Episode #304 "Hyde's Father"

The four guys are using their fake ID's at a local dive when Hyde realizes that Bud, the bartender, is his father who he hasn't seen in over eight years. Eric leads Kelso and Fez away to give Hyde a little privacy. It's an awkward situation, and Hyde's angry; he's also stunned when he learns that his dad's been back in town for more than a year. Donna makes fun Kelso and Fez who are engrossed in a girly magazine. Fez is captivated by an article called "Sure-Fire Ways to Pick Up Women" and decides to try his luck. The Formans are having lunch when Leo stops by to tell Hyde that his dad came by the Fotohut looking for him. Eric explains to Red that they ran into Hyde's dad the previous night. Kitty wants to talk to Hyde and find out how he's feeling, but Red tells her to keep out of it. Kitty says that Hyde needs them, and she'll help by having Bud over for drinks that night. Donna's disgusted when she discovers that Eric keeps a stack of dirty magazines under his bed; Eric lamely tries to explain, but Donna takes off. Fez tries his new technique out on Jackie, but she's oblivious. Bud accepts Kitty's invitation and comes over; he tells everyone that he's cleaned up his act. He's gotten a job and has stopped drinking. He even has a color TV. Hyde says that's great, because when he was growing up he didn't even have a father. Donna conducts a little survey among the guys and learns that they'd look at girly magazines whether or not they had girlfriends. Kitty encourages Hyde to discuss his feelings about his father. She suggests that even though they don't have much of a past, maybe they can make some new happy memories together. Hyde says he doesn't think so. Eric has an imaginary conversation with one of the models in his girly magazines. She calls him a dirt bag and tells him she refuses to help him cheat on his girlfriend. Hyde tells Bud he can't walk back into his life and expect everything to be okay. Bud offers no excuses; he's been a jerk all his life, but he truly is sorry for what he did. Bud says he has an extra room if Hyde's interested, but at the same time he hits his son up for a loan to help cover his rent. Red gets upset when he sees Hyde handing Bud some money. Donna tells Eric that she understands that guys need girly magazines, because they're a disgusting gender, but they're disgusting in a cute, harmless way. Hyde surprises Red when he announces that he's moving in with Bud. And Eric has another imaginary conversation with a model, and this time he's a lot happier.