Identical Cousins?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVLanFan · 06-22-2001, 09:56 AM

I always liked the PD Show…But IDENTICAL COUSINS??? How DOES THAT happen??
This is THE classic example, of course, but there have been others over the years…Steve Douglas and his Scottish cousin from My 3 Sons; Alice’s Cousin Emma from the Brady Bunch; I could go on I’m sure…but gimme a break! I don’t remember ever seeing Cathy’s parents while watching this show, but tell me something…were Cathy’s parents dead ringers for Patty’s parents, which enabled them to produce identical offspring? (And if so, were Patty & Cathy’s parents actual birth twins, or were THEY THEMSELVES identical cousins?). Does anybody actually know any real life cousins who are identical??

[This message has been edited by TVLanFan (edited 06-22-2001).]

Shindigger · 06-23-2001, 06:43 PM

The explanation for the cousin's amazing resemblence is because Patty and Cathy's fathers were identical brothers. There is an episode (the christmas show) where we see Martin's brother and the only difference is that Kenneth has a mustache and Martin doesn't... No explanation was ever given on the demise of Cathy's mother.

Yes the premise is typical TV wackiness, but it was played very well here. Oddly, with my own cousin, our dads are look-alike brothers who married look-alike sisters and while my cousin and I aren't identical, apparantly, the resemblence was strong enough that we fooled more than a few people. In fact, for a time we worked at the same place and we had a great time confusing a lot of people. For awhile I felt like I had my own "Patty Duke Show" situation going on!

Shindigger · 06-23-2001, 06:59 PM

The explanation for the cousin's amazing resemblence is because Patty and Cathy's fathers were identical brothers. There is an episode (the christmas show) where we see Martin's brother and the only difference is that Kenneth has a mustache and Martin doesn't... No explanation was ever given on the demise of Cathy's mother.

Yes the premise is typical TV wackiness, but it was played very well here. Oddly, with my own cousin, our dads are look-alike brothers who married look-alike sisters and while my cousin and I aren't identical, apparantly, the resemblence was strong enough that we fooled more than a few people. In fact, for a time we worked at the same place and we had a great time confusing a lot of people. For awhile I felt like I had my own "Patty Duke Show" situation going on!

TVLanFan · 07-06-2001, 05:39 PM

Thanks for the reply Shindigger... It's been quite a while since I've seen the show on a regular basis...I didn't know about the fathers, but I appreciate your filling me in on that

Sounds like you and your cousin had a pretty good time there

Have a great day!

PPatters · 11-07-2001, 08:39 PM

The only way for there to be identical cousins (and we're talking that they look VERY similar, but aren't exactly the same) is if two identical boys marry two identical girls. In theory, and the chances are so miniscule, it more than likely will never, and has never happened, they could give birth to children who carry similar chromosomes (each of them takes the same types of chromosomes from their dads and stuff like that) and even then, so many other things would affect how they look. There are only 23 chromosomes from each parent, so there could still be differences, and probably would be, but... (This is why, in theory, you can give birth to identical children although they were born many years apart. Again, the chances of this happened are so miniscule the chances of it ever happening are VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, almost infinitely close to 0.0000000000%.

17Mar59 · 06-09-2002, 08:58 PM

They say that everyone has a doppleganger out there somewhere.

Hippie · 09-13-2006, 06:16 PM

In all honesty, identical cousins is pretty close to physically and genetically impossible. The remote chance it could happen is so slim as to say its nonexistant. However, this isn't science and real life we're talking about. Its television. Its entertainment.

The "identical cousin" routine was gone with to keep from beating the dead horse of twin sisters (or brothers). The plot called for look alikes with very separate and distinct personalities. Physically, they'd be indistinguishable, while emotionally and mentally, they'd be nearly polar opposites. This was accomplished far better with the idea of two cousins, as opposed to two sisters separated at birth, or something.

No, its not scientifically viable. Its not intended to be. Its television, its fiction, plain and simple. Suspension of disbelief is a common factor in most forms of entertainment, like horror movies, certain dramas, super hero flicks, and so on. Why can't you use suspension of disbelief in 1960's family comedy?

You're not watching the show with the intention of writing a thesis on genetics and the probability of identical cousins. You're watching it for the comedic and family value worth of it. The entertainment value. Accept the show for what it is, and enjoy it for what it is. Over 99% of the characters we watch on TV and in movies don't exist, and realistically wouldn't exist. The same is true for this show. The point is that its something to engage your senses. You have fun watching it. That's it. Don't try to rationalize it, and explain it. Just accept the characters as existing, and enjoy their exploits. Nothing simpler in the world.

Peace!

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-14-2006, 04:42 PM

...but Sidney Sheldon, the creator/head writer of "THE PATTY DUKE SHOW", had written a situation comedy pilot for Ginger Rogers in 1961 (which aired in the summer of '63), where she portrayed twin sisters. Apparently, he had the same kind of idea in mind for Patty, but decided that "Patty" and "Cathy" would be cousins. Read his autobiography, "The Other Side Of Me", for more information and his take on the series. [And then, of course, he introduced Jeannie's "evil twin sister" on "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" in the fall of 1967!]

