The Circle

The animated circle

"The oil companies control everything. Like there's this guy who invented this car that runs on water, man. It's got a fiberglass, air-cooled engine and it runs on water, man!”

—Hyde's classic circle moment

The Circle is a popular setting on FOX comedy That '70s Show, where the '70s teens smoke pot in Eric's basement.

About

The Circle is a way for the creators to showcase a vital component of the '70s – smoking weed. According to the show creators, the blunt or joint is passed around ahead of the person speaking on camera, thus never shown. The circle usually takes place in the the basement and features four people, though these rules are bent on occasion.

On special occasions, the circle has been used to show the characters partaking in consuming other things than weed, such as dinner, alcohol, ice cream, cigars, hash brownies (accidentally) or nothing at all. During such scenes, adults also participate.

On occasion, the circle scenes are followed by scenes where the characters act sober while being still high, but more often that not, no one seems to suffer any ill effects after the fact. A notable case was the second-to-last episode where a particularly potent "stash" was acquired by the gang when Fez's friend from his homeland visited. Hyde actually quit smoking for a period of time because he got too high.

During the final season, the opening credits feature the main characters sitting in a circle, instead of driving around in the [[Eric Forman's Vista Cruiser|Vista Cruiser]].

FAQs

• Why does The Circle have rules?
  • Answer: Otherwise it would be all helter-skelter and things need even simple rules.
• Why do some of the shows funniest moments occur in The Circle?
  • Answer: Brain function is altered due to the use of Marijuana and therefore people often have different thought patterns and are more intruiged by different ideas that seem ridiculous to people not under the influence.

Rules

The circle is not:

• An area where people can talk about their feelings.
• A place where people can cry
• For the faint of heart.
• A place where people can grope each other

But it is:

• Where laughing occurs
• Where random stuff is discussed
• Where some of the dumbest decisions are made.
• Very candid.
• One of the most well-known elements of the show.
• A place to sing random songs.

Quotes

Hyde – I would be so pissed at you if I had the ability to feel anger right now...thank God I don't!

Fez – You know guys, sometimes I wish we were cartoon characters

Hyde – Zoinks. That'd be super, Fez

Kelso – Alright, guys...I have a confession...I do shave my legs. I just love the way it feels!

Hyde – Man, when two people break up, it's the saddest thing...except for right now, when it's funny!

Hyde – Dude, I can't close my mouth...This is freakin' me out, man!

Hyde – Hahahaa, ohh weather kicks ass

Hyde – I'll see you guys later, I have somewhere I really need to be (gets up from The Circle with Donna and Jackie and goes to another Circle with Fez, Kelso, and Eric). Hey guys sorry I'm late, I had somewhere I really needed to be

Kelso – You know what's a funny word? Pickle-Weasel!

Kelso – Russia has Death Rays aiming at the White House

Media

And in one special episode, the parents get high
That 70's Show - HIP

Trivia

• During most of season 1, the circle only featured Eric, Kelso, Hyde and Fez. Donna joined in in the episode "Hyde Moves In". Jackie joined the circle next season, in the episode "Cat Fight Club".
• The episode "Substitute" holds the record for the most people in a circle at once, with seven. The episode "5:15" holds the record for the least people in a circle, with only one.
• Schatzi is the only non-human that has partaken in the circle .
• Every character that was part of the main cast over the course of the show's eight seasons sat in the circle at least once.
• The opening credits for Season 8 features the cast singing a line to the theme song.

List of circles

• Episode 5.08: Thank You Participants:

1. Eric, Fez, Kelso, Hyde
2. Ms. McGee, Laurie, Jackie, Donna

• Episode 5.14: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You Participants: Eric, Hyde, Kelso, Fez
• Episode 5.15: When the Levee Breaks Participants: Fez, Jackie, Hyde, Kelso
• Episode 5.17: The Battle of Evermore Participants: Hyde, Kelso, Jackie, Fez
• Episode 5.18: Hey Hey What Can I Do Participants: Roy Keene, Hyde, Jackie
• Episode 5.19: Bring It on Home Participants: Donna, Eric, Fez, Kelso
• Episode 5.20: No Quarter Participants: Eric, Hyde, Kelso, Fez
• Episode 5.21: Trampled Under Foot Participants:

1. circle Hyde, Fez, Eric, Kelso
2. circle Hyde, Donna, Eric, Kelso, Jackie

• Episode 6.02: Join Together Participants: Eric, Fez, Hyde, Kelso
• Episode 6.03: Magic Bus Participants: Jackie, Kelso, Fez, Hyde
• Episode 6.05: I'm Free Participants: Jackie, Fez, Kelso, Agent Armstrong
• Episode 6.10: A Legal Matter Participants: Eric, Kelso, Hyde
• Episode 6.11: I Can See for Miles Participants: Eric, Donna, Hyde, Fez
• Episode 6.13: Won't Get Fooled Again Participants: Kelso, Eric, Hyde
• Episode 6.14: Baby Don't You Do It Participants:

1. circle Donna, Jackie, Hyde
2. circle Hyde, Eric, Kelso, Fez

• Episode 6.19: Substitute Participants: Donna, Eric, Kelso, Fez, Jackie, Hyde, Mitch Miller
• Episode 6.21: 5:15 Participants: Hyde
• Episode 6.22: Sparks Participants: Eric, Kelso, Hyde, Fez
• Episode 6.24: Going Mobile Participants: Hyde, Jackie, Kelso, Fez
• Episode 7.02: Let's Spend the Night Together Participants: Fez, Jackie, Donna, Eric
• Episode 7.03: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Participants: Fez, Hyde, Kelso, Jackie (annotation: only cigars)
• Episode 7.05: It's Only Rock and Roll Participants: Hyde, Kelso, Eric, Schatzi
• Episode 7.06: Rip This Joint Participants: Hyde, Jackie, Fez, Donna
• Episode 7.13: Can't You Hear Me Knocking Participants:

1. Hyde, Kelso, Eric, Fez Place: cellar
2. Eric, Kelso, Fez, Hyde Place: lounge
3. Hyde, Fez, Eric, Kelso Place: lounge
4. Hyde, Kelso, Eric, Fez Place: lounge

• Episode 7.17: Down the Road Apiece Participants: Leo, Waitress, Eric Place: stockroom of a roadhouse
• Episode 7.20: Gimme Shelter Participants: Eric, Fez, Kelso, Hyde Place: cellar
• Episode 7.23: Take It or Leave It Participants:

1. Kelso, Hyde, Eric, Charlie, Fez Place: refrigerating beer storage house (annotation: only beer)
2. Jackie, Donna Place: lounge in Donna's house

• Episode 7.25: Till the Next Goodbye Participants: Eric, Fez, Kelso, Hyde Place: cellar
• Episode 8.01: Bohemian Rhapsody Kitty Forman Place: bathroom
• Episode 8.02: Somebody to Love Participants:

1. Leo and some hippies. Place: record shop
2. Hyde, Leo, Kelso, Randy Place: record shop

• Episode 8.03: You're My Best Friend Donna, Jackie, Samantha Hyde
• Episode 8.04: Misfire Participants: Kelso, Jackie, Donna, Fez, Hyde Place: cellar
• Episode 8.05 Stone Cold Crazy Participants: Leo Place: record shop
• Episode 8.10: Sweet Lady Participants: Murph, Red, Hyde, Smitty Place: sauna (annotation: no drugs)