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Double Trouble (American TV series)

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Double Trouble
Publicity shot of the Sagal twins
GenreSitcom
Created byDavid W. Duclon
Robert Illes
James R. Stein
Directed byJohn Bowab
Jim Drake
Ellen Falcon
Marlene Laird
John Pasquin
StarringJean Sagal
Liz Sagal
ComposersRay Colcord
Mark Snow
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes23
Production
Executive producersJudith Allison
Janis Hirsch
Robert Illes
Bernie Orenstein
Bill Richmond
Saul Turteltaub
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyEmbassy Television
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseApril 4, 1984 (1984-04-04) –
March 30, 1985 (1985-03-30)

Double Trouble is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from April 4, 1984 to March 30, 1985. The series stars identical twins Jean and Liz Sagal as Kate and Allison Foster, two teenagers living under the watchful eye of their widowed father. The show was considered an updating of the "twins in mischief" concept seen in films like The Parent Trap or The Patty Duke Show of the 1960s. The Sagal sisters acknowledged that Norman Lear, the Sagal family's godfather,[1] was the one who held influence over the show's concept.[2]

Synopsis

Double Trouble premiered in April 1984. Initially, the series was set in Des Moines, Iowa, and generally revolved around the twins' high school or their father's dance studio (thus giving the girls a chance to show off their real-life dancing skills). Most of the show's comedy was generated from the fact that one twin was serious while the other more laid-back and happy-go-lucky.

Beginning as a mid-season replacement, the show also starred Donnelly Rhodes as the girls' father, Art Foster. The show did not generate high enough ratings in its initial debut to be included in NBC's fall schedule; however, it was brought back for a second go-'round as a mid-season replacement in December 1984. After some retooling, the setting of the show was relocated to New York City. Rhodes was replaced by Barbara Barrie as the twins' aunt. The second season ran for fifteen episodes. The series was not renewed after the second season, but it was seen in reruns on NBC until August 21, 1985, and for several years on USA Network in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Cast

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18April 4, 1984 (1984-04-04)May 30, 1984 (1984-05-30)
215December 1, 1984 (1984-12-01)March 30, 1985 (1985-03-30)

Season 1 (1984)

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
11"One Drives, the Other Doesn't"Marlena LairdStory by : Robert Illes & James Stein & Saul Turteltaub & Bernie Orenstein
Teleplay by : Saul Turteltaub & Bernie Orenstein		April 4, 1984 (1984-04-04)226151
Kate's inability to pass her driving test doesn't stop her from taking Art's car — and Allison's driver's license — to a concert.
22"Lust"Jim DrakeJill Gordon & Susan Jane LindnerApril 11, 1984 (1984-04-11)TBA
Kate risks the wrath of both her sister and her boyfriend when she becomes smitten by a guy working out at the gym.
33"First Day"John BowabDeidre Fay & Stuart WolpertApril 18, 1984 (1984-04-18)TBA
After she transfers to Allison's school, Allison helps Kate adjust by adding her to the yearbook staff; within a week, Kate's rising toward the top of its masthead.
44"Bad Chemistry"John BowabKimberly HillApril 25, 1984 (1984-04-25)TBA
Kate's out of her element when filling in for Allison in Chemistry class.
55"Dueling Feet"Marlena LairdEmily PotterMay 2, 1984 (1984-05-02)TBA
Kate challenges Allison to join her in a televised dance contest, but an ankle sprain forces one of them to go it alone.
66"Separate Birthdays"Marlena LairdStory by : David Chambers & Saul Turteltaub & Bernie Orenstein
Teleplay by : Saul Turteltaub & Bernie Orenstein		May 16, 1984 (1984-05-16)TBA
After Kate pulls her into a "twin testing" science project, Allison starts seeking an identity away from her sister... by moving in with Beth and celebrating her birthday by herself.
77"Heartache"Jim DrakeJill Gordon and Susan Jane LindnerMay 23, 1984 (1984-05-23)TBA
Art panics when she discovers Allison's diary, and reads and entry indicating her passion for heartthrob Steven.
88"Bombshell"Jim DrakeRobert Illes, James Stein & Janis HirschMay 30, 1984 (1984-05-30)TBA
Thinking Beth's relationship with Art is just platonic, the girls invite an attractive woman for dinner in the hopes that Art will become smitten with her.

