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Kurtwood Smith
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When it started, That '70s Show was positioned as a feel-good sitcom about the carefree days of the '70s. Revisiting the same territory as the cult classic film Dazed and Confused, the hope was that enough thirtysomethings would line up for a dose of nostalgia.
But more like Happy Days, the time in which the series takes place has quickly become secondary to the story of some well-developed characters. "Yeah, that's pretty much the case," says veteran actor Kurtwood Smith from his home in Los Angeles.
Smith plays Red Forman, the father of series protagonist Eric Forman (Topher Grace). He explains the show's steady rise towards greatness. "The guy that runs our show, Mark Brazill has envisioned a story (for the characters). So it's not just a weekly half-hour of jokes. So it (will have) a longer life. A direction."
The series was crated by the team of Bonnie and Terry Turner, who also gave us the more cartoonish 3rd Rock from the Sun. Their plate being as full as it is, they have given the helm to producer Mark Brazill. He previously created NBC's ill-fated sitcom, Mr. Rhodes, which was actually just a weekly (attempted) joke fest. Lessons learned, Brazill has taken his charges from the position of nostalgia novelty to character-driven comedy.
"People tune in and think it will be a goof," says Smith. "They grew up in the '70s and think it will bring back some funny memories." What they are finding week after week, is some well-crafted television in a genre that's really taken a beating, particularly at Fox.
It's also a show that has taken the old-fashioned route of building an audience, like Cheers, M*A*S*H or All in the Family, instead of starting off strong and stumbling into a pile of disinterest. Smith himself doesn't watch many sitcoms. "I see them on and off. I followed Seinfeld for about two seasons, but after a while I think people's interest tends to fall." Sounds like he's more of a film guy. He pauses. "Yeah, that's pretty much the case."
Casting, of course, is the key to any sitcom's success. Often it's a crap shoot, bundled in an educated guess. You really don't know until the series has a few episodes in the can whether or not the chemistry is there. Fortunately there are no weak links in the '70s chain.
Smith is probably best known for his role as the stern father in Dead Poets Society. That image, perhaps more than anything, set the initial tone for Red Forman. In an interview last year Grace said they were all scared to death of Smith. He laughs at the notion.
"That helped at first. But I didn't really think of (Dead Poets) when I took this role." He did have some trepidation about a sitcom, however. "I didn't want to come in and solve a problem and be the butt of some dumb jokes. And the producers said 'No, it won't be like that.' "
The show goes into hiatus soon, and like all good TV stars, Kurtwood Smith would like to make use of his time off with a few movie parts. "It's a whole different animal. I'm hoping to do some films during the hiatus."
Film roles still come Smith's way, but no comedy offers. "No, not yet," he concedes. "I'd like to do some comedy. I've done some comedy in films in the past."
Known for his more authoritarian rolls, Smith is a natural at comedy. The character of Red Forman, though, is anchored by a serious side. The guy who served his country in Korea did everything right, but still lost his job. It's this serious side that helps keep Forman -- and the actor who portrays him -- from becoming another Leslie Nielsen.
Fox has switched the show's time slot several times, not in an effort to help build audience but, conversely, to fill holes in the network's disappointing half-hour comedy arsenal. It currently can be seen Mondays at 8 p.m., followed by a repeat of a different episode. There's one advantage to being one of the network's strongest shows: It's easy to catch up with. Have a nice day. ©
