Was That '80s Show Connected To That '70s Show? (Links Explained)

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That '80s Show was a spinoff from That '70s Show which premiered on Fox in January 2002, but the connections between the shows were few and far between. The spinoff never lived up to the success of its parent show and was canceled four months later, ending up with a 13 episode run. Aside from their names, That '80s Show and That '70s Show didn't appear to be all that much connected. However, a few links between the two sitcoms came to light, which incidentally became the only legacy left behind by That '80s Show.

Initially, Fox wanted to do a more direct spinoff from That '70s Show but ended up doing a show set in another decade. In the end, That '70s Show also got canceled, but not before becoming a beloved hit with a large audience. That '80s Show stumbled from the get-go. It also featured a teen ensemble that was consumed by the popular culture of their time, but the spinoff never excited the viewers like That '70s Show did. If That '80s Show had maintained stronger links to its predecessor, things might have turned out differently. Instead, it fell into sitcom oblivion, only to be heard from when freaks and geeks come out to discuss the odd connections between their favorite sitcoms and their failed spinoffs.

Related: That '70s Show: Which Character James Franco Auditioned For

The only clear-cut on-screen link between That '80s Show and That '70s Show was the fact that Glenn Howerton’s character Corey Howard was the first cousin of Topher Grace's Eric Forman. Off-screen, however, a lot of people were involved in both shows. Mark Brazill and Terry Turner co-created both That '80s Show and That '70s Show, Ronald W. Browne did all the cinematography, while David Trainer and Terry Hughes directed all episodes. A fun fact