That Groomer Show? Netflix’s Pedo-Friendly ‘That ‘90s Show’ Sexualizes Children to Cringey Laugh Tracks

Dawn Slusher | July 22, 2024

If you had the displeasure of watching the first season (“Part 1”) of Netflix’s comedy "That ‘90s Show," you already know the show loves to sexualize children, much like its predecessor "That ‘70s Show," which aired on Fox from ’98 to ‘06. The writers were apparently determined to keep that theme alive in the newest season (“Part 2”), as creepy pedophilic and masturbation “jokes” set to cringey laugh tracks were used, along with the teens constantly getting stoned, drinking, having sex and stealing.

For reference, the kids are supposed to be anywhere from 14-17, and teens are their target audience. You’d think it couldn’t get much worse than last season when:

  • Donna (Laura Prepon) gives her daughter Leia (Callie Haverda) advice on anal sex.
  • Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) tells the kids to be sure they’re naked when they jump from a local cliff into the water, “'Cause when you hit the water at the right angle, it's like doing it with a lake.”
  • Leia’s grandfather Bob (Don Stark) sings I’ll Make Love to You to her when a karaoke machine he gave her for her 15th birthday plays the wrong song.  
  • A pedophile grandma tricks teens Jay (Mace Coronel) and Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan) into her hot tub where she sexually assaults them with her foot as a laugh track plays. Her granddaughter later reveals she does it “all the time,” especially to “the cute ones”:

 

But Season 2 (“Part 2”) was just as determined to sexualize the children. Case in point, episode 2, “Something to Talk About,” where the friend group approach teen Nikki’s (Sam Morelos) door and assume she’s masturbating when they hear her grunting:

 

It’s not like the writers don’t realize these are children they’re writing these “jokes” for. In the same episode, Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) chastises her husband Red (Kurtwood Smith) for “threatening a child” after he has words with Jay, because he was caught kissing Leia in her bedroom.

Related: Netflix’s Teen Dramedy ‘Geek Girl’ Diverges From Hollywood Norm with Surprisingly Wholesome Show

More masturbation jokes ensue in episode 3, “Just a Friend,” after Jay gives Nate a porn tape to cheer him up after a breakup:

 

The porn jokes continue along with the boys having to hide their erections behind a pillow as they view the tape while recording an extra copy for Nate to keep:

 

When Gwen’s (Ashley Aufderheide) new love interest announces he’s leaving for Fuddruckers after Leia catches them kissing, Leia asks incredulously, “Are you two fuddruckering?!”

Gwen quips, “No, he’s just my human Bop It. You know, bop it, twist it, pull it,” complete with hand gestures in case anyone misses what exactly she’s “bopping.” In episode 7, “Baby, Baby, Baby”, Leia plays the same “game” when she asks Jay if he wants to do “hand stuff” in a janitor’s closet.

Episode 6, “I Can See Clearly Now,” opens with Nikki and Nate back together because they can’t resist having sex with each other:

 

Later, Nikki, Leia and Gwen steal expensive bras because they’re fascinated by how much larger their breasts look in them, which is shown as they stare at themselves in a mirror. Nate becomes aroused when he sees Nikki wearing it, and as they rush towards each other and make out, the audience track, which one would presume is supposed to represent adults as well as teens, starts cheering with excited “oohs.”

Lots of drug use and drinking are featured, too, some in front of the adults and with their apparent consent. In episode 8, “Friends in Low Places,” adult Leo (Tommy Chong, of course) actually supplies the drugs and gets high with the kids.

Next time a teacher or other trusted adult gets caught harming a minor in any of these ways, their lawyer should just hand the jury a copy of this show and argue it’s supposed to be “funny,” because that’s sadly the message this show is sending to teens, groomers and predators.

 

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