her bedroom as a forlorn Kelso looks on.

However, while some characters saw some growth, others fell into the stereotypes they’ll inhabit on the show. There were attempts to give both Hyde and Jackie some depth. (Not surprising, there was no attempt to deepen Kelso’s idiot savant character.) However, things never gelled with them, and the focus of the show remains on Foreman and Donna. Fez also breaks some new ground, including getting a steady girlfriend for the first time.

The third season DVD set comes with fewer special features this time around. The shows have introductions by the cast members, but these are somewhat lame, as the actors really don’t seem prepared to talk about them. Of course, there are audio commentaries on selected episodes, which are of the same quality from previous seasons.

Like season two, the season three set includes a recap of the funniest moments of the season. There’s also previews of selected episodes, featuring the promos shown on FOX prior to the show’s airings.

If you enjoy the show, and if you’ve caught the first two seasons on DVD, this third season is a great bet. The show clearly hits a stride by this year, and it’s enjoyable. Sadly, being its third year, it has also lost a little novelty, but it keeps the energy throughout the season.



Specifications: Dolby Surround Sound. Fullscreen (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.