# That '70s Show season 3

The third season of That '70s Show, an American television series created by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazill, began airing on October 3, 2000, on Fox, a U.S. broadcast television network. It comprises 25 episodes and concluded its initial airing on May 22, 2001. The majority of the season is set in 1977, although the year changed to 1978 starting with "Eric's Drunken Tattoo".
The DVD box set for season 3 was released by Fox Home Entertainment in Region 1 on November 15, 2005, four years after it had completed broadcast on television. It was also released in Region 2 on February 27, 2006. The season was also released in Region 4 on May 24, 2006.

## Central storylines

Season 3 marks the start of several changes to the series' status quo. Central storylines this season include the continuation of Eric and Donna's relationship, Kelso trying to win Jackie back, Hyde reuniting with his father, Donna's family facing hard times when Bob's store goes out of business, Fez dating a girl who turns out to be mentally insane, and Red and Kitty getting annoyed with Bob and Midge's fads and behaviors.

## Production

On November 23, 1999, Fox Broadcasting Company renewed That '70s Show throughout seasons three and four, during the airing of the second season. The season was executive produced by Marcy Carsey, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Tom Werner and Caryn Mandabach. Production on season 3 officially began on July 24, 2000. The season begins just 2 episodes short of the series' 50th episode, "Cat Fight Club".

## Reception
### Critical reception

The third season of That '70s Show received relatively positive critical reception, being labeled as one of the best of the series by critics.
Aaron Beierle of DVD Talk was positive towards the season, praising the series for remaining "consistently excellent" throughout its run. Aaron highlighted "Roller Disco", "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die", "Ice Shack", "Dine and Dash", "Canadian Road Trip", "Backstage Pass", "Romantic Weekend" and "Radio Daze" as the best of the season.
Dalton Ross and Bruce Fretts of Entertainment Weekly gave the season premiere a positive review, listing the episode as a highlight of the week preceding October 6, 2000. The review gave the episode an A- rating, saying that the episode helps the series "[reach] a high point of another kind with a hilarious (but way too brief) parody of the 1936 antiweed screed Reefer Madness".
In an accolades list of the best seasons of That '70s Show from Screenrant, season 3 was placed in the #4 spot. The reviewer highlighted "The Promise Ring" and the cast addition of Fez's girlfriend, Caroline, as stand-outs of the season.

### Awards

Season three received several award nominations. In 2001, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences nominated Gabriella Pollino, Cindy Costello, and Terrie Velazquez Owen for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling, for the episode "Backstage Pass". Gabriella Pollino received an award for "Period Hairstyling (single episode of a regular series – sitcom, drama or daytime)" at the 2001 Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards, for the episode "Roller Disco".

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Topher Grace as Eric Forman
* Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart
* Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso
* Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde
* Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
* Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
* Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman
* Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman
* Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti
* Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti
* Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman

### Special guest

* Tommy Chong as Leo (Various episodes)
* Shirley Jones as Herself ("Red Sees Red")
* Valerie Harper as Paula ("Eric's Naughty No-No")
* John Ratzenberger as Glen ("Holy Craps")
* Spiro Papadatos as Gene Simmons ("Red Sees Red")

### Special guest appearance

* Howard Hesseman as Max ("Radio Daze")

### Special appearance

* Charo as Herself ("Red Sees Red")
* Robert Hays as Bud Hyde (Various episodes)
* Alice Cooper as Himself ("Radio Daze")

### Recurring

* Allison Munn as Caroline

### Guest

* Jim Beaver as Tony ("Who Wants It More?")
* Curtis Armstrong as Barry Donavan ("Radio Daze")
* Danny Bonaduce as Ricky ("Radio Daze")
* Kevin McDonald as Pastor Dave ("Holy Craps")
* Nick Bakay as Donna's Journal ("Eric's Drunken Tattoo")
* Joe Flaherty as Bryan ("Canadian Road Trip")
* Dave Thomas as Chris ("Canadian Road Trip")
* Ted Nugent as Himself ("Backstage Pass")
* Monty Hall as Himself ("The Promise Ring")
* Leslie Baker as Janitor ("Backstage Pass")

