Factual error: Eric compares Jackie and Kelso's breakup dilemma to "Sophie's Choice...but for morons." Sophie's Choice was not published until 1979 (the movie in 1982), when this episode takes place in 1978. (02:49:00)
Factual error: Eric makes a reference to "Sophie's Choice." This episode is set in 1978, but the book "Sophie's Choice" wasn't published until 1979, and the film adaptation wasn't released until 1982.
Chosen answer: He isn't. Time moves slowly in the show because they didn't want it to turn into "That '80's Show". In the first episode, he say's he's 17 but the second episode was his 17th birthday so he must have been 16. The first 12 episodes are set in 1976, the next 2 seasons are set in 1977, the next 3 seasons are set in 1978, and the remaining shows take place in 1979 with the final show on Dec 31, 1979 when Eric must be 20 as he turned 17 in 1976.
Myridon