It's season 2, and we're picking up where we left off: 1995's You're Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley's Sleepover Party, one of Mary-Kate and Ashley's most beloved projects.

What drove the strange choice to double down on direct-to-video movies rather than cultivate the twins' budding Hollywood careers? Why were the twins so much more visibly tired here compared to their other performances at the time? And what gave Dualstar the gall to think we fans wouldn't notice the drastic drop in quality of this project? (Side note, they were right — we absolutely didn't notice.)

We ponder these questions, rehash the video beat by beat, unpack what the "You're Invited" series meant to us as kids, and slowly realize these videos maybe, possibly, perhaps... definitely hypnotized us.

We're so incredibly excited to be back for season 2, and if it's up to me, you'll RSVP!

Video links:
You're Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley's  Sleepover Party
Gimme Pizza Slow

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Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/questions? Email us at: [email protected]

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On November 20th, 2001, Mary-Kate and Ashley's 5th direct-to-video film, Holiday in the Sun was officially released.

And for the 20th anniversary of this iconic film, we had the honor and privilege of talking to the incredibly kind, completely gorgeous, outrageously humble, he's-what-time-it-is, Mr. Ben Easter!

That's right: Jordan Landers. As in, the Landers Hardware Store Landers. Talked to us. And we kept it together enough to learn all about what he was doing (and wearing!) right before he got the part, what the casting process was like, what it was like filming this beloved film with Mary-Kate and Ashley, and how the film impacted his life.

He also opens up with us about the difficulties of being a closeted actor in the early '00s, how he was involved with the ending of So Little Time, and his close bond with Ashley.

This conversation was literally a dream come true for us, and we hope you're able to feel the immense love and enthusiasm that we felt while recording.

Turns out you CAN have your cake and eat it too. Everyone says you can't. You can!

Ben's photography:
http://www.beneasterphotography.com/

Ben's Security Guard uniform
Ashley, Ben, Austin and Billy BTS

Follow Ben on social media:
Instagram & Twitter: @beaster1

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Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/questions? Email us at: [email protected]

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So, you'll notice the runtime of this episode is very short because this is technically not an episode, but a teaser for an episode with a very very very special interview that we are preparing AS WE SPEAK and will drop later this week!

But we didn't want to leave you hanging, so we're leaving you a couple hints to try and guess who our special guest is. 🤔

Find us on Instagram or send us an email with your guesses!

But most importantly, follow/subscribe, tell all your friends, and keep your eyes peeled on your podcast feed... you're NOT gonna wanna miss this.

Find us on Instagram!
Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Email us: [email protected]

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Instead of reviewing this classic movie that we all know by heart, we want to talk about the parts of It Takes Two that stand out to us now after our life-altering conversation with the film's writer, Deborah Dean Davis (go back and listen to our interview with her if you haven't already, otherwise this episode might not make sense).

We put It Takes Two in context of where Mary-Kate and Ashley were in their careers at the time of the movie's release, talk about the unfair reviews the film received, and share a few personal fan theories and Easter eggs you might not have noticed.

We also recently stumbled upon the most incredible behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube that neither Becca or Lani had ever seen, and have decided that every It Takes Two fan absolutely must watch (links below).

Join us this week as we go Behind the Scenes of It Takes Two!

It Takes Two behind the scenes videos:

• Part 1: https://youtu.be/IldhSovlTb8
• Part 2: https://youtu.be/hQNuQ3hJQjk 
• Part 3: https://youtu.be/BYKl-LNmjIY 
• Part 4: https://youtu.be/93FFHXGfqPM 

Reviews & Media from It Take Two's Release:
Siskel & Ebert's It Takes Two Review
E! Blast from the Past Rewind: It Takes Two

All three times Mary-Kate and Ashley are miscast:

• 1st time: Ashley as Amanda Lemmon on the staircase
• 2nd time: Mary-Kate as Alyssa Callaway as Amanda in the mess hall
• 3rd time: Mary-Kate as Alyssa as Amanda as Betty Butkis in the junkyard

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Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/questions? Email us at: [email protected]

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We had the honor of interviewing the home run queen herself… The belter from the shelter… that’s right — Miss Deborah Dean Davis! THE WRITER OF IT TAKES TWO!

This is one of those can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kinda guests. Deborah shares stories about Mary-Kate and Ashley becoming friends with her daughter, a heart-melting story about red soda, and Ashley's zest for showing off her somersaults.

She also tells us all about how she scored the job, why she refused to watch any episodes of Full House in preparation, and the many, many, many drafts the script went through (can you imagine this iconic script was ever anything less than perfect?). Whether you're a diehard Mary-Kate and Ashley stan or an aspiring screenwriter, get ready to hear some mind-blowing stories.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. Deborah is truly a queen.

Follow Deborah:
Twitter: @dddawriter

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Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/questions? Email us at: [email protected]

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Lani and Becca are cooking up something very, very special for our It Takes Two episode, (hint: it's another interview!), and we need just a little more time to get it ready.

