Going to California (That 70's Show episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Going to California”
That '70s Show episode

Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 1
Guest stars	Jessica Simpson (Anette)
Written by	–
Production no.	501
Original airdate	September 17, 2002
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"That '70s KISS Show"	"I Can't Quit You Babe"
List of That '70s Show episodes

Going to California is an episode from That '70s Show. It was the Season Opener of Season 5 of the series which aired in 2002-2003.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The episode begins with Donna calling the Forman residence, and Kitty answering it. Only Kitty's side of the conversation is heard, and she says that Eric has been wanting to talk to Donna. When she excitedly goes to Eric's room to tell him he is in the bathroom, and doesn't listen to her. He says it is his alone time, and Kitty can think of it as Church time. Later when Eric finds out that in fact Donna had called he gets angry that his mother did not tell him. He runs to the kitchen, only to find out that the notepad on which Kitty wrote Donna's California number does not have the number and perhaps Red has taken it. He runs to Red, who is about to get in his car, and searches his pockets against his wishes until he finds the note.

This episode is also the first episode in which Hyde is shown sporting a full beard. Red is angry and confused and Fez tells him that Eric has low self esteem because Red is too domineering. He also tells Hyde that he looks like a damn Hungarian in his new beard.

Eric tries to call Donna on the phone, but keeps chickening out finally realizing that he has to go to California to meet her as he has too much to say to be said on the phone. Jackie suggests he write her a letter, like she wrote to Kelso in which he broke up with him.

In California, Kelso is shown making out with Anette (Jessica Simpson), and Donna walks in saying Eric didn't call. The couple don't want Donna to disturb her, so they suggest she go play Pinball. Donna mentions Jackie, and tries to get Kelso in trouble as he hadn't told Anette about her. Anette gets upset and leaves, and Donna makes for the Pinball machine.

Eric asks his parents if he can visit California to tell Donna that he loves her, and they refuse. Red tells him that it is his final year of school, and he should buckle down. Eric goes to the basement to sulk, when Hyde, Fez and Jackie enter and Hyde tells him that they booked a ticket for him to California. After some debate Eric decides he will go to California if the gang will stop his parents from finding out. He leaves to pack and Fez leaves with him, saying he loves to put together outfits. As soon as they leave Hyde and Jackie start to make out, which reveals for the first time that they have something going on between them.

Back in California, Kelso has a difficult time appeasing Anette and she reveals she is a virgin. Kelso says he is a virgin too and that they should do it as they are both first-timers. Donna asks Kelso to not discuss plans of doing it when shes around, and Kelso tells her shes never not around. Donna says she misses Eric, and looks around to find Eric standing near Kelso's van. They start to run towards each other in slow motion, and presumable get back together when they reunite.

Initially Hyde is able to fool Red very easily, and for a while Eric's secret about having gone to California to bring back Donna is still a secret, but Kitty catches Jackie and Hyde making out and to avoid being asked questions on that, Jackie tells Kitty that Eric is in California. This seems to make Hyde like Jackie even more. In California, Eric and Donna want to come back home, but Kelso has the van and he still wants to stay to see if he can convince Anette to do it. Eric and Donna spend a magical might at the Beach, and are cuddling in Kelso's van when he comes frustrated with Anette as she didn't put out. They drive back from California to Wisconsin.

The gang have a happy reunion where Kelso hugs both Hyde and Fez. Then Bob comes out from the Forman residence and tells Donna to march off home, and Eric gets in trouble for going to California against his parents wishes.

The final scene shows all the gang sitting in the basement and Donna and Eric making out, and when bugged by Fez leaving for Eric's room Fez leaves saying they have given him needs and Kelso comments nothing ever changes around here to leave for the basement exit. The moment he leaves Jackie and Hyde start making out.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Trivia

The title comes from the song by Led Zeppelin.
Jessica Simpson appeared for the first time on That 70's Show in this episode. She would later appear in 2 more episodes in Season 5 as the same character.