Netflix Cancels 'That 90s Show' Season 3 - Here's Why?

That 90s Show' Season 3

Netflix has officially cancelled "That '90s Show" after just two seasons. Fans wonder what went wrong, and is there a future for the beloved sequel? 

The sequel to That '70s Show didn’t seem to catch fire as expected, and Netflix has pulled the plug after two parts of season two were released. Even though the series brought back beloved characters like Red and Kitty Forman, along with fresh faces, it struggled to gain traction in Netflix’s rankings.

Why Was That '90s Show Season 3 Cancelled?

Despite its connection to the wildly popular That '70s Show, That '90s Show just didn’t perform as well. The first season aired in parts, and although it had some nostalgic appearances from stars like Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher, the show failed to secure a consistent spot in Netflix’s Top 10.

When Part 2 of the second season was released on June 27, it only made the Netflix Top 10 once, garnering 1.8 million views. Part 3 followed on August 22 but underperformed, with less than 1.9 million views in its opening weekend. For Netflix, which places a high value on immediate viewership numbers, these figures just weren’t enough to justify further investment in the show.

Netflix has also struggled to keep multi-camera comedies alive on its platform. Only a few shows, like Fuller House and The Ranch, have managed to stick around for more than a couple of seasons. Despite the attempt to revive the magic with That '90s Show, the format just didn’t click with modern viewers in the same way.

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That '90s Show was produced by Carsey-Werner Company, an indie studio. While Kurtwood Smith hinted that the show might be taken to other platforms, the odds aren’t great. Netflix usually holds tight control over its original series, making it hard for cancelled shows to find a new home. That said, there's still a slim chance the series could be picked up by a traditional cable network, like what happened with One Day at a Time, another Netflix original sitcom.

The show follows the life of Eric and Donna’s daughter, Leia, who spends her summer with Red and Kitty in Point Place. Along the way, she forms new friendships with a group of teens from the neighbourhood. Although the storyline was set up to explore multiple seasons, the abrupt cancellation leaves many unanswered questions.

The cancellation was clearly a blow to Kurtwood Smith, who expressed his disappointment but also his hope that the show might live on. In his Instagram post, he wrote:

“I’ve loved every minute of getting to bring Grandpa Red to life for you all. This show had so much heart, and the most wonderful cast, writers, directors, producers, and crew an actor could hope to work with. We will shop the show because good grandparents would try hard to get these kids graduated from high school.”

Fans are still holding out hope, but for now, it seems the journey of That '90s Show has come to an end. Even if the show doesn’t return, its short run brought back a bit of nostalgia and allowed viewers to revisit old friends from the original series.

Will Netflix Continue Multi-Camera Comedies?

Netflix's challenge with multi-camera comedies isn’t limited to That '90s Show. The platform has struggled to maintain shows of this style, with many series getting cancelled after just a season or two. With the end of That '90s Show, the focus now shifts to a new comedy project, this time by Chuck Lorre, known for creating The Big Bang Theory. His upcoming show, starring comedian Leanne Morgan, may hold the key to reviving this format on Netflix.