That '70s Show: Is Randy The Worst Replacement Character In The History Of TV?

SignaturePlayer
[1]Apr 6, 2007
member since: 03/11/05
level: 5
rank: Caveman Lawyer
posts: 42
Recently I've been starting to watch season 8 again and my hatred for Randy sparked up again. I'm sure this has come up before, but is Randy the worst replacement character in the history of TV? Everytime he was on screen he sucked the wind right out of the show. I honestly keep an open mind and would never just starting hating a character because they replaced an old character I liked, every character gets a fair chance in my books. Randy was just a horrible character that single-handedly made the last season bad (relative to the rest of the series). Further I would like to state Josh Meyers is the worst actor I can think of to get a major role in a good and successful TV show.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
__poi
[2]Apr 6, 2007
member since: 02/21/07
level: 2
rank: Sweat Hog
posts: 29
Meh not really the characters fault, just god awful writing. The Randy character wasn't even really needed though. It felt more tacked on than anything else, but then again that is just a result of god awful writing in the 8th season.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
Stig14
[3]Apr 6, 2007
member since: 07/12/05
level: 56
rank: Texas Ranger
posts: 3,489
I agree with _poi; the show had already started the downward spiral in Season 7, so that can't be blamed on Randy/Josh Meyers. And even if you mentally erase him from every Season 8 episode... well, they're still not great episodes.

And worse things have happened in sitcom history. Ricky on The Partridge Family... that was bad. Oliver on The Brady Bunch... also bad. Arnold being replaced by 'Big Al'... yeah, maybe not as bad as Oliver, but still, not so great. Pam just dreaming that season away (which, in all honesty, is what I was hoping for at the end of season 8 in That 70s Show, and I even blogged about it!)... that wasn't great. And worst of all, Fonzie jumping the shark, literally. (Which, by the way, is where the saying comes from, and I loved That 70s' homage to it!)

Honestly, within the scope of the show, I think replacing Lisa Robin Kelly with Christina Moore was a worse move.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
SMGslayer97
[4]Apr 6, 2007
member since: 06/15/05
level: 34
rank: Wardrobe Malfunction
posts: 19,211
Well, I don't think Randy was that terrible though I don't think he was the best addition but to be fair this was the shows last season and that was pretty much known at the end of season seven so anyone who they brought in for only one season would have had a hard time especially with two of the chief characters gone. Not an easy task in the least. I didn't mind him when he first appeared but as the season went on I felt like he had absolutely no purpose and they were trying to force one on him. In all reality it would have been better if they had just let him hang out rather then briefly putting him with Donna, who was obviously supposed to be with Eric at that point reguardless of if Topher came back or not.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
camric4
[5]Apr 6, 2007
member since: 05/29/06
level: 1
rank: Weatherman
posts: 137
Although the idea of the whole season 8 being a dream seems like a cop out and one that's already been done, I was really hoping that's how it would end.

Poor Randy. He just really made me cringe. Frankly, I don't think we were supposed to like him. He just provided the will Eric and Donna get back together factor.

The writing was just sad and uninspired. I was really surprised that there wasn't a huge turnover in the writing staff. It's as if they forgot the previous 7 seasons and the fact that we had grown to really love the CHARACTERS. It seemed that they were trying too hard for chap laughs.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

SMGslayer97

[6]Apr 7, 2007

member since: 06/15/05
level: 34
rank: Wardrobe Malfunction
posts: 19,211

camric4 wrote:

Although the idea of the whole season 8 being a dream seems like a cop out and one that's already been done, I was really hoping that's how it would end.

Poor Randy. He just really made me cringe. Frankly, I don't think we were supposed to like him. He just provided the will Eric and Donna get back together factor.

The writing was just sad and uninspired. I was really surprised that there wasn't a huge turnover in the writing staff. It's as if they forgot the previous 7 seasons and the fact that we had grown to really love the CHARACTERS. It seemed that they were trying too hard for chap laughs.

I agree, they tried to hard in season 8.

Does anyone think that if season 8 had been better as a whole that we would have liked Randy better? And I'm not saying Kelso and Eric were there just saying if season 8 had better as a whole would Randy have been a better liked character.

