That ’90s Show Finally Reveals What Happened To That ’70s Show Character Who Disappeared After Season 3

Summary

• Earl’s unexpected return in That ’90s Show brings closure to his storyline after disappearing from That ’70s Show in season 3.
• The Netflix sequel series excels at reintroducing iconic recurring characters from the original sitcom, creating a sense of nostalgia.
• The trailer for That ’90s Show part 3 hints at Earl taking on a new job, shedding light on how his character has evolved over the years.

Netflix’s That ‘90s Show is officially bringing back Earl, a memorable character who hasn’t been seen since That ‘70s Show season 3, revealing where he’s been for the last two decades. While Red and Kitty Forman are the only prominent figures from That ‘70s Show who return as main characters in That ‘90s Show, the Netflix sequel series has done a stellar job of bringing back iconic recurring characters from the original sitcom. From Eric Forman’s former nemesis Mitch Miller to Fez’s former landlord Fenton, Earl joins a growing ensemble of Point Place residents finally returning in That ‘90s Show.

After the cliffhanger ending of That ‘90s Show part 2 saw Leo’s son crash a car into the Formans’ kitchen, the teens are facing their punishments while meeting some familiar faces from That ‘70s Show. The official trailer for That ‘90s Show part 3 reveals that the new gang comes into contact with original characters like Fenton, Mitch, Michael’s daughter Betsy Kelso, and Red Forman’s former employee Earl. The latter character’s return comes as a welcome surprise, as Earl had entirely disappeared from That ‘70s Show after season 3.

Earl Finally Returns In That ’90s Show Part 3 After Disappearing From That ’70s Show

Robert Clendenin Reprises His Role As Red’s Former Employee, Earl

The last time that Earl (Robert Clendenin) appeared in That ‘70s Show’s timeline was in about 1977, having disappeared from the series after the season 3 episode “Radio Daze.” Earl had previously appeared in That ‘70s Show’s season 2 episode “Red Fired Up” and the season 3 installment “Roller Disco,” with the character’s subplots always surrounding his reputation as a poor employee. In “Red Fired Up,” Red is forced to fire Earl from Price Mart for consistently showing up late to work, which he does reluctantly as the two were old friends.

Earl’s two subsequent That ‘70s Show appearances continued the running gag of his poor work ethic and anger at Red for firing him. In “Roller Disco,” Earl even sues Red for wrongful termination, which puts Eric in a tough place of wanting to defend his father, but not wanting to lie about the Forman family member’s frequency of anger and insults. Earl would only be featured in one more episode of That ‘70s Show, which left his fate fairly ambiguous, as was the case for many early recurring characters.

The trailer suggests that Earl has yet another new job, which begs the question of how many positions he’s taken at various companies in Point Place over the years.

Now, That ‘90s Show part 3 is catching audiences up on what happened to Earl in the decades since he last encountered the Forman family. The trailer suggests that Earl has yet another new job, which begs the question of how many positions he’s taken at various companies in Point Place over the years. Robert Clendenin’s Earl can be seen in a classroom stating, “Welcome, friends,” as he waves a hand to unseen characters. He also appears to be holding a book by Montel Williams, suggesting Earl may be leading a self-help group in That ‘90s Show.

What Happened The Last Time Earl Appeared In That ’70s Show

Earl & Red Seemingly Put Their Feud To An End

In That ‘70s Show season 3, episode 14, “Radio Daze,” Red and Eric unintentionally reunite with Earl when they go to get some fast food. After ordering and getting their food, Red and Eric see that the employee who cooked their meal improperly was, of course, Earl. Red’s complaint led to Earl being fired from his new job at the fast food restaurant, though this time the reason was for cooking food wrong, eating the establishment’s food, and having poor performance on the job.

Given he’s reading a self-help book in
That ‘90s Show
part 3, Earl may have finally improved his work ethic by the mid-’90s.

After Earl was let go from his fast food job, he went to the Formans’ house and complained to Red about causing him to be fired yet again. Red felt guilty and ultimately found a way to help Earl get his job back at Fatso Burger, but it turned out that Earl was more worried about missing the radio show than going to work again. After Earl seemingly got his position at Fatso Burger back, he was never seen or heard from again in That ‘70s Show.

Though Red amended his guilt by getting earl’s job restored, it’s likely that Earl still continued to hold a grudge against Red and Eric over the following years. Since Topher Grace’s Eric didn’t return in That ‘90s Show part 2, it’s unlikely that he’ll appear in the next batch of episodes, meaning it’s apt to only be Red or a different Forman family member who faces Earl again. Given he’s reading a self-help book in That ‘90s Show part 3, Earl may have finally improved his work ethic by the mid-’90s.

That ’90s Show
part 3 premieres all eight episodes on August 22, 2024 on Netflix.

Earl’s Return Continues That ’90s Show’s Trend Of Reuniting The Original Cast With Old Rivals

That ’90s Show Proves Some Feuds Never Die In Point Place

While there were plenty of recurring That ‘70s Show characters who the gang was on good terms with, the most iconic are typically those who became rivals to the Formans and their friends. As such, it makes sense that these somewhat antagonistic original characters are the ones who have made cameos in That ‘90s Show. However, That ‘90s Show gives them the opportunity to begin conflicts with new characters rather than just their nemeses from That ‘70s Show.

In That ‘90s Show part 1, Fez revived his rivalry with Fenton, his landlord in That ‘70s Show season 8. Fenton is also set to return in That ‘90s Show part 3, but argues with Nikki and Nate this time around. Meanwhile, Mitch Miller returns in That ‘90s Show parts 2 and 3, but without his enemy Eric Forman around, his character’s bickering is directed more at Eric’s daughter Leia, mall patrons and employees, and his old crush Donna Pinciotti. With Earl finally coming back, he’ll get to confront Red alongside a new Forman generation in Point Place.

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  That ’90s Show (2023)

  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. 

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  That ’70s Show

  That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.