Movies News Talk
The very end of That ‘90s Show part 2 finally reveals an unseen character who was first mentioned in That ‘70s Show season 2. While there are several That ‘70s Show actors who don’t return for That ‘90s Show season 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 for That ‘90s Show season 2.
Despite being referenced, many of the main characters’ families remained mysteries throughout That ‘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 of That ‘90s Show’s new teens, though the franchise is now rectifying that issue with its returning original characters. In That ‘90s Show part 2’s ending, the Netflix Sitcom introduces a character related to Leo who had never been seen before.
The final scene in That ‘90s Show part 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 notable Jay 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 in That ‘70s Show season 2, episode 18, “Kitty and Eric’s Night Out,” and That ‘90s Show has finally put a face to the description.
Kevin Smith playing Leo’s son in his That '90s Show part 2 cameo wasn’t expected, but hilariously mirrors the original meta casting of Tommy Chong as Leo in That ‘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 movies and characters Jay and Silent Bob in the 1990s, so casting Smith as Leo’s stoner son repeats that same sentiment in That ‘90s Show.
While Leo and Sonny appear to have repaired their relationship ahead of the sequel show, they were largely estranged throughout That ‘70s Show. Early on, Leo revealed that his ex-wife took their kids when she left him sometime before their son’s 16th birthday. After Leo disappeared from That ‘70s Show seasons 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. When That ‘90s Show part 3 releases, plenty of questions will need to be answered about Leo and his son’s reunion.
With Sonny's introduction, That '90s Show fills a gap left by the absence of That '70s Show character Steven Hyde. When Tommy Chong's Leo made his debut in That ‘70s Show season 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.
However, with Hyde missing from That ‘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 in That ‘90s Show part 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 in That ‘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 Show reveals that Leo has still been living in Point Place all this time after That '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, who That ‘90s Show reveals turned out to be a lot like Leo.
Before playing father and son on That '90s Show, Tommy Chong and Kevin Smith appeared together in the cast of 2019's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie. 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 classic Batman figures. Like That ‘90s Show making use of Smith's famous stoner character roles, his own Jay and Silent Bob Reboot utilized Chong's stoner role reputation for brilliant comedic effect in the 2019 film.
After Smith's View Askewniverse and Chong's That '70s Show franchise, 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 on That ‘90s Show akin 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 Show has the perfect duo to represent that subculture from both the '70s and '90s as the sequel series progresses.