You remember the 1980s. It was a time of bright neon, synth-pop, and a weirdly specific obsession with identical twins. If you weren't watching the Doublemint gum commercials, you were probably parked in front of the TV watching Jean and Liz Sagal. They were the face of the short-lived but memorable Double Trouble sitcom cast, a show that felt like it was constantly reinventing itself because it didn't quite know what it wanted to be. Honestly, it's one of those "if you know, you know" relics of 1984.
One minute the twins are in Des Moines. Next thing you know, they're in New York City. The show was a whirlwind of mid-season replacements and "Parent Trap" style tropes that somehow felt fresh because, for once, the twins were actually real twins.
The Sagal Sisters: More Than Just Two Pretty Faces
Jean and Liz Sagal weren't just random actors. They had show business in their blood. Their dad, Boris Sagal, was a legendary director, and their older sister is none other than Katey Sagal. Yes, that Katey Sagal—Peg Bundy herself.
The Double Trouble sitcom cast was built entirely around the chemistry between Jean and Liz. They played Kate and Allison Foster. Kate was the wild child. Allison was the "serious" one. It’s a classic setup. They even used their real-life dancing skills in the show, which gave it a bit more energy than your standard living-room sitcom. Before the show, they were famous as the Doublemint Twins. They also had a stint as cheerleaders in Grease 2. Basically, they were everywhere for a minute there.
But here is where it gets weird. The first season was basically a different show.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
The First Season: Des Moines Drama
In 1984, the show premiered with the twins living in Iowa. They lived with their widowed dad, Art Foster, played by Donnelly Rhodes. He ran a dance studio. It was wholesome. It was safe. Patricia Richardson—who would later become a household name on Home Improvement—played Art’s girlfriend, Beth.
The comedy was exactly what you’d expect. One twin would take the other's driver's license to go to a concert. They'd swap places in chemistry class. It was charming, but it didn't set the world on fire. NBC didn't even put it on the fall schedule after the first eight episodes.
That Bizarre Season 2 Reboot
When the show finally came back in December 1984, everything changed. I mean, everything. The show was "retooled," which is Hollywood-speak for "we fired almost everyone."
Art Foster was gone. Des Moines was gone. The twins were now in New York City living with their Aunt Margo. Margo was played by Barbara Barrie, and she was a children's book author. This version of the Double Trouble sitcom cast felt much more like a typical "big city" comedy.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
- Allison (the serious one) was enrolled in design school.
- Kate (the fun one) was trying to make it as an actress.
- Anne-Marie Johnson joined the cast as their friend Aileen.
- Michael D. Roberts played Mr. Arrechia, the tough teacher.
It was more sophisticated, but it lost some of that heart from the first season. They even had guest stars like Jonathan Schmock and James Vallely. Still, the ratings just weren't there. NBC pulled the plug after the second season finished its 15-episode run in 1985.
Where Are They Now?
If you're wondering what happened to the twins, they didn't just vanish into thin air. They just moved behind the scenes.
Jean Sagal became a powerhouse television director and associate director. You’ve probably seen her name in the credits of Two and a Half Men, Just Shoot Me, or 2 Broke Girls. She really leaned into the technical side of the industry.
Liz Sagal went the writing and producing route. She’s written for massive shows like Sons of Anarchy (working with her sister Katey), Monk, and Charmed. She even wrote for the Lost in Space reboot on Netflix. They might not be in front of the camera as much anymore, but they’ve had way more longevity in Hollywood than most child stars could ever dream of.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
Why Double Trouble Still Matters
Looking back, the show was a bridge. It bridged the gap between the old-school "gimmick" sitcoms of the 60s and the more urban, career-focused comedies of the late 80s. It wasn't perfect. The constant cast changes made it hard for the audience to stay attached. However, it gave us a glimpse into a family of incredible talent.
People still hunt for these episodes on old VHS tapes or YouTube clips. There’s a nostalgia for that specific kind of 80s optimism.
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of the Double Trouble sitcom cast, your best bet is checking out Jean and Liz's current credits. They’re still shaping what we watch today, just from the director's chair and the writer's room. If you want to see them in their prime, look for old clips of the 1984 pilot—it’s a time capsule of a very specific moment in TV history.
Check out the following steps if you want to explore more:
- Search for "Double Trouble 1984 episodes" on archive sites or YouTube to see the original Des Moines setting.
- Look up Liz Sagal’s writing credits on IMDb to see how her style evolved from sitcom acting to gritty dramas like Sons of Anarchy.
- Compare the first and second season intros to see how drastically NBC tried to change the show's "vibe" to save it.