''Two of a Kind'' 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 ...
that aired on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
as part of the network's
TGIF line-up, starring
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986), also known as the Olsen twins as a duo, are American fashion designers and former actresses. The twins made their acting debut as infants playing Michelle Tanner on the television s ...
in their first television series since ''
Full House
''Full House'' is an American television sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show is about widowed father Danny Tanner who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and childhood best friend Joey Gladstone to help raise his three dau ...
'' ended in 1995. The show aired from September 25, 1998 to July 9, 1999.
The series was produced by Griffard/Adler Productions,
Dualstar Productions, and Miller-Boyett-Warren Productions, in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
. It was the last series to be produced by
Miller-Boyett Productions
Miller-Boyett Productions (or simply Miller-Boyett) is an American television production company that mainly developed television sitcoms from the 1970s through the 1990s. It was responsible for family-oriented hit series such as ''Happy Days'', ...
prior to the company's initial shutdown in 1999.
Premise
Kevin Burke (
Christopher Sieber
Christopher Luverne Sieber (born February 18, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles Kevin Burke in ''Two of a Kind (American TV series)'' and Agatha Trunchbull in ''Matilda the Musical''. He was nominated for the Tony Awar ...
) is a college professor and widower father living in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
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, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
, who believes there is a scientific explanation for everything except how to control his scheming 11, then 12-year-old daughters. Mary-Kate and Ashley Burke (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) are twin sisters, who are complete opposites; Mary-Kate is a tomboy whose biggest interest is perfecting her jumpshot and curveball and whose worst subject in school is math. Ashley is a girly girl who makes straight As and dreams of a modeling career and dancing. Kevin's wife died prior to the series.
The other main character is Carrie (Sally Wheeler), a 26-year-old woman in Kevin's class, who has come late to college after exploring the world. Carrie is quirky, difficult, beautiful, and quick to speak her mind, so when she answers Kevin's ad for a part-time baby sitter for the girls, he is convinced she's nothing but trouble and is in favor of their next door neighbor Mrs. Baker baby sitting Mary-Kate and Ashley. The girls think she is a dream-sitter come true, and agree to put their differences aside to join forces to make a little chemistry between their by-the-book father and the beautiful woman who seems to drive him crazy in all the right ways.
Cast and characters
Main
*
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen (born June 13, 1986) is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, equestrian, and former actress. She began her acting career nine months after her birth, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner with her twin sister Ashley Olsen ...
as Mary-Kate Burke – A 12-year-old tomboy who loves sports, horses, and modeling. She has two friends, Max and Brian. She also has a math tutor named Taylor. Mary-Kate suffers from
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia () is a disability resulting in difficulty learning or comprehending arithmetic, such as difficulty in understanding numbers, learning how to manipulate numbers, performing mathematical calculations, and learning facts in mathematics. ...
. Mary-Kate's favorite color is red.
*
Ashley Olsen
Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986) is an American businesswoman and former actress. She began her acting career at the age of nine months, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen in the television sitcom ...
as Ashley Burke – A 12-year-old girly girl who loves fashion, dancing, make up, cheerleading, and modeling. Ashley's a Straight A student. She's better at math than Mary-Kate. Ashley also has a first crush when Mary Kate's math tutor Taylor Donovan came over. She's friends with Nicole and the popular Jennifer Dilber. In "Carrie Moves In" Ashley joins Mary-Kate's karate class. Ashley's favorite color is green.
*
Christopher Sieber
Christopher Luverne Sieber (born February 18, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles Kevin Burke in ''Two of a Kind (American TV series)'' and Agatha Trunchbull in ''Matilda the Musical''. He was nominated for the Tony Awar ...
as Kevin Burke – The widower father of Mary-Kate and Ashley, a professor and landlord. He has been on many dates with women, but they never work. He teaches Carrie, the girls' cool babysitter. Kevin's wife Jan died when Mary-Kate and Ashley were in the 3rd grade. Kevin plays the saxophone.
*
Sally Wheeler
Sally Wheeler Maier (born May 19, 1970) is an American stage and television actress. She is known for playing the role of "Carrie Moore" in the American sitcom television series '' Two of a Kind''.
Life and career
Wheeler was born in Winter H ...
as Carrie Moore – The twins' cool babysitter and student, friend, and employee of Professor Burke. She has a great sense of humor and a free-spirit. Carrie eventually moves into the Burkes’ basement after Kevin accidentally causes her to get evicted from her apartment.
