WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 2!
Summary
The very end ofThat ‘90s Showpart 2 finally reveals an unseen character who was first mentioned inThat ‘70s Showseason 2. While there are severalThat ‘70s Showactors who don’t return forThat ‘90s Showseason 2’s cast of characters, the sequel series makes up for it by introducing some figures who were mentioned, but never actually seen, in the original series. Not too surprisingly, these new characters also make the most of their debuts by utilizing the exciting 1990s celebrity cameos lined up forThat ‘90s Showseason 2.
Despite being referenced, many of the main characters’ families remained mysteries throughoutThat ‘70s Show. For instance, Kelso’s only on-screen family members were his brother Casey and their father, with Fez’s family from back home never even receiving names. The same is largely true for the family members ofThat ‘90s Show’s new teens, though the franchise is now rectifying that issue with its returning original characters. InThat ‘90s Showpart 2’s ending, theNetflix sitcom introduces a character related to Leowho had never been seen before.
That ’90s Show Season 2 Finally Introduces Leo’s Son
Kevin Smith plays Leo’s son, Sonny
The final scene inThat ‘90s Showpart 2 introduces Leo’s son, Sonny, who is played by ‘90s star and Silent Bob actor Kevin Smith. During his debut, Sonny and his friend Bunch (played by Jason Mewes, the Jay to Smith’s Silent Bob in their notableJay and Silent Bob duo) crash their car into the Formans’ kitchen, where Leo officially introduces Leia and her shocked friends to his son. Leo first mentioned his son back inThat ‘70s Showseason 2, episode 18, “Kitty and Eric’s Night Out,” andThat ‘90s Showhas finally put a face to the description.
That ‘90s Show Finally Proves How Weird Leo’s Role Was In That ‘70s Show
Tommy Chong’s Leo returns in That ’90s Show, with Kitty’s explanation for his link to the gang rightly leading her to question his original role.
Kevin Smith playing Leo’s son in hisThat ’90s Showpart 2 cameowasn’t expected, but hilariously mirrors the original meta casting of Tommy Chong as Leo inThat ‘70s Show. Tommy Chong was notorious for his stoner comedy reputation and Cheech and Chong duo in the 1970s, so his casting as Leo, Point Place’s resident stoner, couldn’t have been more perfect. Likewise,Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes rose to fame for their stoner buddy comedy moviesand characters Jay and Silent Bob in the 1990s, so casting Smith as Leo’s stoner son repeats that same sentiment inThat ‘90s Show.
What That ’70s Show Already Revealed About Leo & Sonny’s Backstory
Leo revealed a broken relationship with his son in That ’70s Show
While Leo and Sonny appear to have repaired their relationship ahead of the sequel show, they were largely estranged throughoutThat ‘70s Show. Early on, Leo revealed thathis ex-wife took their kids when she left him sometime before their son’s 16th birthday. AfterLeo disappeared fromThat ‘70s Showseasons 5 and 6, his character returned saying he was looking for his house, but it’s unclear if he meant the house he lived in at that time or that he used to share with his family. WhenThat ‘90s Showpart 3 releases, plenty of questions will need to be answered about Leo and his son’s reunion.
While Leo and Sonny appear to have repaired their relationship ahead of the sequel show, they were largely estranged throughoutThat ‘70s Show.
Leo’s Son Replaces An Important Hyde Role In That ’90s Show
Hyde was Leo’s surrogate son throughout That ’70s Show
With Sonny’s introduction,That ’90s Showfills a gap left by the absence ofThat ’70s Showcharacter Steven Hyde. When Tommy Chong’s Leo made his debut inThat ’70s Showseason 2, his character formed an instant bond with his teenage stoner employee Hyde. While playing the Game of Life at the Fotohut, Hyde shared with Leo how both of his parents abandoned him, and Leo likewise shared his sorrow over his kids splitting on him when they were younger. As a result,Hyde took the place of Leo’s surrogate son while Leo played a father figure role(though less so than Red) in Hyde’s teenage years.
Laurie Forman
Lisa Robin Kelly/Christina Moore
However, withHyde missing fromThat ’90s Show,the return of Leo’s son fills that absent dynamic in the sequel series. Leo actually has his biological son back in his life, with Kevin Smith’s character now taking on the stoner role for Leia’s parents' generation that was previously filled by Hyde. It’s unclear how substantial the presence of Kevin Smith’s Sonny will be inThat ’90s Showpart 3’s episodes, but it seems the Netflix sitcom will at least emphasize that Leo’s relationship with his son is now as close as his relationship was with Hyde inThat ’70s Show.
Within the show’s universe, it could even be the case that the absence of Hyde led Leo to pursue a better relationship with his son.That ’90s Showreveals that Leo has still been living in Point Place all this timeafterThat ’70s Show’s ending, yet all of his “friends” from Grooves in season 8, such as Hyde, Donna, and Randy, have seemingly moved away. In the 16 years since the finale’s timeline,his loneliness may have stirred his desire to finally mend his relationship with Sonny, whoThat ’90s Showreveals turned out to be a lot like Leo.
That ’90s Show Perfectly Reunites Kevin Smith & Tommy Chong After Their 2019 Comedy Movie
Kevin Smith & Tommy Chong have already worked together on a stoner comedy movie
Before playing father and son onThat ’90s Show, Tommy Chong and Kevin Smith appeared together in thecast of 2019’sJay and Silent Bob Rebootmovie. With Smith playing his iconic titular Silent Bob role,Tommy Chong made a cameo as Alfred, the butler to the characters Bluntman and Chronic, parodying the classicBatmanfigures. LikeThat ’90s Showmaking use of Smith’s famous stoner character roles, his ownJay and Silent Bob Rebootutilized Chong’s stoner role reputation for brilliant comedic effect in the 2019 film.
When That ’90s Show Part 3 Releases On Netflix & How Many Episodes It Has
Netflix’s That ’90s Show season 2, part 2 brings Leia Forman and the teens of Point Place back for more misadventures before the end of 2024.
AfterSmith’s View Askewniverseand Chong’sThat ’70s Showfranchise, it begs to be seen what cinematic universe Tommy Chong and Kevin Smith will bring their hilarious stoner legacies to next. With Tommy Chong playing a recurring role onThat ’90s Showakin to his presence in the original series, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Netflix sitcom continued to bring back Smith as his son for cameos in each subsequent season. As Point Place’s resident stoners,That ’90s Showhas the perfect duo to represent that subculture from both the ’70s and ’90s as the sequel series progresses.
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.