In the meantime, we're releasing this bonus episode where Lani talks with her brother Alex Harms (who designed our podcast's tile art!) about watching It Takes Two as children, and what (if anything) he remembers about his sister being obsessed with Mary-Kate and Ashley.

We'll be back with a full episode next week!

Find us on Instagram!
Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Alex: @harmstudio

Want to send us a Mary-Kate and Ashley memo or anecdote from your childhood? Email or send us:

[email protected]

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Lani and Becca watched both parts of the Full House season finale, "Michelle Rides Again" — and wow, what a trip. (Or should we say... fall??)

We talk about how refreshing it is that the adults for once care about a missing child, yet still don't take Michelle's head injury as seriously as they should. Lani tries to describe the strange experience of watching Full House for the first time decades after it aired as a huge Mary-Kate and Ashley fan, and Becca realizes that this episode unconsciously influenced her senior prom dress.

We review every nook and cranny of this Full House two-parter,  so buckle up and don't fall off your horse! Seriously, don't, it could lead to a very serious head injury.

Sad Full House

Becca's & DJ's Prom Dresses

VH1 Driven Documentary: Mary-Kate and Ashley

Celebrity Profile: Mary-Kate and Ashley

"‘Full House’ Not Enough for ABC Pot : Television: The long-running, Top 25 show has fallen out of step, giving way to programmers and advertisers pushing for hip, young viewers."
-LA Times May 23, 1995

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Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/suggestions? Email us at: [email protected]

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We've been so caught up in Mary-Kate and Ashley's production company, videos, albums, merch, TV movies and specials, Fun Club and entourage, that we've barely even covered the twins' most notable credit: portraying Michelle Tanner on Full House.

Becca finally gets to share what Full House meant to her as a kid. Lani, who shockingly didn't watch the show, somehow remembers the attic and basement. Then we speculate over why this very popular show was cancelled so abruptly.

Next week we'll be reviewing the show's finale: Michelle Rides Again (Part 1 & 2), so find yourself an HBOMax password, and get ready to dive in!

----------------------------------------------------
VH1 Driven Documentary: Mary-Kate and Ashley

Celebrity Profile: Mary-Kate and Ashley

"‘Full House’ Not Enough for ABC Pot : Television: The long-running, Top 25 show has fallen out of step, giving way to programmers and advertisers pushing for hip, young viewers."
-LA Times May 23, 1995

Dualstar Entertainment Group LLC --Jill Zimmerman (now Collage) still on board!

Behind The Row: Meet Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen -- Jill Collage became the PRESIDENT of Dualstar in 2010 🤯

Fun Club "Carrying Case" that's just Ashley's face twice

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Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Are you Robert Thorne and want to set the record straight? Email us at: [email protected]

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In 1993 (or '94; it's unclear), Mary-Kate and Ashley's management team created "Mary-Kate and Ashley's Fun Club," the twins' first official fan club. The promo for this club ran at the beginning of each of their videos and promised that every registered member would receive a precious box of rare Mary-Kate and Ashley collectibles.

So in today's episode, we unbox the Fun Club. Or, at least, we unbox what's left of the Fun Club folder that Lani found in her parents' basement, including original photos, posters, magazines and a couple extra memorabilia that send us down a rabbit hole of nostalgia.

We also theorize that Mary-Kate and Ashley created their own cinematic universe that targeted nerdy girls, we once again have an existential crisis over the fact that we were brainwashed, and we speculate over whether or not the twins actually had fun as children.

SOURCES FROM THE EPISODE:
Fun Club Source
Mary-Kate and Ashley's Fun Club Commercial
Mary-Kate and Ashley's Roller Blade Poster

Find us on Instagram!
Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Were you also a Fun Club "official member"? Email us at [email protected]!

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Previously, on They Thought I Was You: Lani revealed to Becca that she impulsively emailed John Forster, the Grammy-nominated musician behind Mary-Kate and Ashley's first two albums, Our First Video, The Case of Thorn Mansion, basically all the music we've reviewed thus far — and invited him to be on our podcast.

And much to our delight, this week we're joined by John Forster himself!

John shares with us the the writing process for the music, what Mary-Kate and Ashley were like at six years old, and how the experience impacted his life. We also ask him the burning questions we've had for the past four episodes: What made Thorn Mansion so magical? How do six-year-olds record an album anyway? And why did they drop "Jelly" from the Peanut Butter and Jelly song??

HUGE thank you to John Forster for being our first interview guest. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

SONGS & VIDEOS we discuss:
Our First Video, "Brother For Sale"
Our First Video, "Peanut Butter"
The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley Theme Song
The Case of Thorn Mansion, "B-U-T-T Out"
The Case of Thorn Mansion, "Bravery"
The Case of Thorn Mansion, "Funky Musicology"
The Case of Thorn Mansion, "The Ghost Song (No Such Thing)"
The Case of the Logical i Ranch, "Nothing To Do"
The Case of the Logical i Ranch, "Lotta Rocks"
The Olsen Twins Mother's Day Special
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Our First Video

Find us on Instagram!
Show: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms

Thoughts/suggestions? Send us an email at [email protected]

Support the show