Growing up watching shows about twins, made me wonder what life would be like as a twin. I'm not talking TV shows skirting child labor laws, which featured child actor twins whom are never actually taped together (Olsen twins on Full House or the Greenbush twins on Little House).
I'm referring to sitcoms which spotlight on the banter between young twin siblings. Stereotypically created as total opposites, (remember Patty Duke as Patty Lane and her it's-not-physically-possible twin cousin Cathy?) these twins made us chuckle with delight. Check it. Do you remember the following '80s twin TV shows? Please add shows I missed in the comment section!
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The 1984 show Double Trouble starred Liz and Jean Sagal as super cute and trendy twins with perfect comedic timing. These chicks were so cool, I wanted to grow up and be just like their characters on Double Trouble. Their big sister Katey was Peg Bundy on Married With Children.
VALERIE & THE HOGAN FAMILY
First airing in 1986, Valerie, later known as The Hogan Family after Valerie Harper jumped ship, starred Jason Bateman (my childhood fave!) and Danny Ponce and Jeremy Lichtas fraternal twins Willie and Mark. Yes, the Miller/Boyett team paired a nice Jewish boy and cute Latino together as brothers, ah Hollywood. As an adult watching this clip, I now realize the theme song is sung by "Killing Me Softly" singer, Roberta Flack! Cool!
SISTER, SISTER
Not until the mid 1990s did we get to watch Sister, Sister starring Tia & Tamera Mowry as twin sisters separated and adopted at birth then reunited 14 years later. By this time, I was already working as a teen reporter. Thus I was actually writing about these actresses, so they don't count as retro twins. I'm, however, including them for my younger blog readers.
I had the hugest crush on the Segal sisters. I loved how I could never tell them apart and I swear they switched roles all the time which is what we think twins do all the time anyways.
I liked Sister,Sister. They were/are cute. I don't remember Double Trouble at all. Thanks for not posting the Olsen twins, though they were cute kids. xoRobyn
Well, I have to say that since I am aware of the Suite of Zak and Cody because of The Daughter, I can say one good thing about the show is, they don't dress alike, and I like how they don't try to do any of those lame episodes where they try to confuse other people into mixing them up.
I loved Double Trouble!!! and I didn't like Full House at all..I think I'm the only kid who didn't...I made fun of that show and I thought the twins were annoying.
Double Trouble was a fave of mine growing up. I still blog about that show from time to time. Brandon and Brenda Walsh were twins on the original 90210. I know that's 90s, but so is Sister Sister. I can't think of any other twins.
The Segal Twins: loveloveloved them! I wanted hair like theirs so bad. It was so straight and shiny. Mine was all curly and unruly. They were in Grease 2, which was my one of my absolute favorite movies back then.
i totally forgot about the twins from The Hogan Family. looking back, jeremy licht was a babe. is it wrong to say that, considering i'm thirty and he was a teenager? probably. i don't care.
update: i just googled licht. he isn't QUITE as cute these days. :::bless:::
i hated tia/ tamara and all of the 500 other Mowry's.
Man I haven't thought about Double Trouble in years! I had such a crush on those girls. Especially the talent show one when they were in spandex leotards. And they did that routin...Ooops, sorry, went to a weird place for a second. What I meant to say was yes, I remember the show.
I can't say I ever watched any of these shows. I didn't need to watch a sitcom about twins, I was living my own during the 80s and 90s with my own twin sister. There were very few fun and games, and I can tell you that we never would have gotten close enough to each other for a photo op. I'm sure other twins in the world had great experiences though. (We're best friends now.)
I like or watch(ed) all the shows except Double Trouble and I watch Zac and Cody too. Kinda lame for a 28 year old, haha, but I'm a TV buff and I like Disney. I also still watch Little House re-runs. Thanks for being my 200th follower, am following back.
Oh my gosh, you talked about the Patty Duke Show...we may be best friends! I LOVE that show to the point where I still tivo it. "They're cousins...identical cousins all the way..."
Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family should be a warning to any sitcom actor. You CAN be replaced or written off the show.
Show creators that actors should never piss off: Miller/Boyett (Family Matters, Step By Step, etc.) and David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal and Boston Public). If you started some shit, your ass got written off the show. It didn't matter how important your character seemed.
OMG, I just wrote a post about 1984 and these shows brought me back to before then...lol! I forgot about the first two and now my daughter watches Sister Sister reruns on Saturday morning.
Thanks for stopping by from Shell's today. I am feeling the love and it has been truly an honor to have been on her blog today. I am your newest follower and now I have to go and read your Karate Kid post...I posted about that in last Fridays 1984 post. You might need to come and read it. lol
I'd forgotten there were so many. You really been exercising my memory banks these days. Truth be told, none of those shows was in any danger of EVER winning a grammy...
OMGosh! I LOVED Double Trouble! I just impressed my husband with the Katey Sagal info. Thanks! Those theme songs from back in the day seem so cheesey now.
i remember double trouble but i dont know if i actually watched it. the mom is played by the mom from home improvement!! (i don't know if anyone else mentioned that - you get too many comments for me to read) :0)
Double Trouble was great! I think I only saw it a couple of times but remember loving it. It never seemed to be on that much or for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI had the hugest crush on the Segal sisters. I loved how I could never tell them apart and I swear they switched roles all the time which is what we think twins do all the time anyways.
ReplyDeleteI liked Sister,Sister. They were/are cute. I don't remember Double Trouble at all. Thanks for not posting the Olsen twins, though they were cute kids.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
I've never seen Double Trouble but those twins were the annoying ones on Grease 2 - 'We won't take no for an answer'.
ReplyDeleteI grew up watching the Olsen Twins. I don't know any of the ones you mentioned here except Sister, Sister. I think I saw a bit of that show.
ReplyDeletesister sister is awesome! i remember watching that a lot as a kid.
ReplyDeletewww.save-your-bacon.blogspot.com
I never watched any of those. Though, the videos were all great.
ReplyDeleteHave a good day...:)
I watched double trouble too!!!! Oh how I wanted to be a twin!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have to say that since I am aware of the Suite of Zak and Cody because of The Daughter, I can say one good thing about the show is, they don't dress alike, and I like how they don't try to do any of those lame episodes where they try to confuse other people into mixing them up.
ReplyDeleteOh snap, I was hoping you would talk about Double Trouble...I LOVED this show!!! They so need to release it on DVD!
ReplyDeleteI loved Double Trouble.
ReplyDeleteSister Sister was on of my favorites that I didn't even think of! You are amazing! Why is your memory of my own childhood better than mine?
ReplyDeleteI loved Double Trouble!!! and I didn't like Full House at all..I think I'm the only kid who didn't...I made fun of that show and I thought the twins were annoying.
ReplyDeleteI loved Valerie/The Hogan Family.
ReplyDeleteDouble Trouble was a fave of mine growing up. I still blog about that show from time to time. Brandon and Brenda Walsh were twins on the original 90210. I know that's 90s, but so is Sister Sister. I can't think of any other twins.
ReplyDeleteI've never really thought about it before, but there really were a number of twin kids stars.
ReplyDeleteThe Hogan Family was one of my faves!! I had a crush on Jeremy Licht. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Jason Bateman too, of course!
The Segal Twins: loveloveloved them! I wanted hair like theirs so bad. It was so straight and shiny. Mine was all curly and unruly. They were in Grease 2, which was my one of my absolute favorite movies back then.
ReplyDeletei totally forgot about the twins from The Hogan Family. looking back, jeremy licht was a babe. is it wrong to say that, considering i'm thirty and he was a teenager? probably. i don't care.
ReplyDeleteupdate: i just googled licht. he isn't QUITE as cute these days. :::bless:::
i hated tia/ tamara and all of the 500 other Mowry's.
