That '70s Show

That ’70s Show: 10 Main Characters And Their Friends Counterparts

With That '90s Show coming soon, it's a good time to remember the characters and find their counterparts in another beloved show: Friends

The announcement of That ’90s Show is bringing a lot of newcomers to the fandom of That ’70s Show, as new characters are confirmed to be returning and many other speculations are the target of discussion. As fans eagerly await the new show, there’s no better time to rewatch the original series and Friends.

That ’70s Show and Friends have a lot in common, despite the age gap between the characters. Covering different backgrounds of daily routine, one dealing with high school life and the other following the characters as they begin their adult life, both shows are beloved sitcoms with a hilarious set of characters and incredible running gags. Following similar narrative choices, it’s not that hard to find That ’70s Show counterpart in Friends.

Bob Pinciotti – Jack Geller

Apart from being the fathers of the two protagonists, both Bob and Jack know masterfully how to make everyone in the room feel uncomfortable. Their remarks about sex are anything but welcome, especially when it comes to their wives, and the foolish attempts to look like they are still young usually end up in secondhand embarrassment.

Most importantly, they are admirable parents that care a lot about their children, they just don’t seem to accept that they are not kids anymore.

Red Forman – Gunther

While Gunther is not one of the main characters like Red, they share way too much in common. They both have a strict sense of humor and notable bad temper, but they can easily turn into the sweetest human beings alive whenever their loved one is present. In sum, they are both harsh and strict, but Red knows how to be a good father and Gunther can also be a good friend… Well, every once in a while.

For Red and Gunther, there’s no harder task than apologizing, as their pride is bigger than a skyscraper. While Red occasionally shows his love for Kitty, he makes sure to only break the character when no one else is around. That’s not Gunther’s area of expertise, and he maybe should’ve spent a year or two in Korea with Red to toughen up a bit.

Leo – Frank Buffay Jr.

Leo and Frank Jr. are all about the feeling, taking things easy, and never actually stressing too much about anything. When Ross and Joey cornered Frank Jr. to convince him to think twice about marrying Alice so fast, he easily turned the whole conversation around. Just like him, Leo always manages to redirect serious conversations into something banal and funny.

Every fan wishes Leo to come back in That ’90s Show. Both Frank Jr. and he are cool guys that will not bother about a thing, being the task of making them lose their patience an almost impossible one. It’s curious to think how would Frank Jr. act if he consumed the slightest amount of weed Leo usually consumes.

Kitty Forman – Alice Knight

Not only are they played by the same actress, Debra Jo Rupp, but these two characters also seem to have the same personality. Even though Alice is not a reoccurring character in Friends, her brief appearances are enough to relate her to That ’70s Show‘s sweetest mother.

They are also both part of one of the cutest couples in the shows and often have the crucial role to keep their husbands in line. Full of personality, friendly and empathetic, Kitty and Alice are reliable and two responsible friends to have around, with a lot of love to offer.

Donna Pinciotti – Monica Geller

While Donna is much more patient and contained than Monica, they are one of the most sensitive and tactful characters in their respective shows. Bossy in a good way, Donna and Monica are the sort of the maternal figure of the group, whether they like it or not (but they do, of course). They are so condoling towards everyone that it ends up being annoying since they tend to make fools of themselves every once in a while because of that.

Especially when it comes to romance they are both reluctant to let go, but when this time finally comes they usually draw the line for good. It’s part of their caring figure.

Steven Hyde – Chandler Bing

Hyde and Chandler have two different styles when it comes to appearance, but their personality is much more similar than fans can anticipate. Despite often being the introspective members of their group when it comes to interacting with others, both have a difficult family story, and they always resort to humor and sarcasm whenever they feel uncomfortable, or simply because why not?

If Hyde had to go through the same bet as Chandler of spending one whole day without making fun of anyone, he would also go insane. Steven and Chandler’s awkwardness in social gatherings are painfully relatable and hilarious, and the way they try to hide their insecurity with jokes is often sweet.

Jackie Burkhart – Rachel Green

Jackie and Rachel are the characters that changed the most in their respective sitcoms. Both coming from rich families and among the most popular in their social circle, they decided to go in a different direction after meeting their friends. Sure, Jackie was may more reluctant to accept her friendship with Eric, Hyde, Fez, and the rest of the gang, but her evolution by the end of the show is evident.

Just like Jackie, Rachel engaged in a romantic relationship within the group that didn’t turn out well, but they both manage to go around it and move forward in the name of friendship, becoming one the most reliant characters in their shows as seasons went on.

Eric Forman – Ross Geller

Every fan of That ’70s Show and Friends has been in the argument whether Eric or Ross are good guys or not. They both can easily get carried away by their egocentric attitudes and knowledge in matters no one else in the group cares about, often being labeled by their friends as the “nerdy” ones.

While all of this is true, Eric and Ross have delivered some of the most hilarious moments in their shows, and are such a central presence among the main characters that the group could easily fall apart when they are not around. Eric’s absence in the final season of That ’70s Show makes that clear to both fans of the show and the members of the gang.

Fez – Phoebe Buffay

Fez and Phoebe would be a perfect match if they ever met each other. The two are shameless extroverts and often the mind behind the craziest and unimaginable ideas, acting as the comic relief in a group that is already comic enough.

Without any sense of self-control, they can easily get emotional when someone tells them to cool off. While Fez desperately wants to fit in, Phoebe is the opposite, but being both so oddly fun and with the weirdest sense of humor, they can’t help but stand out. As the show progresses, it’s clear to the fans that it doesn’t have much to do with Fez coming from another country; he is simply one of a kind, just like Phoebe.

Michael Kelso – Joey Tribbiani

On the other hand, these two would probably hate each other if they ever met. While Kelso can be extremely selfish and condescending and Joey a truly reliable and sympathetic friend, they both are the good-looking face of their respective groups and carry on with plenty of unattached relationships throughout the seasons.

In simple words, they are also quite dumb and have gotten more stupid as the show went on. It’s often a core part of their humor, and they don’t do much to change that, but fans might feel like they needed more character development at the end.

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