Season 2 (1984–85)

No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
91"If We Can Make It Here..."Jim DrakeDon ReoDecember 1, 1984 (1984-12-01)
The girls make their move to New York City, settling in with their Aunt Margo and setting out toward their respective ambitions (Kate as an entertainer, Allison as a fashion designer).
102"Do You Believe in Magic?"Jim DrakeJanis HirschDecember 8, 1984 (1984-12-08)
Kate becomes assistant to Rollo the Great (Carl Ballantine), a magician whose next big trick is to make Kate appear in two places at once.
113"Dream Girls"John PasquinLissa LevinDecember 15, 1984 (1984-12-15)
Kate joins a rock star's concert tour, leaving Allison back in New York... and envious.
124"O Come All Ye Faithful"John PasquinJanis HirschDecember 22, 1984 (1984-12-22)
With bad weather precluding a trip home, the girls set up a holiday party at Margo's, a to-do Allison hopes Mr. Arrechia can attend.
135"Man for Margo"John PasquinBill RichmondJanuary 5, 1985 (1985-01-05)
Sensing that Margo deserves someone who'll show her a good time, Charles and Kate set her up on a date with the most charming man money can buy.
146"The Boy Next Door"Ellen Chaset FalconLissa LevinJanuary 12, 1985 (1985-01-12)
Expecting to not win, Margo consents to Allison and Billy attending an awards banquet in her stead; sparks between the two soon fly.
157"Memories"Don ReoJudith D. AllisonJanuary 19, 1985 (1985-01-19)
Footage from Season 1 contributes to Kate and Allison's recollections of back home.
168"Two Girls for Every Boy"Ellen Chaset FalconLissa LevinJanuary 26, 1985 (1985-01-26)
Kate hears wedding bells after meeting a radio DJ whose tastes are more in line with Allison's.
179"The Write Stuff"Linda DayJanis HirschFebruary 2, 1985 (1985-02-02)
Allison submits a newspaper article, which attracts enough compliments to spur her into forsaking design school for a writing career.
1810"Commercial Break"Ellen Chaset FalconBill RichmondFebruary 9, 1985 (1985-02-09)
Kate loses her voice on the eve of a commercial audition; reluctantly, Allison agrees to fill in... and her talents get her sister the part.
1911"Old Movies"Ellen Chaset FalconDon ReoFebruary 16, 1985 (1985-02-16)
Late-night movie watching inspires the housemates to imagine themselves in some of cinema's greatest scenes.
2012"September Song"Ellen Chaset FalconPerry Grant & Dick BensfieldFebruary 23, 1985 (1985-02-23)
Allison becomes smitten with a much older man, but Margo thinks his asking Allison to join him on a trip to Paris is too big of a step.
2113"Funny Girl"Judi EltermanJanis HirschMarch 2, 1985 (1985-03-02)
A wealthy new classmate (Mindy Cohn) strikes a friendship with Allison; before long, she's also stealing her design ideas.
2214"The Day of the Rose"Ellen Chaset FalconPerry Grant and Dick BensfieldMarch 23, 1985 (1985-03-23)
After an anniversary gift from her late husband makes Margo melancholy, the twins spend the weekend cheering her up, but an out-of-town trip doesn't turn out as the trio hoped it would.
2315"Where's Poppa?"Ellen Chaset FalconDon Reo & Judith D. AllisonMarch 30, 1985 (1985-03-30)
Art pays his daughters a visit... and, after seeing their life in the Big Apple, prefers that they come back to Iowa with him.

U.S. television ratings

Season Episodes Start Date End Date Nielsen Rank Nielsen Rating Tied With
1983-84 8 March 4, 1984 May 30, 1984 71 13.1[3] N/A
1984-85 15 December 1, 1984 March 30, 1985 43 13.8[4] "The Dukes of Hazzard", "TJ Hooker"

References

  1. ^ "Married Biography". 17 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The Times-News - Google News Archive Search".
  3. ^ "1983-84 Ratings History -- The Networks Are Awash in a Bubble Bath of Soaps". Archived from the original on 2018-03-22.
  4. ^ "1984-85 Season Nielsens -- NBC Breaks its 8-Year Curse and Shoves Into 2nd Place as ABC and CBS Continue to Bank on Soap Prominence". Archived from the original on 2018-03-22.
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