''Double Trouble'' is an American

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

television series that aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

from April 4, 1984 to March 30, 1985. The series stars identical twins

Jean Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...

and

Liz Sagal Elizabeth Sagal (born October 9, 1961) is an American actress, screenwriter and film editor. Sagal is part of a family of entertainment industry professionals. She is the daughter of director Boris Sagal and the stepdaughter of Marge Champion. In ...

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 ''The Patty Duke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Sidney Sheldon and William Asher. The series ran on ABC from September 18, 1963, to April 27, 1966. The series was developed as a vehicle for teenage star Patty Duke, who had w ...

'' of the 1960s. The Sagal sisters acknowledged that

Norman Lear Norman Milton Lear (born July 27, 1922) is an American producer and screenwriter, who has produced, written, created, or developed over 100 shows. Lear is known for many popular 1970s sitcoms, including the multi-award winning ''All in the Famil ...

, the Sagal family's godfather, was the one who held influence over the show's concept.

Synopsis

''Double Trouble'' premiered in April 1984. Initially, the series was set in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

, 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 Henry Donnelly Rhodes (December 4, 1937 – January 8, 2018) was a Canadian actor, known professionally as Donnelly Rhodes. He had many American television and film credits, probably best known to American audiences as the hapless escaped convic ...

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 Barbara Barrie (born Barbara Ann Berman; May 23, 1931) is an American actress and author. Her film breakthrough came in 1964 with her performance as Julie in the landmark film ''One Potato, Two Potato'', for which she won the Best Actress Awar ...

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 USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...

in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Cast

Jean Sagal Jean Sagal is an American television actress and director. In the 1980s, she co-starred with her twin sister Liz Sagal in the television series '' Double Trouble'' that ran from 1984–85. She has since appeared on such shows as ''Picket Fence ...

as Kate Foster *

as Allison Foster *

as Art Foster (season 1) *

Patricia Richardson Patricia Castle Richardson (born February 23, 1951) is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Jill Taylor on the ABC sitcom ''Home Improvement'', for which she was nominated four times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Le ...

as Beth McConnell (season 1) *

as Margo Foster (season 2) *

Anne-Marie Johnson Anne-Marie Johnson (born July 18, 1960) is an American actress and impressionist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Nadine Hudson–Thomas in ''What's Happening Now!!'' (1985–1988), and Althea Tibbs in '' In the Heat of the Night'' (19 ...

as Aileen Lewis (season 2) *

Michael D. Roberts Michael D. Roberts is an American actor. Career Roberts played the role of "Rooster" in the 1970s television series ''Baretta''. Roberts starred in the short-lived 1983 television series ''Manimal'', appearing in five of the eight episodes whic ...

as Mr. Arrechia (season 2) *

Jonathan Schmock Jonathan Schmock (born February 26, 1956) is an American actor, television director, producer, writer and editorial cartoonist. He has worked on numerous film and television projects including ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'', where he played the ma ...

as Billy Batalato (season 2) * James Vallely as Charles Kincaid (season 2)

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (1984)

Season 2 (1984–85)

U.S. television ratings

References

External links

* * {{epguides, id=DoubleTrouble, title=Double Trouble 1984 American television series debuts 1985 American television series endings 1980s American teen sitcoms English-language television shows NBC original programming Television series about sisters Television series about teenagers Television series about twins Television series by Sony Pictures Television Television shows set in Iowa Television shows set in New York City