That '70s Show

10 Best Episodes of That '70s Show - Season 1

That '70s Show first aired on FOX in 1998, and ran for nine seasons. It was a hilarious retro-sitcom that followed the lives of Eric, Kelso, Jackie, Hyde, Donna and Fez, a group of high school teens who spent their time hanging out in Eric’s basement. This show has had many memorable moments, and here we will rank the best episodes of That '70s Show.

The series had a long run of nine seasons and was a fan favorite for many. It featured some of the most iconic comedy scenes from the '70s, and fans can still remember the catchphrases from the show. From Donna and Eric’s relationship to Jackie and Hyde’s playful banter, every episode had something memorable to offer.

That '70s Show had a huge impact on pop culture and was a part of many people's childhoods. To celebrate the show’s legacy, here we will count down the best episodes of That '70s Show, as ranked by fans.

Written by Sophie and last updated on mar 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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That '70s Show - S1E11

#15 - Eric's Buddy (Season 1 - Episode 11)

Eric has a new friend and Steven and Kelso can't stand it. Steven doesn't like him because he's rich and Eric doesn't give him a ride home anymore because Buddy has a Trans Am. Kelso, on the other hand, seems like a worried spouse. Eric starts to feel uncomfortable around him however when Buddy makes a move on him. Buddy apparently thought that Eric was also gay. And Red makes his first sale.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 532 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E9

#14 - Thanksgiving (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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Laurie comes home for Thanksgiving with her friend Kate. Eric is annoyed that he'll have to give up his room for their guest, until he sees how hot Kate is. Jackie alerts Donna to the trouble she could be facing now that a college girl is sleeping in Eric's bed. Kitty tries vainly to avoid her mother-in-law's phone calls as she prepares for Thanksgiving dinner.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 568 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E8

#13 - Drive-In (Season 1 - Episode 8)

Eric and Donna go to the drive-in. Eric doesn't want Kelso and Jackie to go because they'd be competition but Donna invites them anyway. Fez's house parents think he's listening to the devil's music (a copy of Kiss' Destroyer album). Red and Kitty spend the evening out and almost get arrested.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 554 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E2

#12 - Eric's Birthday (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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Eric's 17th birthday is coming up and he really doesn't want a party. Unfortunately, it's extremely obvious that Kitty is planning a surprise party against his wishes – she's even invited his older sister Laurie home from college for the event. Eric enlists Laurie's help in calling off the party while Kelso naively tries to attract her interest. And Donna, who's unsure about the state of her relationship with Eric, gets advice from Jackie on what to get him for a gift.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 799 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E15

#11 - That Wrestling Show (Season 1 - Episode 15)

Kitty thinks that it would be a good idea if Red and Eric become friends. She forces Eric to invite Red to go with the gang to a wrestling event in Kenosha. Bob tags along and seeks help from Fez and Hyde over Midge's decision to start therapy. And Jackie is super nice to Kelso now that they've done the deed.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 493 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E21

#10 - Water Tower (Season 1 - Episode 21)

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The guys paint a pot leaf on the water tower and Kelso falls off trying to fix it because everyone thinks it looks like the finger. Instead of going to the hospital they go to Eric's cause his mom's a nurse. When Eric goes to get her he walks in on his parents having sex. Having trouble sleeping and not being able to look his parents in the eyes leads his parents to believe he's on drugs.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 459 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E24

#9 - Hyde Moves In (Season 1 - Episode 24)

The gang goes skinny-dipping and Jackie gets sick. Hyde moves in with the Formans when his mom runs away with a trucker. Bob takes a liking to one of Midge's feminist friends.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 450 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E6

#8 - The Keg (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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Eric skips school with Donna, Hyde, and Kelso for the first time in his life. Unbelievably, the gang finds a keg in the middle of the road and sees it as a sign that they should throw a party. Problems arise, however, when they all realize that there's no beer tap after the party is in full swing. Meanwhile, Red and Bob have their suspicions about what the kids are up to and launch a full scale search of Point Place.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 566 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E12

#7 - The Best Christmas Ever (Season 1 - Episode 12)

Red gives Eric 40 bucks to buy a Christmas tree and says that he can keep the change for his party. So Eric, Hyde and Kelso cut down a tree off the interstate and keep the money. They spend the money on beer and Kelso buys Jackie a Christmas present. Laurie spikes the punch with rum and Jackie's friend's are all attracted to Fez all of the sudden. Red has to work on Christmas Eve and not long after he gets home cops show up at his door telling him that his Christmas tree was illegally obtained and that they have to confiscate it. Also Hyde has a thing for Donna.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 538 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E23

