Every cameo in 'That '90s Show,' ranked
What even is a reboot if it doesn't include a treasure chest of cameos? Netflix's That '90s Show, an update of the time-capsule classic That '70s Show, is a whole cornucopia of Easter eggs and familiar faces. Yup, Point Place's finest residents make a long overdue comeback throughout the new show's 10-episode run.
But which cameos geared up the nostalgia tears to the highest level possible? Here's a ranking of those that had us crying, laughing, screaming, and everything in between.
Before we begin, a shout-out and honorable mention should be bestowed to series regulars Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) Forman, who had me reaching for the tissues upon their first appearance. Any true cultural connoisseur would agree that Red and Kitty are the heart of That '70s Show, and they continue to be the sweetest spot of That '90s Show, delivering some of its best lines and reminding us that you honestly do get funnier with age. We're Team Red and Kitty for life. OK, let's begin.
10. Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart
Although Mila Kunis' return as Jackie was brief, she stole the show with a single-second scream: "MICHAELLLL!!!!!!!" It's a familiar shriek that was more like music to my ears after decades of not hearing her perfect one-liners and never-ending demands. From teenage bickering to a wedding registry at Bloomingdale's, Jackie and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) are still as messy as ever, with That '90s Show finally giving us their own perfect happily-ever-after (aka, a second remarriage).
9. Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti
Laura Prepon returns as Donna for several episodes, and, boy, were they a treat. While I always knew she would be a great mom, my Donna-stanning heart exploded with That '90s Show tidbits of Donna doing what she does best — giving advice to the Forman family. Whether it was her finally calling mother-in-law Kitty “Mom” or consoling her daughter Leia (Callie Haverda) over the woes of teenagehood, Mama Donna is an absolute joy and still the independent badass we knew from the '70s.
8. Topher Grace as Eric Forman
I missed Eric, my favorite little guy who's never beat the silly goose allegations. While he only appears in the pilot episode of That '90s Show (probably because of Home Economics obligations), Eric is still as Eric as ever. From pursuing a professional career in the epistemology of Star Wars to finally achieving his teenage dream of naming his kids Luke and Leia, it’s good to know that some things never change. Except for one little thing, Eric finally made Red proud.
During a heated argument with Leia, Eric does the unimaginable and finally screams that he’ll put his foot up her ass. Jaws drop, applause erupts, and in the distance you can hear the faint sound of the Forman family cycle of justice coming to an end. We all truly do turn into our parents.
7. Brian Austin Green as David Silver
Just in case you missed that That '90s Show is set in the '90s, Brian Austin Green does an incredible cameo as his Beverly Hills, 90210 character, David Silver. The surreal scene is a delicious dose of pure '90s nostalgia. Maybe it’s time to hit that rewatch and take a trip to West Beverly Hills High School once again.
6. Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti
As soon as I heard a “Hey there, hi there, ho there,” I immediately beamed from ear to ear. I love Bob Pinciotti so much, and the sheer fact that he's still rocking the '70s 'fro in the '90s is reason enough to give Don Stark all the applause. Couple the hairdo with Bob’s signature entrance through Kitty and Red’s kitchen door, and this cameo is just one nostalgia hit after the other. The cherry on top of it all is that he’s now officially related to Red, thanks to Eric and Donna’s marriage, and That '90s Show doesn't miss a beat with its grandparent hijinks. Who will leave with the best grandpa award? My bets are always on Bob.
5. Wilmer Valderrama as Fez
In a gossip session with her new neighbor Sherri (Andrea Anders), Kitty learns that Sherri is dating a hot and steamy “local celebrity.” This mysterious Casanova is quickly revealed to be none other than Fez, who now owns a widely successful regional hair salon branch called Chez Fez.
It's a perfect callback to his brief stint as a shampoo boy in That '70s Show, and a hilarious introduction to his new — and apparently, famed — '90s era. While Fez's undeniable charm still reigns, his love for gossip is as fervent as ever, with him immediately getting into the most hilarious, tea-filled catchup with his favorite client, Miss Kitty. It's a perfect return, followed by even more flawless cameos.
4. Tommy Chong as Leo
When Kitty and Leia showed up at a random house to pick up a long overdue rented DVD, I instantly knew we were about to see the one and only Leo. The giveaway? All the smoke seeping out of his door.
It's the '90s, but Leo's favorite way to pass time hasn't changed. His reunion with Kitty was so on point for his character, and Tommy Chong’s line delivery hasn’t aged one bit. But the real scene stealer was Kitty finally questioning why an old guy spent all his time with a bunch of kids in the '70s. She still hasn’t put the real two and two together, bless her (and bag-bag). Chong’s second cameo, wandering around lost in the forest, was also a callback to his many adventures in That '70s Show. It's nice to see him still helping out the gang, old and new.
3. Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso
That '90s Show's trailer rightly teased Kutcher’s return: His big introduction back to the Forman home was excellent on so many levels. While Leia introduces Kitty and Red to her new friend Jay (Mace Coronel) — your archetypal himbo who’s clearly hitting on her — Red starts piecing things together and asks Jay for his last name. Not even a split second after we hear him say he’s a Kelso, a loud “BURNNNN” thunders through the room, with Kutcher walking in with perhaps the best burn of his That '70s Show career.
Kelso finally played his biggest UNO reverse card — Jay's his son. We wouldn’t have wanted to see his return in any other way.
2. Fez and Donna, back in the circle
Although this isn't technically a cameo, That '90s Show gives us its sweetest shot of nostalgia when Fez and Donna accidentally join the kids’ circle in the basement. We all know the smoking circle defined That '70s Show and gave us some of its best moments. And seeing Fez reminiscence about the old days, coupled with a flashback of the old gang wilding it up in the circle, warmed my nostalgia-obsessed heart. Donna abruptly entering and asking what the hell he was doing there made things exceptionally better, because even after all these years, the kids — now the adults — are still all alright.
1. Jim Rash as Fenton
I was not expecting the return of Fenton, so seeing Jim Rash back on my screen as Fez’s snooty arch nemesis was the real ace of all the That '90s Show’s cameos.
The buildup to his reveal made things even more perfect. When things start going wrong in her new home, Sherri asks Fez to help her in standing up to her landlord. It's a task he gladly takes on as the new man of the house. But as soon as we see Fenton walk in, the “OH NO” is viscerally felt. Their rivalry is still alive after all these years!
Fez may have found a way to keep Fenton at bay for the time being, but knowing these two, there’s sure to be more antics in a potential Season 2.