Man I haven't thought about Double Trouble in years! I had such a crush on those girls. Especially the talent show one when they were in spandex leotards. And they did that routin...Ooops, sorry, went to a weird place for a second. What I meant to say was yes, I remember the show.
ReplyDeleteThe Double Trouble girls look so familiar but I can't seem to place it...
ReplyDeleteI can't say I ever watched any of these shows. I didn't need to watch a sitcom about twins, I was living my own during the 80s and 90s with my own twin sister. There were very few fun and games, and I can tell you that we never would have gotten close enough to each other for a photo op. I'm sure other twins in the world had great experiences though. (We're best friends now.)
ReplyDeleteI do remember sister sister...
ReplyDeleteI gave you an award!
As a self-proclaimed TV watchin' couch potato, I am wondering how I missed all these shows! Obviously, I'm not watching enough!!! ;-D
ReplyDeleteI loved Double Trouble. I always wanted a sister whether she was a twin or not.
ReplyDeleteI like or watch(ed) all the shows except Double Trouble and I watch Zac and Cody too. Kinda lame for a 28 year old, haha, but I'm a TV buff and I like Disney. I also still watch Little House re-runs. Thanks for being my 200th follower, am following back.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I've tried and tried but I can't think of a single British programme involving twins!
ReplyDeleteI guess we just don't have that many twins over here, well not that are suitably attractive enough to warrant their own TV show anyway.
Jason Bateman is kinda cute.
Oh my gosh, you talked about the Patty Duke Show...we may be best friends! I LOVE that show to the point where I still tivo it. "They're cousins...identical cousins all the way..."
ReplyDeletei absolutely loved sister sister when i was younger. it was one of my favourite shows.
ReplyDeleteps - thank you for commenting!
haha, omg, jason bateman! and i remember watching sister sister. :D
ReplyDeletebtw, thanks for following my blog! :)
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/
I remember the reruns of that Patty Duke Show! I'd forgotten about that.
ReplyDeleteAnd that theme song, something about, When they're cousins, 2 of a kind.
Oh, thanks for that memory, girl. I'm going to look it up on youtube right now.
Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family should be a warning to any sitcom actor. You CAN be replaced or written off the show.
ReplyDeleteShow creators that actors should never piss off: Miller/Boyett (Family Matters, Step By Step, etc.) and David E. Kelley (Ally McBeal and Boston Public). If you started some shit, your ass got written off the show. It didn't matter how important your character seemed.
I totally forgot about most of those shows. Thanks for bringing me back to my childhood.
ReplyDeleteOmg - I'd forgotten about some of these! Too funny.. I miss the 80's lol. Thanks for following my blog I am now your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I just wrote a post about 1984 and these shows brought me back to before then...lol! I forgot about the first two and now my daughter watches Sister Sister reruns on Saturday morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by from Shell's today. I am feeling the love and it has been truly an honor to have been on her blog today. I am your newest follower and now I have to go and read your Karate Kid post...I posted about that in last Fridays 1984 post. You might need to come and read it. lol
omg. i love love full house. its my favorite.
ReplyDeletei am now a new follower. follow me too?
http://www.readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com
I'd forgotten there were so many. You really been exercising my memory banks these days.
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, none of those shows was in any danger of EVER winning a grammy...
I used to watch Double Trouble re-runs when I was a kid...I loved that show.
ReplyDeleteI loved Sister Sister! Oh that show was classic!
ReplyDeleteI loved the HOgan family, that was one of the best shows! My kids watched Sister Siter, that was pretty good too. LOVE jason bateman.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder about Liz and Jean. I didn't really care for their show, though.
ReplyDeleteOMGosh! I LOVED Double Trouble! I just impressed my husband with the Katey Sagal info. Thanks! Those theme songs from back in the day seem so cheesey now.
ReplyDeletei remember double trouble but i dont know if i actually watched it. the mom is played by the mom from home improvement!! (i don't know if anyone else mentioned that - you get too many comments for me to read) :0)
ReplyDelete