That '70s Show (TV Series) Eric's Birthday (1998) User Reviews

Eric's Birthday (#1.2)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 1 November 2017]

Eric is turning 17. He doesn't want a surprise party but this is what he gets because he is still his mom's baby. Besides that his sister is in town. And Donna tries to get him a good gift after the kiss in last episode.

Kitty was the best in this episode. Her "hiding" the surprise party from Eric, ignoring that he doesn't want it and getting him the gift he emphasized that he didn't want was great. As well as her idea of what is going on at the party when no adults are there.

We are also introduced to Laurie in this episode and she is pretty entertaining. Especially combined with Kelso's imagination.

Was also fun to see Eric and Donna;s relationship move forward. Will sure be hard for them with that set of friends! The last scene with them watching and discussing everything while the door is open and Eric with Donna can hear it was great.

The One With Eric's 17th Birthday...

[taylorkingston · 8/10 · 29 July 2015]

I really like this episode. I think it is so funny.

In this episode, Eric is turning seventeen years old, and he is very excited. He constantly tells his parents that since he's no longer a child, he doesn't want a childish surprise party. But he does want a cassette play for his car, not an outdated 8-track player. But what happens? He gets a surprise party, and an 8-track player. Poor Eric. Eric's older, obnoxious, mean, and slutty sister, Laurie, returns home for the celebration, even though she couldn't care less.

First appearance of: Laurie Forman.

Best part of the episode: Laurie Forman.

Overall, I give this episode an 8 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Awesome.

Eric's Birthday *****

[berringercross · 10/10 · 9 June 2010]

Original Air Date: August 30th, 1998

It's only the second show for this long-running television blockbuster and we already have our first near perfect episode. All Eric Forman (Topher Grace) wants for his seventeenth birthday is a cassette tape player for his Vista Cruiser. All he doesn't want is an eight-track tape deck and a surprise party to go along with it. As life so often proves, however, you can't always get what you want...although you might get everything else!

In a sea swelling with unbridled overtones of sexual angst and parental neuroses (not to mention sibling favoritism), this episode stands out as a testament to familial heart and unbreakable friendships. While it was evident that almost every member of the cast had the potential for bigger and better things, one particular standout in this installment is Debra Jo Rupp. As Eric's mother Kitty Forman, she utilizes elastic facial expressions and slightly paranoiac vocal inflections to her best advantage, creating a fascinating maternal figurehead that ranks her alongside other classic mother alumni such as Florence Henderson (Carol Brady from the appropriately titled "The Brady Bunch") and Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver of "Leave it to Beaver" fame). First runner-up to Rupp's humorous portrayal is the always luscious Laura Prepon as Eric's intended girlfriend Donna Pinciotti. One can't help but chuckle while watching her "seductive eyes" sequence on the porch.

This would also be the episode that introduced Eric's sister Laurie (played by vivacious blonde bombshell Lisa Robin Kelly) who provides the object of a little creative editing (both stylistically and via Michael Kelso's thought process) as Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) tries to convince the guys that Laurie was coming on to him in Forman's basement...when everyone else who witnessed the event clearly saw that wasn't the case. Overall, "Eric's Birthday" represents everything that was right about "That '70s Show" and should be viewed by anyone who wants to learn how to craft exemplary short form comedic entertainment.

©2010 berringercrossreviews

1x2: Eric's Birthday

[FriedToast02 · 10/10 · 19 October 2021]

A great improvement over the Pilot in my opinion. There isn't much negative about this episode, one of my favorite episodes of the season.

The pros of this episode is well we get introduced to a great character in Laurie, Rip to Lisa Robin Kelly, who played her for the first five seasons of the show. One do the first scenes with her is an iconic one of the show with her and kelso and kelso just imagining what Laurie is saying and Ashtons face after is priceless. We get another great fantasy with the opposite of the Pilot with the adults voicing the kids and honestly I might prefer this fantasy out of the two they're both funny though. Also the B plot of this episode I think is better with red and kitty going over to bob and midge after kitty throws her party. And that's what's the main plot is about Eric thinking he's to old for a surprise birthday party and Debra Jo Rupp as kitty shines in this episode. She is hilarious, one of my favorite "kitty episodes". Eric constantly telling kitty he doesn't want a surprise party is great. Seeing how red interacts with Laurie compared to Eric in this episode is funny and this is the first time we see this and how his personality completely flops. Also we get one of the few times I believe they aren't smoking in a circle with the Forman's at the dinner table. Laurie and Eric's back and fourth here is funny and tophers comedic timing same with Ashton Kutcher who plays kelso are amazing. The ending with kitty coming home drunk was funny cause it was the first time and red even says kitty you normally have like one drink. I don't like how it becomes a running gag later in the show that she drinks all the time. Man that scene too, really well acted between Topher and Laura Prepon on the porch and then kitty and red walking up. This is when you for sure knew there was something between the two characters. That 8 track gag also is great makes me laugh every time Eric's reaction when he gets the 8 track. Also Eric's dream of Donnas surprise and Laurie's comment on Eric when he wakes up. Everyone in the basement all dressed is also gold.

Prolly the weakest part of the episode is Donna deciding on a gift but I still really like it and there isn't much wrong with it to me. It takes a minute for Jackie to get likable in this show prolly around season 2 is when I started to like her a lot more.