'70's Show' renewed till 2002

Fox's teen sitcom sensation, "That 70's Show", will be around well into the next millennium, Variety reports.

The series, now in its second season, has been guaranteed its longevity by the network, which has taken the unusual step of buying two full additional years of the retro comedy.

The show caught the attention of viewers last year when it premiered after "The Simpsons" on Sunday evenings. Though the series' total audience has eroded since it moved to Tuesday nights, the ratings -- particularly among the young demographic coveted by advertisers -- remain strong.

Meanwhile, viewers can expect the network to use "That '70s Show" to try to create an audience for new shows. Next Tuesday, Fox plans to air the show at 8 p.m., a hlaf-hour earlier than usual, to test whether or not it can kick off the night and keep viewers tuned into the network.

"We certainly look forward to the day we can use 'That '70s Show' to put us firmly back in the live action comedy business," Doug Herzog, president of Fox Entertainment, told Variety.

Fox's mid-season shows include a half-hour comedy called "Malcolm in the Middle", which could possibly debut after "The Simpsons"; a half-hour claymation series, "Gary And Mike"; a sitcom, "Titus"; and two new dramas, "Dark Angel" and "The Opposite Sex".

Returning to the network's schedule will be "Greed" (Fox's answer to ABC's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"), "Family Guy", "The PJ's", "Fox Files", "Guinness World Records: Primetime", and "Beyond Belief".

Note: "That '70s Show" will be pre-empted tonight by the movie "Scream".

--AllPop