WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 2!
Summary
Netflix’sThat ‘90s Showmakes a reference to a movie that stars a recurring actor fromThat ‘70s Show, creating a paradox with her missing character. ConsideringThat ‘70s Showwas a pop culture staple in the late-’90s and early ‘00s, it was bound to be the case that references to certain actors, movies, and pop culture events of that era would create paradoxes inThat ‘90s Show. However,That ‘90s Showseason 2’s referencethat breaks the foundation ofThat ‘70s Show’s reality isn’t even related to the 1990s, as the culprit is a controversial movie from 1980.
Now with an elevated role inThat ‘90s Showseason 2’s cast, Don Stark’s Bob Pinciotti ends up walking in on Jay and Leia kissing in her room after revealing that he’s buying the house across the street. A shockedBob reacts to the sight by asking, “What in the Blue Lagoon is going on here?,” before rushing Jay downstairs to meet Red Forman’s foot-based wrath. While Bob’s reference to the 1980 movieBlue Lagoonmakes little sense considering it implies that Jay and Leia are cousins, it also confirms aThat ‘70s Showactor exists withinThat ‘90s Show’s world.
Bob’s Blue Lagoon Reference In That ’90s Show Creates A Paradox With Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields previously appeared in That ’70s Show
With Bob making an explicit reference toBlue Lagoon, Brooke Shields now officially exists withinThat ‘90s Show’s universe. A 14-year-old Brooke Shields starred inBlue Lagoonas Emmeline Lestrange, who grows up stranded alone on an island with her cousin after being shipwrecked as a child.Blue Lagoonwas one ofShields’ biggest breakout movie roles, so there’s no way that Bob would know that movie without knowing who the main actress was. Therein lies the problem, asBrooke Shields also starred inThat ’70s Showas Jackie’s mom, Pam Burkhart, who even dated Bob in a multi-episode arc.
Brooke Shields appeared in six episodes ofThat ’70s Showseason 6 and one episode ofThat ’70s Showseason 7.
Weirder, of course, is that Brooke Shields therefore portrays Jay Kelso’s grandmother. So, when Bob compares Leia kissing Jay to the romance between Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins’Blue Lagooncharacters, the reference becomes a bit more twisted.Brooke Shields also has some notable television appearances in 1996, such as her cameo inFriendsseason 2’s Super Bowl episodes and the debut of her sitcomSuddenly Susan, which may be difficult forThat ‘90s Showto ignore. As such, the paradox may only be worsened asThat ‘90s Showgoes on.
That ’90s Show Finally Introduces An Unseen That ’70s Show Character After 24 Years
That ’90s Show season 2 features the on-screen introduction of a That ’70s Show character who was first mentioned in a 24-year-old episode.
That ’90s Show’s Brooke Shields Paradox Makes A Pam Burkhart Cameo Less Likely
Pam’s return would be more complicated after Bob’s Blue Lagoon reference
WithThat ‘90s Showseason 2 referencing one of Brooke Shields’ most famous movies, the actress reprising her role in Netflix’s series is less likely to happen. However, consideringThat ‘90s Showgives a greater focus to Leia’s grandparents inThat ‘70s Show’s Forman and Pinciotti family tree, itwould have been exciting to see some representation from that generation for Jay Kelso as well. Additionally, with Midge absent fromThat ‘90s Show, a new romance for Bob is expected. If Brooke Shields’ Pam Burkhart and Bob Pinciotti reunited, then hisBlue Lagoonremark would make more sense, as Jay and Leia would be step-cousins.
That ’90s Show
Cast
That ’70s Show returns set two decades later with That ’90s Show, acting as a sequel but bringing back old cast favorites. Led by Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) Forman, the new cast arrives as the next generation, with the daughter of Eric and Donna, Leia Forman, leading the charge. Spending the summer with her grandparents, Leia makes new friends and forges new bonds in Point Place, Wisconsin. That ’70s Show series regulars make cameos in the show to maintain that sense of familiarity, and the show adopts the conventions of the ’90s as expected. That ’90s Show first aired on Netflix with a total of ten episodes.
