At the time That ’70s Show<\/a>\u00a0began, however, Rupp, 74, had some concerns about leaning into her character. She previously told Entertainment Weekly<\/a> that she hadn’t realized she’d signed on to a period piece until arriving to film the pilot.<\/p>\n “I think I was in a bit of shock because I did not realize that this was set in the 70s until I saw the appliances on the set,” she told the outlet, joking, “I somehow missed that part in the script.”<\/p>\n While most people think the title would give it away, Rupp notes, “It wasn’t called that [at the time]. It was called The Kids Are Alright or something.”<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n Wilmer Valderrama, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon. Center L-R: Don Stark, Tanya Roberts, Mila Kunis, Lisa Robin Kelly, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith FOX\/Getty<\/p>\n Rupp rose to the occasion, though she did have some reservations as she settled into embodying the dedicated wife and mom.<\/p>\n “The clothing became very troublesome to me. I was extremely worried about it,” she said, referencing her outfit in the pilot episode as an example.<\/p>\n “I actually have that at home, because I took everything. That is a big, giant, long wrap-around skirt and then a big red blouse with a big frill thing. And I remember thinking, ‘I wonder if anyone’s going to even see me in this show, between the wig \u2014 actually, that was my hair at that time \u2014 and that big, huge, floaty costume.”<\/p>\n Alamy<\/p>\n For inspiration, she channeled her own memories of growing up in the 70s, noting, “I was very much my mother… I was just so excited about a period show.”<\/p>\n During its eight-year run, the series helped make household names out of stars including\u00a0Topher Grace<\/a>,\u00a0Laura Prepon<\/a>,\u00a0Wilmer Valderrama<\/a>,\u00a0Mila Kunis<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ashton Kutcher<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 and is where the latter two fell in love.<\/p>\n The show, which first aired on Aug. 23, 1998, and ended in 2006 after eight seasons, was nominated for 16 Primetime\u00a0Emmy Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Wilmer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cb98a36c4e651c827ae7bccb6d3bb990.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Kitty](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/df5ed35287b5aea89beefb33246a999a.jpeg\"\/)
Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red (Kurtwood Smith) <\/p>\n