That 90s Show Season 2 Interview: Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith (Kitty and Red)

When That 70s Show aired on Fox in the ‘90s and early 2000s, the buddy sitcom contended with other ensemble series like Boy Meets World, My So-Called Life, and more, but there was something timeless about it. The tight-knit group withstood the test of eight seasons, and in 2023, Netflix brought us all back to Kitty and Red Forman’s house in Point Place, Wisconsin, as if no time had passed at all. That 90s Show was an ambitious reboot, but it managed to bring a fresh look at a new decade, introduced a new core group, and still satisfied fans of the original series' need for familiar faces. Now, with Season 2 available to stream, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith — Kitty and Red — sit down with Collider’s Steve Weintraub to talk about why this spin-off series has been such a success.

That 90s Show follows Leia Forman (Callie Haverda), Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and Donna Pinciotti’s (Laura Prepon) daughter, as she navigates new friendships and potential romantic relationships during a summer at her grandparents’ house. It invites back actors from the original series, including Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), Leo (Tommy Chong) and more, and establishes a new crew with Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen Runck, Mace Coronel as Jay Kelso, Reyn Doi as Ozzie, Sam Morelos as Nikki, and Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate.

During this interview with Rupp and Smith, the dynamic duo who once again open their home in the series to a group of teens, sit down to discuss how the two series compare. They talk about the success of Season 1 and why they believe it resonated with new fans and fans of the original. “It's a different show, but we have something strong to bring with us,” Rupp says, referring to her in-show granddaughter and her friends. It isn’t just the faces that changed, though, and during this conversation, Rupp and Smith discuss the difference between airing weekly on Fox and streaming on Netflix, film versus digital, and the vices you just can’t quite get away with these days.

For interviews, movie reviews, and more visit https://collider.com

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
  / collider  
  / collider  
  / collider