WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 3!
Summary
Topher Grace’s Eric Forman is still absent fromThat ‘90s Showpart 3, but the sitcom gives a satisfying explanation for why he’s not coming to visit. While Topher Gracecameos as Eric Forman inThat ‘90s Show’s series premiere, he hasn’t returned despite the fact that his teenage daughter is the sequel’s lead character. Laura Prepon’s Donna Pinciotti occasionally stops into Point Place to visit Leia and her dad, Bob, from Chicago, butEric hasn’t appeared since dropping off Leia to stay with his parents in the pilot episode.
There was hope that Eric would help drop Leia off for her second summer in Point Place,Topher Grace didn’t return forThat ‘90s Showpart 2. Rather,Donna explained that Eric got “carsick” and couldn’t make it,though she implies that he just had no interest in coming back to Point Place. While Laura Prepon makes a few cameos as Donna inThat ‘90s Showpart 3, she once again isn’t joined by Topher Grace. However, the reason she gives for Eric not joining her in the latest set of episodes makes up for his absence.
Eric Is In Chicago & San Francisco During That ’90s Show Part 3
Eric Is Now Working With George Lucas To Cover The “New” Star Wars Movies In California
For the most part, Eric is still back in Chicago duringThat ‘90s Showpart 3. He’s likely busy with work or another busy camp like inThat ‘90s Showpart 1, but largely remains at the Formans’ home throughoutThat ‘90s Showpart 3’s timeline. However, shortly beforeThat ‘90s Showpart 3’s ending, Donna returns to Point Place and reveals some shocking news.Eric has gone to San Francisco, attaining his dream job of shadowing George Lucas as he makes theStar Warsprequel moviesat the Skywalker Ranch.
Eric, Fez, Kelso, and Hyde go see the 1977Star Warsmovie for the first time inThat ’70s Showseason 1, episode 20, “A New Hope.”
Eric’s obsession withStar Warsbegan inThat ‘70s Showseason 1, as the series’ 1977 timeline overlapped with the release of George Lucas’ original movie in the franchise, and only grew as the sitcom progressed.Eric naming Leia after Carrie Fisher’sStar Warscharacterbrought back this running gag forThat ‘90s Show, with Donna’s latest reveal confirming that Eric’s obsession has turned into a career. InThat ‘90s Showpart 3, Donna reveals that Eric is officially moving to San Francisco full-time, while she’ll split time between him and Leia in Point Place.
How That ‘90s Show Makes Eric’s Love Of Star Wars Even Funnier
Eric Forman was well-known for his passion for Star Wars in That ’70s Show, and That ’90s Show finds a way to make his obsession even better.
Sending Eric To San Francisco Makes A Visit To Point Place Much Harder
Eric being in San Francisco is a clever way forThat ‘90s Showto pay off the obsession that he was often teased about as a teenager, but it doesn’t bode well for Topher Grace reprising his role in the future. When Eric was in Chicago, there was always the chance that he could pop into Point Place to visit the otherForman family members, just like Donna has done so frequently. However,moving him to San Francisco seems to beThat ‘90s Show’s way of telling viewers to not get their hopes up for Grace to cameoin the sitcom again.
ConsideringStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacedoesn’t release until 1999, he’ll likely be in San Francisco until the end ofThat ‘90s Show’s run.
While Topher Grace could still eventually reprise his role inThat ‘90s Show, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. ConsideringStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacedoesn’t release until 1999,he’ll likely be in San Francisco until the end ofThat ‘90s Show’s run. Sadly, this seems to count out an appearance by Grace as Eric Forman inThat ‘90s Showpart 4, even though there’s always a sliver of hope for a return.
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.