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

j3ssiicaa

[7]Apr 8, 2007

member since: 11/27/05
level: 5
rank: Caveman Lawyer
posts: 1,505

SMGslayer97 wrote:

camric4 wrote:

I still don't think I'd like Randy. If they added him as a new character when Eric and Kelso were still in the show then maybe it would have made a difference, but they couldn't do anything about that.

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

__poi
[8]Apr 8, 2007
member since: 02/21/07
level: 2
rank: Sweat Hog
posts: 29
The thing about each character in the past is that they all had something special about them that made them different from just random people. Randy, however was just a plain guy, the character had little special about it. There was really no need to bring him in if they where going to just end the show at the end of the season. If they show was going to continue on then yeah, I would see why you would bring him in. He had no time to develope really so with their horrible writing they just tried to rush his character too much and it just made things worse. Maybe if they just eased him in more rather than just shoving him into the fire, maybe he could of had a chance. But like I said before he really didn't have anything different about him to make him special.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
seinfeld111690
[9]Apr 8, 2007
member since: 08/13/05
level: 25
rank: Coconut Phone
posts: 20,383
In my mind there was no Season 8
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
SMGslayer97
[10]Apr 8, 2007
member since: 06/15/05
level: 34
rank: Wardrobe Malfunction
posts: 19,211
seinfeld111690 wrote:

In my mind there was no Season 8

I kind of wish there wasn't.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

j3ssiicaa

[11]Apr 9, 2007

member since: 11/27/05
level: 5
rank: Caveman Lawyer
posts: 1,505

__poi wrote:

The thing about each character in the past is that they all had something special about them that made them different from just random people. Randy, however was just a plain guy, the character had little special about it. There was really no need to bring him in if they where going to just end the show at the end of the season. If they show was going to continue on then yeah, I would see why you would bring him in. He had no time to develope really so with their horrible writing they just tried to rush his character too much and it just made things worse. Maybe if they just eased him in more rather than just shoving him into the fire, maybe he could of had a chance. But like I said before he really didn't have anything different about him to make him special.

That's what I mean. They should have introduced Randy in the previous season if they knew they were going to keep him, or if they were going to make more seasons.

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

SMGslayer97

[12]Apr 9, 2007

member since: 06/15/05
level: 34
rank: Wardrobe Malfunction
posts: 19,211

j3ssiicaa wrote:

__poi wrote:

That's what I mean. They should have introduced Randy in the previous season if they knew they were going to keep him, or if they were going to make more seasons.

That's a good point. I mean they knew that Kelso and Eric were no longer going to be part of the show and they sort of brought in Leo and Randy to make up for that and they managed to bring in Leo earlier in season seven (though the season was almost over) and we had known him long before so it was fine that he popped up again. But Randy came out of no where, though the scene where Hyde hires him is hilarious.

Hyde: New guy, you're hired. Leo you're not fired, jobs for everyone. Well that was hard but it had to be done.

And what the heck was with Kelso and Rosh Hashanah?

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

boobush
[13]Apr 9, 2007
member since: 06/06/06
level: 2
rank: Sweat Hog
posts: 35
Didn't find him pleasant nor annoying. Din't watch last season.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
justinwestnet
[14]Apr 10, 2007
member since: 04/21/04
level: 17
rank: The Crazy Neighbor
posts: 1,162
Well here is how I see it. Randy was originally supposed to be Eric back from Africa a 'changed man'. That wouldn't work, so they used him as Randy. The writing, especially his jokes, were God awful, so it made him look worse. There are 3 options to this ordeal:

1) He never existed. The cast could have done well with 4 cast members and have Bob/Kitty/Red with bigger roles. 2) Kept Charlie. Not sure why he got away, but he was a funny character because he reminded me of young Eric and was used in only a couple of scenes per show, so his character was still fresh and funny whenever he stepped him.