*
Orlando Brown as Max – Mary-Kate and Ashley's other guy friend. He also goes to school with the twins. He seems to be very close with Brian.
*
David Valcin as Edward "Eddie" Fairbanks – Kevin's best friend since childhood, a divorcee and professional plumber. He is known for constantly hitting on women and butting heads with Carrie.
*
Jesse Lee as Taylor Donovan – Mary-Kate's math tutor and Ashley's main love interest.
*
Martin Spanjers
Martin Brian Spanjers (born February 2, 1987) is an American actor. He played Rory Hennessy on the ABC sitcom '' 8 Simple Rules'' from 2002 to 2005, for which he won a Young Artist Award in 2004, and as Justin in ''Good Luck Charlie'' (2010-2014 ...
as Brian – Mary-Kate and Ashley's friend who has a crush on Ashley. Brian is known to flirt with every girl at school. He goes to school with the twins where he is usually seen trying to flirt with Ashley. He seems to be in the same grade as the twins and Max.
*
Ernie Grunwald
Ernie Grunwald (born 1970) is a Canadian actor who has made guest appearances in a number of notable television series.
Career
Grunwald has had recurring roles on '' One on One'', ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' (as Mr. Forgess), and '' Two ...
as Paul – Carrie's classmate and is a student of Kevin. He also has a Saturday job as a pizza delivery guy. He has a crush on Carrie but is too afraid to admit it. In one of the episodes, Paul sees Carrie at the professor's house late at night, and Kevin worries that Paul "got the wrong idea". Paul is a computer whiz.
Recurring
*
David Lascher
David Scott Lascher (born April 27, 1972) is an American actor best known for his roles in '' Blossom'', ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'', and the Nickelodeon show ''Hey Dude''.
Life and career
Lascher was born in Scarsdale, New York to a psych ...
as Matthew "Matt" Burke – Kevin's irresponsible younger brother and the twins uncle. He briefly dated Carrie.
* Anastasia Emmons as Jennifer Dilber – Ashley's friend. Jennifer is the most popular girl in 7th Grade. Ashley invites Jennifer to a sleepover that she has in the hopes of becoming popular and getting to sit with her at lunch.
*
Kimberly J. Brown
Kimberly Jean Brown is an American actress, best known to audiences for her portrayal of the teen witch Marnie Piper in the '' Halloweentown'' films, in which she starred alongside Debbie Reynolds. Before being cast as Marnie, Brown found notor ...
as Nicole – Ashley's other friend. Mary-Kate becomes jealous when Ashley spends more time with Nicole than her. After "My Boyfriend's Back" Nicole isn't seen or mentioned again.
* Vanessa Lock as Dr. Martinson's receptionist – a woman that works for Dr. Martinson's doctor office. Shows complete lack of love interest of Kevin. Seen in the episode titled, "Split Decision".
*
Jean Speegle Howard
Jean Frances Speegle Howard (January 31, 1927 – September 2, 2000) was an American actress who acted primarily in film and on television. Howard appeared in over 30 television shows, mostly sitcoms, such as '' Married... with Children'' (1994 ...
as Mrs. Baker – the practical next door neighbor of Kevin, Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Mr. Fillmore. Mrs. Baker is Mr. Fillmore's main love interest. Mrs. Baker originally baby sits for the girls until she meets Mr. Fillmore and Kevin has no choice but to hire Carrie. Mrs. Baker is Kevin's favorite baby sitter. If Carrie is unable to baby sit Mary-Kate and Ashley Mrs. Baker fills in for her. Mrs. Baker enjoys knitting and watching ''
South Park
''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boys Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand th ...
''. Mrs. Baker and Mr. Fillmore begin dating as of "Putting Two 'n Two Together".
*
Rance Howard
Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actr ...
as Mr. Fillmore – a friendly man who lives next door to the Burkes and Mrs. Baker. Mr. Fillmore falls in love and begins to date Mrs. Baker in the pilot episode "Putting Two 'n Two Together".
Theme music and opening sequence
The theme music which accompanied the opening title sequence was composed by
Jesse Frederick
Jesse Frederick James Conaway (born June 25, 1948) is an American film and television composer and singer. He wrote and performed the themes to TGIF (ABC), TGIF television shows such as ''Perfect Strangers (TV series), Perfect Strangers'', ''Fu ...
and Bennett Salvay, and was the second theme composed by Frederick and Salvay that does not include lyrics, coming after ''
The Family Man
''The Family Man'' is a 2000 American romantic fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Brett Ratner, from a screenplay by David Diamond and David Weissman. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni, with Don Cheadle, Saul Rubinek, and Jeremy ...