#6 - Grandma's Dead (Season 1 - Episode 23)

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Red's mother Bernice has once again managed to make everyone miserable during one of her visits. While driving his grandmother home, Eric lashes out and tells her that it wouldn't kill her to be nice once in a while. Bernice promptly drops dead, leaving Eric to think he killed her. The entire Forman family (including Laurie and Red's brother Marty) comes together for her funeral while Eric gets drunk at a bar with the guys.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 455 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E18

#5 - Career Day (Season 1 - Episode 18)

It's career day and the gang must spend the day working with their parents. Eric is surprised to see how hard his mom Kitty works as a nurse at a hospital. Meanwhile, Hyde and Fez interview cafeteria lady "Gross Edna" and their mother and son feuding ensues. Poor Michael struggles to figure out what his dad does and Donna is embarrassed by Bob's crazy promotional antics. But Red and Jackie have an unexpected bond and it was a sight to behold.

Kitty showcases her exemplary nursing skills in the hospital and the gang learns a valuable lesson about their parents. From Hyde's mother and son bickering to Michael's confusion about his dad's job, the episode was a hilarious exploration of the parent-child dynamic. But the highlight of the episode was Red and Jackie's unlikely bond. Red, who normally doesn't take a liking to Eric's friends, surprisingly finds himself drawn to Jackie and it was a moment of pure joy.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 504 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E7

#4 - That Disco Episode (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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In That '70s Show's "That Disco Episode", the gang decides to go to a disco. Unfortunately, Steven doesn't know how to dance, so Mrs. Forman steps in to teach him. Little do they know, Mr. Pinciotti walks in on them in a compromising position and mistakenly believes they are having an affair. Meanwhile, Kelso gets jealous of Fez for flirting with Jackie.

Throughout the episode, viewers get an oxymoron when Hyde invites Donna to kiss, yet Donna moves forward with Eric instead. It's clear that Donna has feelings for Eric, leading to the conclusion that the key to the episode is that Donna has feelings for Eric. Ultimately, the episode wraps up with the gang enjoying a night at the disco, with Steven now knowing how to dance!

The episode was rated 7.97 from 589 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E25

#3 - The Good Son (Season 1 - Episode 25)

In the episode "The Good Son" of That '70s Show, Eric is enjoying having Hyde as a brother because Hyde does all of his chores for him. However, Eric soon realizes his parents have started to prefer Hyde over him, and he begins to resent him. Hyde changes from the fun, trouble-making guy Eric used to know to an uptight bore. Meanwhile, Midge and Bob are struggling in their relationship, and Red's old war buddy comes back and Red finds out he's a swinger.

This episode of That '70s Show is a great example of how relationships can be tested when things don't go as expected. Eric has grown accustomed to Hyde doing all his chores and being the fun, wild guy he loves. When Hyde changes and his parents start to like him more, Eric is filled with resentment. Midge and Bob's relationship issues also come to the surface in this episode, and Red is forced to confront his old friend's new lifestyle. This episode offers a hilarious, yet thought-provoking, exploration of how relationships can be tested in the face of change.

The episode was rated 7.98 from 443 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E17

#2 - The Pill (Season 1 - Episode 17)

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In the episode "The Pill" of That '70s Show, Jackie confides in Eric that she might be pregnant, which he then tells Donna. This inspires Donna to go on birth control pills. Unfortunately, Bob and the Formans find out, causing Eric a lot of grief.

This episode was a surprise to some viewers, as they were expecting the plot to be about the morning after pill. Despite this, the show still captures the teenage life of the characters well. It is a great representation of the pressures and decisions young people often have to make.

The episode was rated 7.99 from 503 votes.

That '70s Show - S1E20

#1 - A New Hope (Season 1 - Episode 20)

In the episode of That '70s Show titled "A New Hope", the guys all go to the movies to see the classic Star Wars movie and are all blown away by it. Red, who is Eric's dad and his boss, asks Eric to hang out with his boss' son who he hasn't seen since he was just an awkward kid, but has now grown into a good-looking young man and is also interested in reading Donna's short stories. Meanwhile, Laurie, who is Eric's sister, starts flirting with Kelso out of boredom.

This episode is a great representation of the classic coming of age themes that the show is known for. Eric is struggling to find his place in the world, while Red's boss' son is finding his own. Donna is exploring her creativity through writing, while Laurie is finding out what she likes in a man. All of these characters are going through changes and it's interesting to watch them trying to figure out how to navigate through life.

The episode was rated 8.02 from 479 votes.

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