When That 70's Show debuted on Fox 8 years ago, I expected to totally get into it. After all, being that I was born in 1963 and spent the better part of the 1970's in school, had Farrah Fawcett, Cheryl Tiegs and KISS posters in my room, surely I would be able to identify with some of the characters. I watched a few episodes that 1st season, thought they were funny, but just didn’t stick with the show. I'm not even sure why, I just kind of fell away. Then, as the show and its stars became more and more popular I stayed away on purpose, tired of hearing all about Ashton Kutcher. It wasn't until last year, when Fox started releasing the DVD sets of the series that I started to get into it. I re-watched that 1st season, then moved on to the 2nd and 3rd as they became available. One thing was for certain, that despite the show's popularity… it was actually really funny.

It wasn't like most period shows, which try to present a realistic version of life. Instead the time period was presented as more of a caricature. Everything was overdone, often to the point of being extremely silly.

All of the actors had the appropriate hairdos and clothes and though none of them ever lived in the 70's, they embodied the time period perfectly. But none more so than Laura Prepon, who played Donna. Of course, I might have been a little jaded as her style of clothes and lengthy red hair reminded me exactly of my high school girlfriend Mary-Ann. And I was surprised to find that I enjoyed Kutcher a lot more than I thought I would, often wondering jut how close in personality to the dim-witted Kelso he actually was.

The hardest character for me to totally believe was Eric's dad, played by Kurtwood Smith. Don’t get me wrong, Smith just about makes the show for me in many of the episodes, but for those first few appearances, I just couldn't get the image of him as Clarence Boedecker in Robocop out of my head. He played one of the most ruthless and cold-blooded criminals in any movie up to that point and every time I'd see him in That 70's Show, that's who I pictured. Considering having to contend with that image, Smith turned out to be an incredibly gifted comedian and he was absolutely hysterical in the series.

One of the other things about the show that I began to appreciate, having started to watch later episodes in syndication, was that it became a haven for 70's TV stars. Every season would have its share of guest stars. Some even stayed with the show for more than an episode or two. The series continued to be popular enough to last a full 8 seasons having lowered the curtain just a few months ago.

Fox Home Entertainment is releasing the 5th Season on DVD this week, delivering another 25 'groovy' episodes. The last few sets had commentaries, but there are none to be found here. This time we have some promos spots and a featurette that teams Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson in a little bit of a flashback style piece. Finally, there is a clip featurette that basically tells the story arc of the 5th season in five minutes.

I don’t think I ever gave "That 70's Show" the credit it deserved in terms of being funny. Granted, in later seasons it became a little more difficult for the series to maintain its momentum, but it still delivered the laughs (at least the few later episodes that I've seen.) I still get a kick out of one of the show's signature pieces, which finds some of the Teens sitting in a dark basement passing a joint around. While I never did this in High School (or actually at all in my life - no really!!), I had a lot of friends who did. I'd still hang out with them (I was permanent designated driver) and never ceased to get a good laugh out of the ridiculous conversations they'd have while stoned.

Episodes:
Going to California
I Can't Quit You Baby
What is and What Should Never Be
Heartbreaker
Ramble On
Over the Hills and Far Away
Hot Dog
Thank You
Black Dog
The Crunge
The Girl I Love
Misty Mountain Hop
Your Time is Gonna Come
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
When the Levee Breaks
Whole Lotta Love
The Battle of Evermore
Hey Hey What Can I Do
Bring it on Home
No Quarter
Trampled Under Foot
You Shook Me
Nobody's Fault But Mine
Immigrant Song
Celebration Day

Starring: Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith
Extras: Episode Promo Spots, Season 5 in 5 minutes, A 70's Flashback - Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson
Specifications: Full Frame, Dolby Digital Stereo
Studio: Fox
Release Date: 10/17/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
Website

We'll give That 70's Show: Season 5 a B-.