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | Viewers (millions) |
| 52 | 1 | "Reefer Madness" | David Trainer | Joshua Sternin & Jeffrey Ventimilia | October 3, 2000 (2000-10-3) | 301 | 11.92 |
| When Red learns what Hyde is in jail for, he thinks about kicking Hyde out. To keep that from happening, Eric wonders if he should tell Red about his marijuana use. Jackie becomes infatuated with Hyde, even if he doesn't love her back. Reefer Madness is also the title of a 1936 anti-marijuana exploitation film. ||||||||
| 53 | 2 | "Red Sees Red" | David Trainer | Linda Wallem | October 10, 2000 (2000-10-10) | 302 | 11.80 |
| Red puts the Forman house under a strict curfew after Eric reveals his marijuana use, booby-trapping the house. Laurie is happy about Eric's situation until she discovers she's under the curfew as well, and Kitty does everything to make Red change his mind. Eventually, Red goes too far, and Kitty snaps at him, wanting to forgive and forget the entire situation; Eric can't help but laugh at his father, quoting him "I guess playtime IS over." ||||||||
| 54 | 3 | "Hyde's Father" | David Trainer | John Schwab | October 17, 2000 (2000-10-17) | 304 | 10.41 |
| Hyde's father, Bud (Robert Hays), returns to Point Place, but Hyde is reluctant to make amends, while Kitty tries to get them to reconcile. However, Red doesn't think it's a good idea for Hyde to move back in with Bud. Meanwhile, Donna is angry at Eric for keeping a stash of Playpen (a parody of Playboy) magazines under his bed. ||||||||
| 55 | 4 | "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die" | David Trainer | Jeff Filgo & Jackie Filgo | October 31, 2000 (2000-10-31) | 303 | 8.80 |
| The gang share a strange Halloween, complete with comic spoofs of several Alfred Hitchcock movies, including Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, and North by Northwest. Eric has vertigo after falling off the garage roof, Fez and Hyde spy on the Pinciottis, thinking Bob killed Midge, while Donna wants to prove to Eric that she's not boring. Meanwhile, Kitty and Laurie have a hard time feeding a neighbor's birds and a paperboy whom Red forgot to pay mistakes Kelso for someone in the Forman family and stalks him. Note: This episode is banned from Nick at Nite airings, though it did air at least 3 times in October 2011. ||||||||
| 56 | 5 | "Roller Disco" | David Trainer | Mark Hudis | November 14, 2000 (2000-11-14) | 305 | 9.97 |
| Jackie and Fez compete together in a roller disco, which could prove useful for Fez towards winning her heart. Red gets sued by a former Price Mart employee for wrongful termination. ||||||||
| 57 | 6 | "Eric's Panties" | David Trainer | Dean Batali & Rob Deshotel | November 21, 2000 (2000-11-21) | 307 | 11.10 |
| Donna suspects Eric is cheating on her after finding a pair of panties in his car, but its owner turns out to be someone she knows. Kitty is concerned with Red's high blood pressure and puts him on a less than satisfactory diet. ||||||||
| 58 | 7 | "Baby Fever" | David Trainer | Kristin Newman | November 28, 2000 (2000-11-28) | 306 | 11.59 |
| Kitty wants to have another child after taking care of a neighbor's baby. Donna is not pleased with Eric's vision of their future with her as a housewife and Kelso demands payment from Jackie after she crashes his van. However, when Hyde attempts to "help" it turns out that Kelso owes Jackie more than she does him; she doesn't even have to pay him back for the damages. ||||||||
| 59 | 8 | "Jackie Bags Hyde" | David Trainer | Dave Schiff | December 12, 2000 (2000-12-12) | 308 | 8.70 |
| It's Veterans Day and Bob throws a Veterans Day barbecue party, which Red usually does every year, fueling a rivalry between the neighbors. Hyde finally realizes he likes Jackie enough to ask her out on a date. ||||||||
| 60 | 9 | "Hyde's Christmas Rager" | David Trainer | Mark Hudis | December 19, 2000 (2000-12-19) | 311 | 11.92 |
| Red and Kitty try to set Bud straight about parenting after Eric gets drunk during a Christmas party at Hyde's apartment. Jackie takes Donna out so they can meet older men, but she is in for a shock. ||||||||
| 61 | 10 | "Ice Shack" | David Trainer | Philip Stark | January 9, 2001 (2001-1-9) | 309 | 13.16 |
| Kelso takes Eric, Donna, Jackie and Fez to an ice shack where he intends to win Jackie back. Leo asks Hyde to get something for him, which could land Hyde in jail again, and Red confronts Laurie with what she plans to do with her life. ||||||||
| 62 | 11 | "Who Wants It More?" | David Trainer | Joshua Sternin & Jeffrey Ventimilia | January 10, 2001 (2001-1-10) | 314 | 11.67 |
| Eric and Donna stop having sex after arguing on a school assignment. Kelso convinces Hyde, Fez and Leo to go UFO hunting with him, while a near-death experience enlightens Red on the idea of friendship. ||||||||
| 63 | 12 | "Fez Gets A Girl" | David Trainer | Chris Peterson & Bryan Moore | January 16, 2001 (2001-1-16) | 310 | 12.59 |
