That ’90s Show season 2 brought back a few That ’70s Show characters, but the vast majority were left out this time around. While season 1 spent a good deal of time revealing what had come of the original crew since the end of the 1970s, it was important that That ’90s Show season 2 give the new teenagers a chance to shine. Netflix followed through on this, and this most recent installment really saw Leia, Gwen, Nate, Jay, Nikki, and Ozzie come into their own. Of course, this also means that many That ’70s Show characters were left in the rearview.

Just like That ’70s Show, That ’90s Show is set at the Forman house, and season 2 sees Leia return here to spend the summer of 1996 with her grandparents. Naturally, this means that Kurtwood Smith’s Red and Debra Jo Rupp’s Kitty are a constant, hilarious presence throughout the series. Laura Prepon also returned to That ’90s Show season 2 to play Donna, bringing her daughter to Point Place from Chicago and even hanging around for a couple of episodes. In a fun surprise, Don Stark’s Bob Pinciotti also made a comeback, taking on a more regular role—but far more ’70s Show actors were missing.

8

Jackie Burkhart

Played By Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis’ Jackie Burkhart made a cameo appearance in That ’90s Show season 1, revealing that she had married (divorced and remarried) Michal Kelso in the years following That ’70s Show. Overall, her character didn’t seem to have changed. Jackie still snapped orders at Kelso and pronounced his name with that memorable emphasis on an added third syllable. It’s also revealed that she is Jay Kelso’s mom, which brings a sweet touch to the new cast of That ’90s Show.

Though she presumably still lives in Point Place, Jackie didn’t appear in That ’90s Show season 2. Kunis noted leading up to the new installment’s release that it was time for her and the other members of That ’70s Show‘s cast to leave the story to the new teens, stating that she and the others had already done their thing. Therefore, it’s likely that Jackie won’t appear in future seasons of That ’90s Show either.

7

Michael Kelso

Played By Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher appeared alongside his on and off-screen wife in That ’90s Show season 1. Michael Kelso seemed just as high energy and clueless as he had back in That ’70s Show, though his suit implied that he had managed to become a fully functioning adult. Nothing was said of his career as a police officer, so this may be something he moved on from after moving back to Point Place from Chicago. Additionally, there was no mention in season 1 of Betsy, Kelso’s first daughter born at the end of That ’70s Show.

There wasn’t much time to answer these questions during Kutcher’s brief cameo in That ’90s Show season 1. The mysteries surrounding his character may have to be solved secondhand since the character’s absence in season 2 indicates that he won’t be appearing again any time soon, if at all. Though Kutcher hasn’t said anything about why he didn’t appear, his wife Kunis’ response that they had already done their thing for the series likely carries over to him as well.

6

Eric Forman

Played By Topher Grace

Topher Grace was a delightful addition in That ’90s Show season 1, where he reprised his role as Eric Forman. Eric was the central protagonist of That ’70s Show, making participating in the spinoff series imperative. His daughter Leia is the new star of the show, and the first episode of That ’90s Show included some heartwarming moments in which Eric fretted over his changing relationship with his daughter, discussed while sitting on the familiar hood of the Vista Cruise with wife Donna. In all, it was the perfect cameo appearance.

Unfortuantely, this was not repeated in That ’90s Show season 2. While other characters needed no explanations for their absences, Eric is a different story since it was strange that, as worried as he was about Leia staying in Point Place in 1995, he wouldn’t want to bring her there in 1996. As an answer, Donna mentioned in That ’90s Show season 2, episode 1, that Eric got motion sick backing out of the driveway and decided to stay in Chicago instead. This naturally opened the door for Red to mock his weakling son, and the moment was otherwise breezed over.

5

Fez

Played By Wilmer Valderrama

Fez had the most prevalent part to play in That ’90s Show, where actor Wilmer Valderrama appeared in several episodes. It was revealed that Fez ran a salon in Point Place, paying off the arc in which he became a shampoo boy in That ’70s Show. What’s more, he and Kitty discussed his breakup with Jackie, which explained why she had ended up with Kelso despite dating Fez at the end of season 8. Finally, it seemed as if Valderrama’s character was going to continue to be among the regular cast of That ’90s Show since he and neighbor Sherri got pretty serious with their love affair.

