That '70s Show: Season 6

The backlog is finally That '70s Show-free. For now. You know as well as I do that Seasons 7 and 8 are getting purchased.

How familiar was I with the season's various episodes?

Clearly I underestimated how many episodes of this sow I'd seen during its original run because part of my desire to go back and watch the whole thing start to finish was the opportunity to fill in the blanks, so to speak. Well, what blanks? There were two or three episodes I had never seen before, as has been the case pretty much every season.

Were there any key ways in which this season was different from previous seasons?

None of the kids, aside from Jackie, is in high school anymore, but none of them have gone away to college, either. So we're left with arcs like Kelso training to become a cop, Fez faking a marriage so he can stay in the country, and Donna continuing her radio job while taking classes at a community college. These changes allowed the show to maintain its status quo while also mixing in some new locations and situations. I liked it. Also, Red, fresh off a heart attack, has kind of mellowed out a bit; his relationship with Eric, who displays maturity by staying home to help his parents pay the bills instead of leaving for a better place, actually grows warmer. Kitty, meanwhile, is just a blatant alcoholic at this point.

Any particular highlights or lowlights worth singling out?

Not really. When a network sitcom reaches its sixth year, it knows its own strengths and weaknesses. This season was fairly consistent throughout, rarely trying new things but never screwing up what works. Because of this, the only "highlights" I can think of were the guest stars. Shannon Elizabeth played Kelso's baby mama in one of the season's weakest arcs, but she still added something to the cast. Luke Wilson returned for an episode. Rachel Bilson was there once. Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green had their own small arcs. Brooke Shields played Jackie's mom for several episodes. Jim Gaffigan was excelent as Roy, the restaurant manager where Eric and Hyde worked. Even a barely recognizable pre-Community Jim Rash made an appearance! Interestingly enough, Tommy Chong was entirely absent for the second straight year. But I guess that's totally in keeping with his character.

Final thoughts on anything else relating to the season or series as a whole?

Nope. Solid year, nothing special, worth the $10 or so I spent on it.

Time for more Big Love!