The story follows Eric and his friends—Donna, Hyde, Kelso, and the newly arrived foreign exchange student, Fez—as they plan to attend a Todd Rundgren concert in Milwaukee. The journey is fraught with typical teenage hurdles:

The Vista Cruiser's battery dies on the way, forcing the gang to trade two concert tickets to a mechanic for a replacement.

The pilot efficiently established the core dynamics that would define the series:

The first episode of That '70s Show , titled "," premiered on August 23, 1998, establishing the groovy yet dysfunctional world of Point Place, Wisconsin. Set on May 17, 1976, the episode centers on 17-year-old Eric Forman receiving the keys to the iconic 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser from his stern father, Red. Plot Summary: The Road to Milwaukee

The group forces Kelso and Jackie to stay behind with the car while the rest attend the concert. Key Character Introductions

Kelso’s preppy and obnoxious girlfriend, Jackie, invites herself along, much to the group's annoyance.

Red gives Eric the car on the strict condition that he does not take it out of town.