Summary
As Bob Pinciotti returns in an expanded role,That ’90s Showproducers Gregg Mettler and Kurtwood Smith break down how Don Stark’s reprisal shaped Red’s story in season 2. The father to Laura Preppon’s Donna Pinciotti inThat ’70s Show, Bob was an old-fashioned father who had a somewhat complicated relationship with Red due to the latter’s grumpier nature, saw his business go under and marriage break down, but ultimately make a fortune through a strange invention and move to Florida. Bob returned in season 1 to celebrate his granddaughter’s birthday, and was promoted toseries regular forThat ’90s Showseason 2.
WithThat ’90s Showreturning with season 2 part 1, Mettler and Smith opened up toTVLineabout how the new episodes will show a changed Bob and push his story into the new series' decade. With Bob settled in and here to stay, Mettler highlighted how he’d looked forward to seeing him and Red get into storylines involving their newfound responsibilities as grandparents that allow the two characters to play off one another and challenge Bob to grow, while Smith enjoyed reuniting and working with Stark. Check out the two producer’s responses below:
Gregg Mettler:When we had Don Stark return for Leia’s birthday episode in Part 1, he was great, and the audience was so happy to see Bob Pinciotti. But coming into this season, [bringing Bob back] had a lot to do with giving Red a contemporary. It had a lot to do with generating stories that could involve both grandfathers fighting over their grandchild, or protecting their grandchild in different ways, or wanting to teach their grandchild how to drive. It creates fun conflict. Red and Bob, obviously, come from different places at all times, so when you get them in a scene together, and their characters just start to react to each other, you have conflict, you have comedy.
Kurtwood Smith:We missed him. I know I did. I enjoy working with Don, and I enjoy him personally, as well, so it has been great having him around more. Red, I think, always feels like he has to watch his Ps and Qs when he’s dealing with Kitty so he doesn’t get her upset. But with Bob, he can just let himself go [off], so it has been great fun.
Mettler:Moving forward, what I want to do for Bob is really ground the character whenever we can, and not just make him the butt of the joke, or the clown. I’m very interested in exploring that character in a real way.
Will Bob Have To Be More Responsible InThat ’90s ShowSeason 2?
While Bob and Red have already found themselves competing for Leia’s (Callie Haverda) affections inThat ’90s Showseason 1 during her fifteenth birthday, it is clear that the pair have found a common foe to come together in the form of Jay (Mace Coronel). With Red having instantly been irked by his advances upon learning who his parents are, the Kelso child only left a worse impression as season 1 progressed with his and Leia’s police altercation, responsibility failures, and relationship troubles. With this, Jay faces an uphill battle with winning his girlfriend’s grandfather’s approval.
That ’90s Show Season 1 Ending: What’s Next For Every Character
That ’90s Show’s season 1 finale leaves plenty of loose ends untied for Leia and the gang as summer 1995 comes to an end in Point Place.
However, with Bob being all too eager to set up shop back home in Point Place quickly, there may be consequences that will follow up on the character’s off-the-wall, somewhat impulsive nature seen from the original series. Despite him finding his way out of tricky situations in his personal life,hisThat ’90s Showseason 1 returnalready established that he is eager to throw cash around on those he loves impulsively. Perhaps his Florida bait shop business has seen better days, and Donna’s idea to move home was made to help Red find new meaning and be more responsible.
No matter why he may have returned to Point Place, it is clearBob’sThat ’90s Showseason 2 returnisn’t simply a familiar face coming back to excite longtime fans. Not only is Smith’s enthusiasm a good sign that Stark is just as excited to return to play Bob in a larger role, but it is clear that both he and Mettler have been careful in considering just how Bob may have changed, or potentially stagnated, since his last appearance. As such, season 2 may force Bob to face up to new responsibility with a somewhat begrudging Red at his side.
That ’90s Showseason 1 and season 2 part 1 are available on Netflix, with Part 2 set to release October 24.
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.
