Netflix’s ‘That ’90s Show’ stars the children of the original ‘That ’70s Show’ group of friends, and while their dynamic is very similar to that of their parents, the ’90s make their experiences very different .
The series spin-off brings back Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama, Laura Prepon and Topher Grace (who can be seen at free movie “American Ultra” on ViX), but the focus is on the younger generation.
Leia Forman, Nate, Nikki, Ozzie, Gwen Runck and Jay Kelso all experience their teenage years in 1995, so the series is full of references and details to the pop culture of the time. Here some of the most important.
Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” on “That’90s Show”
In one of the episodes of the new series, Leia (Callie Haverda) wants to impress Jay (Mace Coronel) and one of the movies mentioned is ‘Clerks’ starring and directed by Kevin Smith.
Smith’s movie came out in 1994 and is a comedy that became a cultural phenomenon because it’s full of teenage slang, so it’s obvious that Jay is a fan of the movie, even if Leia doesn’t know Smith.
- It also stars Ashton Kutcher, who plays Jay’s father ‘Killers’, which is available on ViX+, ViX’s premium streaming service.
The ’90’s Show’ and the birth of reality shows on MTV
In the Netflix series, Leia and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) run into an old acquaintance from ‘That 70s Show’, Leo (Tommy Chong), who is on a spiritual journey as always.
But Leo manages to say that he is excited about “The Real World,” an MTV show that first aired in 1992. Leo even made an audition video for the show.
The reality show focused on a group of strangers who had to live together in a house with cameras recording their every move and interaction. Its success was such that since then reality shows have become very famous.
The Little Bee Girl from “No Rain” on “That ’90s Show”
In the series, Ozzie (Reyn Doi) appears in a scene dancing in an old bee costume he found in the garage, while the song “No Rain” by Blind Melon plays.
In 1992 Blind Melon’s song ‘No Rain’ became a hit thanks to the explosion of the music video featuring a cute little girl dancing in a bee costume.
The 9-year-old girl, known as the Bee Girl, is named Heather DeLoach and her appeal was such that she even appeared at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards and in ‘A Little Princess (1995) and ‘The Beautician and the Beast’ (1997 ).
‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ on ‘That ’90s Show’ Has an Original Actor from the Series
In the sixth episode of the series, Leia explains her fanaticism and that she has marathoned the series ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’, a program that in 1995 was in the middle of its tenth season on the air.
Even Leia compares her love life to Brenda Walsh’s (Shannen Doherty) character, who can’t be with her love, so Leia would like to be like Donna Martin (Tori Spelling), the popular blonde girl.
The series doesn’t only have these references, and a scene in which Leia imagines her life as ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ also has a special appearance by Brian Austin Green, one of the original actors of the series.
Blockbuster and ’90s Movies on “That’90s Show”
One of the biggest references and one that perfectly captures the 90s vibe of the series is the presence of a movie store where titles can be rented for several days.
In the 1990s, Blockbuster stores were the most popular in this regard, and many kids of the era will remember going there on the weekends to rent new releases and have a movie night at home.
Just like Leia does when she goes to the store where Jay works. Although he says his favorite is “Clerks,” it’s actually “Free Willy” or “Liberen a Willy” in Spanish, a 1993 hit.
Fashion, ‘Sassy’ magazine and Zima drink at ‘That ’90s Show’
In the Netflix series, you can tell that the boys are living in the 90s by the way they dress in bright colors or by the way Leia reads “Sassy” magazine, a publication (1988-1996) dedicated to teenagers and with a feminist approach.
Another thing that 90s kids will remember is the fizzy drink called Zima, which was popular at the time as clear, as well as Clear Pepsi.
Source: univision
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