'', which was also produced by Miller-Boyett.
The opening sequence varied slightly from week to week, featured clips of Kevin, Carrie and the girls playing in the park. The scenes, which always slightly vary, include the girls rollerblading, the girls on the swing with Carrie, the girls playing frisbee with Kevin, Carrie and Kevin playing basketball, Carrie, Kevin and the girls playing a very large beach ball, the girls doing cartwheels and jumping around barefoot. The opening sequence only includes the show title and the executive producers' names, unlike previous Miller-Boyett series, whose opening sequences featured the cast and producers names in the sequence. The names of the show's cast members were instead shown in the opening teaser, prior to the opening credits.
Episodes
Broadcast and syndication
After its cancellation, the show gained more of an audience when reruns began airing on
ABC Family
The American cable television, cable and satellite television network that is now known as Freeform (TV channel), Freeform was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through several different owners (and s ...
in the United States. It ran on the network starting in 1999 (a few months after its cancellation), when the network was
Fox Family, and continued after the channel's purchase by Disney until 2004. ABC Family separated the closing credits and the tag scene, in the manner that they originally aired on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
.
In Italy, it aired on
Disney Channel
Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...
under the name ''
Due gemelle e una tata'' (''Two Twins and a Nanny'') from January until February 2004.
In the United Kingdom, reruns of the series also aired on
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...
,
Disney Channel
Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...
and
Pop Girl
Pop Girl was a free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by CSC Media Group (formerly Chart Show Channels), a company associated with the makers of ''The Chart Show'', a television programme that had previously bee ...
. The international networks ran the closing credits over the tag scene.
Books
Some episodes were written and
released as books. Some other ''Two of a Kind'' novels were just made up by the authors. As of December 16, 2006, 40 books have been released.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen series books at Kidsreads.com
/ref> Some of the books are in the "Two of a Kind Diaries" subseries, where they are written in the girls' perspectives, as if they are writing in a diary. The first book is "It's a Twin Thing". Initially, the books are actually simplified versions of the episode scripts, while currently, they just feature its main characters.
Despite the lack of success for the television series, the books are more successful towards children and pre-teens.
# It's a Twin Thing
# How to Flunk Your First Date
# The Sleepover Secret
# One Twin Too Many
# To Snoop or Not to Snoop?
# My Sister the Super-model
# Two's a Crowd
# Let's Party!
# Calling All Boys (''Diaries'' subseries, #1)
# Winner Take All (''Diaries'' subseries, #2)
# P.S. Wish You Were Here (''Diaries'' subseries, #3)
# The Cool Club
# War of the Wardrobes
# Bye-Bye Boyfriend
# It's Snow Problem
# Likes Me, Likes Me Not
# Shore Thing (''Diaries'' subseries, #4)
# Two For The Road (''Diaries'' subseries, #5)
# Surprise, Surprise
# Sealed With a Kiss
# Now You See Him, Now You Don't
# April Fools Rules
# Island Girls (''Diaries'' subseries, #6)
# Surf, Sand & Secrets (''Diaries'' subseries, #7)
# Closer Than Ever
# The Perfect Gift
# The Facts About Flirting
# The Dream Date Debate
# Love Set Match (''Diaries'' subseries, #8)
# Making A Splash (''Diaries'' subseries, #9)
# Dare To Scare (''Diaries'' subseries, #10)
# Santa Girls (''Diaries'' subseries, #11)
# Heart to Heart (''Diaries'' subseries, #12)
# Prom Princess (''Diaries'' subseries, #13)
# Camp Rock 'n' Roll (''Diaries'' subseries, #14)
# Twist and Shout (''Diaries'' subseries, #15)
# Hocus-pocus (''Diaries'' subseries, #16)
# Holiday Magic (''Diaries'' subseries, #17)
# Candles, Cake, Celebrate! (''Diaries'' subseries, #18)
# Wish on a Star (''Diaries'' subseries, #19)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Two of a Kind (American TV series)
1990s American sitcoms
1998 American television series debuts
1999 American television series endings
American Broadcasting Company original programming
English-language television shows
Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios
Television shows set in Chicago
TGIF (TV programming block)
Television series about children
Television series about families
Television series about sisters
Television series about twins
Works about twin sisters
Twins in fiction