| Fez becomes attracted to a new transfer student, Caroline (Allison Munn), while Donna scores two tickets to a Led Zeppelin concert, but doesn't know whom to take, so she gives one ticket to Caroline and the other ticket to Fez much to their delight.. Eric becomes Price Mart's 'Employee of the Month' and it goes to his head. Red is concerned Eric will put off a college education and Kitty becomes Laurie's model for a cosmetic assignment at beauty school. Note: This is the last appearance of Lisa Robin Kelly (Laurie Forman) as a series regular. ||||||||
| 64 | 13 | "Dine and Dash" | David Trainer | Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo | January 30, 2001 (2001-1-30) | 312 | 12.93 |
| Kelso takes the gang out to dinner, but reveals he has no intention of paying. Kitty thinks Red should offer an unemployed Bob a job at Price Mart. ||||||||
| 65 | 14 | "Radio Daze" | David Trainer | Dave Schiff | February 6, 2001 (2001-2-6) | 315 | 11.89 |
| Donna gets a job at a radio station and Eric feels like she's spending more time there than with him. Kelso wants to buy Leo's El Camino and Red feels guilty after a Fatso Burger employee he's familiar with is fired over a complaint he makes. ||||||||
| 66 | 15 | "Donna's Panties" | David Trainer | Dean Batali & Rob Deshotel | February 13, 2001 (2001-2-13) | 313 | 12.42 |
| Eric pulls down Donna's pants during a game of basketball, exposing her "Granny Panties" and Eric must deal with the repercussions. Valentine's Day occurs and Kelso makes a shocking discovery about Laurie. ||||||||
| 67 | 16 | "Romantic Weekend" | David Trainer | Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo | February 20, 2001 (2001-2-20) | 316 | 12.15 |
| Eric and Donna go away for a romantic weekend at a hotel, but find someone else at the same place, putting their plans off. When Kelso underperforms during a makeout session with another girl, he fears for his waning libido. ||||||||
| 68 | 17 | "Kitty's Birthday (Is That Today?!)" | David Trainer | Bryan Moore & Chris Peterson | February 27, 2001 (2001-2-27) | 317 | 10.08 |
| Eric and Red forget Kitty's birthday and the two must make up by doing something she's wanted to do for a long time. Kelso decides to be Jackie's "boy-friend" and Hyde finds Caroline's obsession with Fez a little disturbing. ||||||||
| 69 | 18 | "The Trials of Michael Kelso" | David Trainer | Philip Stark | March 13, 2001 (2001-3-13) | 318 | 10.75 |
| Jackie tests Kelso to see if they should get back together and Eric and Hyde help Fez take revenge on a rival school for bullying him. Red and Kitty are curious as to why Bob and Midge didn't invite them to a party. ||||||||
| 70 | 19 | "Eric's Naughty No-No" | David Trainer | Kristin Newman | March 27, 2001 (2001-3-27) | 319 | 11.21 |
| Eric tries a move he sees in a dirty movie on Donna. After being honest with Jackie concerning his whereabouts, Kelso decides to tell Jackie all the lies and secrets he has kept from her, with Hyde's assistance. Kitty's younger sister, Paula (Valerie Harper), comes for a visit, under false pretenses. ||||||||
| 71 | 20 | "Holy Craps!" | David Trainer | Mark Hudis | April 17, 2001 (2001-4-17) | 320 | 10.11 |
| Kitty makes everyone help her at a church fundraiser, but not according to the way she wants. A churchgoer warns Eric about a future with Donna, and Fez must decide whether he should stay with an obsessed Caroline. ||||||||
| 72 | 21 | "Fez Dates Donna" | David Trainer | Dean Batali & Rob Deshotel | May 1, 2001 (2001-5-1) | 321 | 9.54 |
| Fez pretends to date Donna as a ruse to avoid Caroline, while Eric and Hyde start a money pool to see when Kelso and Jackie will argue and bicker again. After looking at his property deed, Bob believes he owns part of Red's property, which frustrates Red. ||||||||
| 73 | 22 | "Eric's Drunken Tattoo" | David Trainer | Jeffrey Ventimilia & Joshua Sternin | May 1, 2001 (2001-5-1) | 322 | 11.02 |
| Eric reads Donna's diary and decides to get a tattoo, believing he's not dangerous enough for her. Kelso talks in his sleep, fueling Jackie's curiosity, and Red spends a day with Pastor Dave when Red's band-aid accidentally gets on Pastor Dave's food. Note: This is the first episode of the series where the license plate says the year is 1978. ||||||||
| 74 | 23 | "Canadian Road Trip" | David Trainer | Dave Schiff | May 8, 2001 (2001-5-8) | 324 | 8.97 |
| The guys and Leo go to Canada for beer, but are forced to smuggle Fez when he doesn't have his green card. Donna believes Jackie is being set up by a false modeling agency and Red tests out a recently bought Betamax recorder. Goof: The map of Canada seen in the background shows Nunavut Territory. Nunavut was not created until 1999. The mileage sign shown behind the Vista Cruiser, the city of Winnipeg is misspelt as Winnepeg. ||||||||
| 75 | 24 | "Backstage Pass" | David Trainer | Philip Stark | May 15, 2001 (2001-5-15) | 323 | 10.22 |
| Donna ditches Eric backstage at a Ted Nugent concert and Kelso delivers a romantic, love-filled day for Jackie, while Red and Kitty can't recall their first meeting with one another. ||||||||
| 76 | 25 | "The Promise Ring" | David Trainer | Jeff Filgo & Jackie Filgo | May 22, 2001 (2001-5-22) | 325 | 10.56 |
| Eric gives Donna a promise ring, as a sign they will be together forever. However, Donna is unsure if she's ready for such a commitment and questions their future together. Note: This is the last appearance of Tanya Roberts (Midge Pinciotti) as a series regular. ||||||||