That ’90s Show May Have Secretly Brought Back A Character From 23-Year-Old That ’70s Show Episode

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 2!

Summary

• Wayne Knight’s cameo as Bruce in That ’90s Show part 2 may have a connection to his previous role in That ’70s Show.
• Bruce’s role in That ’90s Show resembles the angel character from That ’70s Show, guiding Red Forman.
• Wayne Knight’s dual roles in the series could pave the way for more returning actor recasts in That ’90s Show.

Among the guest stars of That ‘90s Show part 2 is Wayne Knight, who previously appeared in a fan-favorite episode of That ‘70s Show. Perhaps best known for his roles in ‘90s pop culture staples Seinfeld and Jurassic Park, Wayne Knight makes a cameo in That ‘90s Show part 2 as Bruce, a patient sharing a hospital room with Red Forman. While Red at first becomes annoyed with Bruce talking so much, he ends up giving Red some great advice that comes back around before That ‘90s Show part 2’s ending, leaving an important impact on the iconic character.

Though he only appears in a few scenes, Wayne Knight’s cameo in That ‘90s Show season 2 has a deeper connection to the original series. Knight previously appeared in the sitcom’s universe back in That ‘70s Show season 4, but his character wasn’t called Bruce in the 2001 episode. Knight’s That ‘70s Show character was part of an elaborate fantasy episode imagined by Eric Forman, whose name isn’t given as anything other than “angel.” While it may not seem like the two characters are connected in That ‘90s Show, some details about Wayne Knight’s “Bruce” curiously hark back to his past role.

Wayne Knight’s “Bruce” Could Still Be The Angel From That ’70s Show Season 4

Bruce & The Angel have similar roles in That ’70s & ’90s Show

In That ‘70s Show season 4, episode 1, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Eric has an extended flashback sequence in which he imagines an alternate version of his life if he had never kissed Donna in the sitcom’s pilot. Like in the 1946 It’s a Wonderful Life movie, Eric is taken through various points in That ‘70s Show’s alternate reality timeline by an angel, played by Wayne Knight. The angel is only visible to Eric throughout the episode, but he leaves a lasting impression on Eric as he finally realizes that “it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Seemingly too similar to be a coincidence, Wayne Knight’s Bruce plays a similar role for Red Forman in That ‘90s Show part 2, episode 7. As Red and Bruce chat alone in the hospital room, Bruce remarks that when he leaves the hospital, he’s going to do all the things he ever wanted to do. In a euphemism for his death, Bruce elaborates that “when it’s time for [him] to clock out, [he’s] not leaving anything on the table.” Since this same sentiment was previously being discussed between Red and Kitty, it almost seemed as if Bruce was another angelic figure that Red had imagined.

Like Knight’s angel character being imagined to help Eric move forward from breaking up with Donna in That ‘70s Show, there’s still the possibility that Knight is playing that same angelic guide for Red in That ‘90s Show. After his conversation with Bruce, Red finally decides to take life by the reigns and go on the trip to Paris that he and Kitty never got to take. Consequently, even if Knight isn’t actually playing the same exact angel character from That ‘70s Show, Bruce is still somewhat of a guardian angel for Red in that episode.

1 Important Detail Suggests Red Wasn’t Actually Imagining Bruce In That ’90s Show

Red wasn’t the only one who saw him

Though Wayne Knight’s characters continue to play guiding roles for That ‘70s Show’s Forman family, a specific detail in his That ‘90s Show return seems to debunk the theory that Bruce wasn’t real. When Red returns to the hospital room asking about Bruce, the nurse acknowledges the character’s existence by saying “he’s gone.” Therefore, Bruce can’t be an angel like Knight’s character in That ‘90s Show, as he was a documented patient in that hospital room with Red.

Bruce would then return to the room just moments later to reveal that he had gone to smoke a cigarette, despite previously stating that smoking another cigarette would kill him. If Wayne Knight’s characters in That ‘70s Show and That ‘90s Show are meant to be humorous guiding lights for the main cast, then he could realistically return as a different character in the future. With Red telling Bruce that his name is actually “Bob Pinciotti” and he should look him up, Knight could follow this trend and appear in That ‘90s Show part 3 by recasting him as a new character who helps guide Bob for an episode.

With Red telling Bruce that his name is actually “Bob Pinciotti” and he should look him up, Knight’s next appearance in That ‘90s Show could follow this trend by recasting him as a new character who helps guide Bob for an episode.

Wayne Knight’s Dual That ’70s & ’90s Show Roles Paves The Way For More Actor Recasts

More actors could return to That ’90s Show in different roles

Now that Wayne Knight has appeared as two different characters in That ‘70s Show and That ‘90s Show, he could be setting a precedent for more actors to be recast for the sequel show. The original series featured one-episode guest appearances from actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Justin Long, Lindsay Lohan, French Stewart, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Jenna Fischer, who could each realistically appear in That ‘90s Show as new characters. As long as they aren’t interacting with the same characters from That ‘70s Show, seeing them return in That ‘90s Show wouldn’t necessarily have to mean reprising their original roles.

Similarly, Brittany Daniel appeared as Eric’s Penny in That ’70s Show, but portrayed the character Sophie in the spinoff That ’80s Show.

That ’90s Show part 2 is now streaming on Netflix.