06-22-2001, 09:56 AM	#1
TVLanFan Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 194	Identical Cousins?? I always liked the PD Show…But IDENTICAL COUSINS??? How DOES THAT happen?? This is THE classic example, of course, but there have been others over the years…Steve Douglas and his Scottish cousin from My 3 Sons; Alice’s Cousin Emma from the Brady Bunch; I could go on I’m sure…but gimme a break! I don’t remember ever seeing Cathy’s parents while watching this show, but tell me something…were Cathy’s parents dead ringers for Patty’s parents, which enabled them to produce identical offspring? (And if so, were Patty & Cathy’s parents actual birth twins, or were THEY THEMSELVES identical cousins?). Does anybody actually know any real life cousins who are identical?? [This message has been edited by TVLanFan (edited 06-22-2001).]

09-13-2006, 06:16 PM	#7
Hippie Occasional Poster Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6	In all honesty, identical cousins is pretty close to physically and genetically impossible. The remote chance it could happen is so slim as to say its nonexistant. However, this isn't science and real life we're talking about. Its television. Its entertainment. The "identical cousin" routine was gone with to keep from beating the dead horse of twin sisters (or brothers). The plot called for look alikes with very separate and distinct personalities. Physically, they'd be indistinguishable, while emotionally and mentally, they'd be nearly polar opposites. This was accomplished far better with the idea of two cousins, as opposed to two sisters separated at birth, or something. No, its not scientifically viable. Its not intended to be. Its television, its fiction, plain and simple. Suspension of disbelief is a common factor in most forms of entertainment, like horror movies, certain dramas, super hero flicks, and so on. Why can't you use suspension of disbelief in 1960's family comedy? You're not watching the show with the intention of writing a thesis on genetics and the probability of identical cousins. You're watching it for the comedic and family value worth of it. The entertainment value. Accept the show for what it is, and enjoy it for what it is. Over 99% of the characters we watch on TV and in movies don't exist, and realistically wouldn't exist. The same is true for this show. The point is that its something to engage your senses. You have fun watching it. That's it. Don't try to rationalize it, and explain it. Just accept the characters as existing, and enjoy their exploits. Nothing simpler in the world. Peace! __________________ The Cherokee Biker Hippie "Far out, man"

09-14-2006, 04:42 PM	#8
TV Knowledge Fan Senior Member Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,427	Most people don't know this... ...but Sidney Sheldon, the creator/head writer of "THE PATTY DUKE SHOW", had written a situation comedy pilot for Ginger Rogers in 1961 (which aired in the summer of '63), where she portrayed twin sisters. Apparently, he had the same kind of idea in mind for Patty, but decided that "Patty" and "Cathy" would be cousins. Read his autobiography, "The Other Side Of Me", for more information and his take on the series. [And then, of course, he introduced Jeannie's "evil twin sister" on "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" in the fall of 1967!]

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06-23-2001, 06:43 PM	#2
Shindigger Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Posts: 79	The explanation for the cousin's amazing resemblence is because Patty and Cathy's fathers were identical brothers. There is an episode (the christmas show) where we see Martin's brother and the only difference is that Kenneth has a mustache and Martin doesn't... No explanation was ever given on the demise of Cathy's mother. Yes the premise is typical TV wackiness, but it was played very well here. Oddly, with my own cousin, our dads are look-alike brothers who married look-alike sisters and while my cousin and I aren't identical, apparantly, the resemblence was strong enough that we fooled more than a few people. In fact, for a time we worked at the same place and we had a great time confusing a lot of people. For awhile I felt like I had my own "Patty Duke Show" situation going on!

06-23-2001, 06:59 PM	#3
Shindigger Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Posts: 79	The explanation for the cousin's amazing resemblence is because Patty and Cathy's fathers were identical brothers. There is an episode (the christmas show) where we see Martin's brother and the only difference is that Kenneth has a mustache and Martin doesn't... No explanation was ever given on the demise of Cathy's mother. Yes the premise is typical TV wackiness, but it was played very well here. Oddly, with my own cousin, our dads are look-alike brothers who married look-alike sisters and while my cousin and I aren't identical, apparantly, the resemblence was strong enough that we fooled more than a few people. In fact, for a time we worked at the same place and we had a great time confusing a lot of people. For awhile I felt like I had my own "Patty Duke Show" situation going on!

07-06-2001, 05:39 PM	#4
TVLanFan Frequent Poster Member Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 194	Thanks for the reply Shindigger... It's been quite a while since I've seen the show on a regular basis...I didn't know about the fathers, but I appreciate your filling me in on that Sounds like you and your cousin had a pretty good time there Have a great day!

11-07-2001, 08:39 PM	#5
PPatters Forum Regular Member Join Date: Aug 27, 2001 Location: Rockford, MI, USA Posts: 393	The only way for there to be identical cousins (and we're talking that they look VERY similar, but aren't exactly the same) is if two identical boys marry two identical girls. In theory, and the chances are so miniscule, it more than likely will never, and has never happened, they could give birth to children who carry similar chromosomes (each of them takes the same types of chromosomes from their dads and stuff like that) and even then, so many other things would affect how they look. There are only 23 chromosomes from each parent, so there could still be differences, and probably would be, but... (This is why, in theory, you can give birth to identical children although they were born many years apart. Again, the chances of this happened are so miniscule the chances of it ever happening are VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, almost infinitely close to 0.0000000000%.

06-09-2002, 08:58 PM	#6
17Mar59 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Jan 03, 2002 Location: washington state Posts: 472	They say that everyone has a doppleganger out there somewhere.