I watch That 70’s Show and I think it’s very funny but. . .some of the actors are pretty bad. Donna, Laura Perpon, isn’t going to win an Emmy anytime soon, I’ll tell you that. Eric, Topher Grace, is, well. . .kind of wimpy it seems to me, unless that’s the way his character is supposed to be, and in that case it’s kind of sad. The rest of the cast is kind of like that. The only really good actors are, I think, Fez, Hyde, Jackie and maybe Kelso, not that I have a crush on any of them because I don’t. Of course this is all my opinion.
The guy who plays eric plays a pretty good part in Traffic as the rich boy drug dealer friend fo Douglas’s daughter.
If you think the actors are that bad, you should see the British version that they made - it sucked big time!
The US version is so much better than the UK one (and I’m not going to get into a discussion about the difference between the UK and Great Britain :p) that I am almost blind to its faults. I have seen the “same” episode in both versions, and despite knowing exactly what was going to happen (the UK version was an exact remake, with almost identical - other than cultural alterations - scripts) I found the US one surprisingly funny.
Channel 5 shows the US version over here. The UK one, which was on ITV, has disappeared without trace, and I, for one, will not be looking for it.
IMO Topher Grace is meant to be a bit wimpy. He is the “normal” personality against which the somewhat stereotypical personalities of the others are shown up. Laura Prepon is also a “normal” personality, but she is more level-headed than Eric (Topher) and shows up his stupidities and insecurities.
Man, I never realised how deep this show is…
And what the hell kind of name is Topher anyway??
Define normal.
I’m guessing it’s the other half of “Chris,” much as Xander is the other half of “Alex.”
It wouldn’t matter how good the actors were. They have NOTHING to work with. That show is so poorly written, even Meryl Streep couldn’t do anything with it.
That movie may not be written well, but if it’s not than it must be the execution which makes it so funny. Because something makes it freakin hilarious.
Yep. I had a college housemate named Topher. Rather than drop the “topher” from “Christopher,” he dropped the “Chris.” I rather liked the name. He was called “Toph” for even shorter.
I completely agree with the OP. Laura Prepon (Donna) is one of the worst actresses I’ve ever seen. Everything she says is in a monotone. She also doesn’t fit with the rest of the cast. While actors older than her have been able to pull off playing the part of a teenager (e.g. Matthew Broderick), she is completely inept.
The best part of the show are the adults. Maybe I’m just getting old… 
Kurtwood Smith is one of our best character actors and IMHO, the best part of the show. I can’t help but drool over Laura Prepon though.
“The reason that bad things happen to you… is because you’re a dumbass.” – Red
She could win one for the racy erotic role she plays in my dreams…
[sub]mmmmm Laura…
What about Jackie, that no talented whining worst-actress-I-have-ever seen in my life? Donna needs to get a higher class of friends.
However, the characters of Fez and Hyde are great, and the interplay between the two is hilarious. And Tommy Chong is great!
I don’t get why everyone’s so down on the actors of this show. Donna is monotone? That’s how her character is supposed to be. Jackie is whiny? That’s how her character is supposed to be. Would you expect a bunch of Wisconsin semi-stoners to speak like Olivier or something?
Love the show. Can’t wait until next year when it is eligible for syndication. Kurtwood Smith is great. Too bad there is no more Tanya Roberts…
Also, Liam (ala Liam Neeson) is a second form of William.
watsonliam