Whatever Happened To: Jean and Liz Sagal

[catlover79]

Thursday, June 07, 2007
What Ever Happened To: Jean and Liz Sagal

http://talkingmoviezzz.blogspot.com/...n-and-liz.html

To get ready for next Monday’s GREASE 2 Blogathon, I thought I’d devote this week’s “What Ever Happened to” to two stars from that film, Jean and Liz Sagal.

While Michelle Pfeiffer was probably the biggest star to come from GREASE 2, in some ways you can say that the Sagal twins were the FIRST stars to emerge from it.

Jean and Liz came from a show business family. Their father, Boris Sagal, was the director of THE OMEGA MAN, RICH MAN POOR MAN and other films and TV shows (he was tragically killed in 1981). Their sister, Katey, would later go on to fame as Peg Bundy on MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.

The twins began as dancers, and were two of the most memorable Doublemint Twins in the famous commercials.

Then came GREASE 2, where they played the cheerleaders. You remember them, at the opening, greeting Miss Mason.

“I love your hair Miss Mason.”

“Oh, thanks” She leaves.

The twins in unison “All 300 pounds of it”.

They were there in most of the big musical numbers, and sang, “Brad” in the talent show.

After the release, while Michelle Pfeiffer was still doing supporting roles in features (and afterschool specials like ONE TOO MANY, anyone remember that?), the Sagal twins went on to star in the leads in an NBC sitcom, DOUBLE TROUBLE.

DOUBLE TROUBLE had an interesting history. It ran on NBC in 1984-1985, where the girls played the daughters of a single father (Donnelly Rhodes) who ran an exercise studio (allowing the girls plenty of time for dancing). Patricia Richardson (who would go on to star in HOME IMPROVEMENT) played his girlfriend.

Then, it came back as a midseason replacement, only it was revamped, set in New York, with the girls living with their aunt, Barbara Barrie. I didn’t care for this format as much, but it ran longer than the earlier season. It was soon cancelled, but lived on in reruns for years.

They worked together again in episodes QUANTUM LEAP, 21 JUMP STREET and a 1992 episode of PICKET FENCES.

On their own, Liz appeared in HOWARD THE DUCK as one of Lea Thompson’s bandmates and a few TV episodes. Jean appeared in a lot of episodic TV (CAGNEY AND LACEY, TRAPPER JOHN M.D., KNOTS LANDING).

But since the early 90’s, they have retired from acting.

So, what ever happened to them?

They are both still in the industry, both behind the camera.

Jean wrote and directed several sitcoms, including JUST SHOOT ME and even MAD TV. She directed a TV series starring the Olsen Twins. I guess she probably was a good choice to work with them. She is now married and has a child.

Liz has written for such shows as MAD ABOUT YOU, TWO GUYS AND A GIRL, and was a story editor on CHARMED.

It is good to see they are still working, but I'd love to see them in front of the camera again. Maybe do a DOUBLE TROUBLE reunion movie. Ya think? Or at least release the series on DVD. 23 episodes, that could fit in one box set.

For even more information, be sure to visit SagalTwins.com.

[tvvideotrader]

Jean recently directed the episode of Last Man Standing titled "The Force", which first aired on ABC 2/3/17.

[Mace Dolex]

Nothing against Katey Sagal's looks but I find it interesting that neither her or the twins bear any resemblance or viceversa.