Valderrama was entirely absent from That ’90s Show season 2, with his character never even being mentioned. Sherri was right back on the prowl for a new boyfriend in this installment of the Netflix series, indicating that Fez’s decision to get closer to her kids at the end of season 1 came to nothing. Valderrama has explained that he couldn’t make filming for That ’90s Show season 2 work since his schedule was dominated by NCIS. Still, it would have been nice for Fez’s character to have at least been mentioned.

4

Steven Hyde

Played By Danny Masterson

Steven Hyde is the only teen character from That ’70s Show not to appear in That ’90s Show, and this isn’t going to change. Actor Danny Masterson was facing multiple legal trials leading up to season 1, and he has since been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, which he is currently serving. Given the severity of his crimes, it seems that Netflix has decided to distance itself entirely from the actor and his character, and there has so far been no acknowledgment in the spinoff series that a character named Steven Hyde ever existed.

Many hoped that Hyde would be approached separately from the actor who played him and that the character would get a satisfying ending through a passing mention. Given the character’s personality in That ’70s Show, it would certainly make sense that he, too, would have ended up in prison, and this could be brought up by Kitty or Red in future episodes. However, this would risk making light of a very serious situation. In all, That ’90s Show may be better off just moving on from Hyde, and since he wasn’t mentioned in season 2, it seems this is the plan.

3

Laurie Forman

Played By Lisa Robin Kelly & Christina Moore

Laurie Forman, older sister to Eric in That ’70s Show, has also not been included so far in That ’90s Show. The character was initially played by Lisa Robin Kelly, but her addiction to drugs and alcohol led the actor to come and go from the show before she was eventually recast in That ’70s Show season 6. Kelly passed away in 2013, making her return to That ’90 Show impossible. However, since Christina Moore was the last actor to portray the character, Laurie may return in future seasons.

Of course, this would still be complicated. Since Kelly played Laurie first and for the longest amount of time, she is often associated with the role over Moore. Given the actor’s tragic death, it could be considered insensitive for Netflix to bring Moore back and ignore the legacy of Kelly’s performance. It might be better if That ’90s Show simply references Laurie’s character, just as in season 2 when Kitty mentioned having to keep pregnancy tests around the house since her daughter was often “social.”

2

Midge Pinciotti

Played By Tanya Roberts

Donna’s clueless mother in That ’70s Show, Midge Pinciotti is another character absent from That ’90s Show season 2. The character’s fate was already something of a mystery since Midge moved away to California after divorcing Bob, leaving Donna angry and understandably feeling abandoned. Though Donna visited her mother once, little else was said about what sort of role the woman played in her life, and That ’90s Show has only provided a subtle clue about what came of Midge.

Actor Tanya Roberts passed away in 2021, so Midge will not be appearing in future episodes of That ’90s Show. Kitty mentioned in season 2 that, with Bob back in Point Place, all of Leia’s grandparents were living in one place, which seems to indicate that Midge has passed away since That ’70s Show as well. However, it’s also possible that, given the character’s status as an absentee mother, Kitty wasn’t including her. Perhaps future seasons of That ’90s Show will have some clearer answers.

1

Randy Pearson

Played By Josh Meyers

Josh Meyers’ Randy Pearson was brought into That ’70s Show season 8 as a replacement for Eric Forman, who was written to take off to teach in Africa when Grace decided to depart from the series. The changed dynamic within the friend group meant that Randy wasn’t a particularly popular character. When Grace returned for the finale of That ’70s Show, Randy was pretty much tossed out into the cold and was only featured for a short scene. Ultimately, this means that Meyers’ character would make for the perfect That ’90s Show cameo, though it hasn’t happened yet.

That ’90s Show has taken a few golden opportunities to make fun of That ’70s Show, with characters pointing out the absurdity of things like teenagers hanging out with the fully grown Leo or the mystery of Fez’s home country. An appearance from Randy would be playing on a similar note, and there could be dozens of jokes focusing on the fact that he was essentially a failed character. Unfortunately, That ’90s Show season 2 didn’t take advantage of this comedic potential, but perhaps that will change in future installments.