3) Kept Randy, but use him sparingly like they did Charlie. That way you wouldn't see him that much, so he wouldn't get on your nerves. The whole romance thing with Donna added to his screentime and lets face it, its Donna and Eric...always. I really miss this show! Sucks it has almost been a year since the final show aired!
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

j3ssiicaa

[15]Apr 12, 2007

member since: 11/27/05
level: 5
rank: Caveman Lawyer
posts: 1,505

justinwestnet wrote:

Well here is how I see it. Randy was originally supposed to be Eric back from Africa a 'changed man'. That wouldn't work, so they used him as Randy. The writing, especially his jokes, were God awful, so it made him look worse. There are 3 options to this ordeal:

1) He never existed. The cast could have done well with 4 cast members and have Bob/Kitty/Red with bigger roles. 2) Kept Charlie. Not sure why he got away, but he was a funny character because he reminded me of young Eric and was used in only a couple of scenes per show, so his character was still fresh and funny whenever he stepped him.

3) Kept Randy, but use him sparingly like they did Charlie. That way you wouldn't see him that much, so he wouldn't get on your nerves. The whole romance thing with Donna added to his screentime and lets face it, its Donna and Eric...always. I really miss this show! Sucks it has almost been a year since the final show aired!

Almost a year? It seems as if it was just five months ago. Time flies.

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

spankdamunkee
[16]Apr 12, 2007
member since: 12/08/06
level: 3
rank: Soup Nazi
posts: 24
noo hes not too bad
i just really hated him and donna together
the 8th season was bad but the only reason was because Eric annd Kelso wasnt in the show
if they were there would have been plenty more adventures for the whole 70s gang to go on
but like all shows...loved characters move on and everyone hates it....man i miss this show
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

marbles01

[17]Apr 14, 2007

member since: 08/26/06
level: 12
rank: Evil Bert
posts: 982

Stig14 wrote:

I agree with _poi; the show had already started the downward spiral in Season 7, so that can't be blamed on Randy/Josh Meyers. And even if you mentally erase him from every Season 8 episode... well, they're still not great episodes. And worse things have happened in sitcom history. Ricky on The Partridge Family... that was bad. Oliver on The Brady Bunch... also bad. Arnold being replaced by 'Big Al'... yeah, maybe not as bad as Oliver, but still, not so great. Pam just dreaming that season away (which, in all honesty, is what I was hoping for at the end of season 8 in That 70s Show, and I even blogged about it!)... that wasn't great. And worst of all, Fonzie jumping the shark, literally. (Which, by the way, is where the saying comes from, and I loved That 70s' homage to it!) Honestly, within the scope of the show, I think replacing Lisa Robin Kelly with Christina Moore was a worse move.

Agreeing with the last sentence there

You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

gunner2010
[18]Apr 15, 2007
member since: 08/31/06
level: 2
rank: Sweat Hog
posts: 71
Yeah, I didn't like Randy. Josh Meyers was a bad actor, too. I laughed at one of his lines in the finale [with his grandpa and the packer tickets... "Yeah my grandpa's been on that waiting list for years. When the tickets finally came, he was 87. He ate them."] just because I could see Eric saying that. So now when I rewatch episodes from the eighth season, I just imagine that Randy is actually Eric. It doesn't work perfectly, and everything still seems wrong, but with a little imagination the show was more enjoyable for me.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
LookGuysImaBear
[19]Apr 17, 2007
member since: 11/16/06
level: 2
rank: Sweat Hog
posts: 93
In my opinion the 8th season wasnt good but it wasnt just unwatchable. Compare the 8th to the rest of the seasons and ofcourse its gonna look just god awful, I think as fans of the Show we were just spoiled with the 1st 6 seasons, I also liked the 7th season just not as much as the 1st 6. Now Randy as the Worst Replacement Character ever I think hes definently up there. Oliver will always be remebered as an oddball fit and last second attempt for more audience and The Fonze jumping the Shark can atleast be made fun of now, but Randy will be blacked out frome everyones memorys. The writing was bad and having him and Donna become love interests is just setting him up for failure, but i hated everything about Randy including the way Josh played him. If the Show would have kept Randy and Donna together and never brought Eric back for the Finale I would have stopped watching all episodes of the show, Even Reruns, thats how much i hated Randy/Josh.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
nourannoying44
[20]Apr 20, 2007
member since: 03/12/07
level: 3
rank: Soup Nazi
posts: 21
I hate that Randy character. They should've just left the other characters without him
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.

That '70s Show Forums: Is Randy The Worst Replacement Character In The History Of TV?