That '70s Show had a very different plan for Josh Meyers when he ed the Fox sitcom - and it would have been terrible. Meyers was brought in for the show's eighth and final season, portraying the new character, Randy Pearson. Here's what the writers initially intended for the actor, and why they stepped away from the risky idea.
Josh Meyers is the younger brother of Mad TV, another sketch comedy series. He left the series in 2004, after performing as a featured player for two seasons. The actor, who had a few TV and film projects under his belt, was then cast in That '70s Show season 8 for a major role.
The character of Randy was introduced in That '70s Show as a new employee as Hyde's record store. He quickly became a key love interest for Donna after she struggled with Eric's absence while he was teaching in Africa. Randy was welcomed into the group over time, but he wasn't well-received by longtime viewers. It was widely perceived that Randy didn't have chemistry with the original gang and his inclusion felt forced. The writers also gave Randy similar qualities once shown in Eric and Kelso, but he didn't have the same kind of charm as his predecessors. Randy may be considered a low point of the series but it's much better than the original plan for Meyers to completely replace the central character.
Josh Myers Was Originally Supposed To Replace Topher Grace As Eric Forman
Eric would leave Point Place to teach in Africa for a year. Before casting Meyers as Randy, the series toyed with the idea of having the actor replace Grace in the role of Eric. They would have had Eric return in season 8 and attribute his change of appearance to his time spent in Africa. However, there was a concern that loyal fans would feel offended by Eric being recast so they threw out the idea.
Even though Meyers didn't take over the role of Eric, he did serve as the character's replacement in many ways. He took Eric's spot in the gang and became Donna's love interest. At one point, Donna even envisioned Randy taking Eric's place by wearing his clothes and embodying his quirks. The character also struck up a relationship with Eric's parents, Red and Kitty. This ultimately resulted in an even lower acceptance of the new character. Eric's absence was a big blow to the series, as was when season 8 ended up being the show's last.
Ultimately, though, abandoning the original plan for Meyers in the show was the right choice. If Meyers had taken over the role of Eric, Grace would have never had the chance to make a surprising return in the series finale. His brief cameo gave the series an appropriate sendoff, and also instilled hope in viewers who wished Eric and Donna would end up together.