Sister, Sister (TV series)

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Sister, Sister
Seasons 1–2 intertitle
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Tim Heintz, Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn (entire run)
  • Kurt Farquhar (seasons 5–6)
Opening theme"Sister, Sister" (main title theme)
Composers
  • Kurt Farquhar (seasons 1–2 and 4–6)
  • Paul A. Kreiling (season 3)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes119 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Suzanne de Passe
  • Suzanne Coston
  • (both; entire run)
  • Sy Rosen (seasons 1–2)
  • Brian Pollack & Mert Rich
    (season 3)
  • Leslie Ray & David Steven Simon (both; season 4)
  • Rick Hawkins (seasons 5–6)
Camera setupVideotape; Multi-camera
Running time26 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 1, 1994 (1994-04-01) –
April 28, 1995 (1995-04-28)
NetworkThe WB
ReleaseSeptember 6, 1995 (1995-09-06) –
May 23, 1999 (1999-05-23)

Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom starring Tia and Tamera Mowry as identical twin sisters separated at birth who are reunited as teenagers. It premiered on April 1, 1994, on ABC as part of its TGIF comedy lineup, and finished its run on The WB on May 23, 1999, airing 119 episodes over six seasons.[1] The cast consisted of the Mowry sisters with Jackée Harry and Tim Reid costarring as their respective adoptive parents, alongside Marques Houston as their annoying neighbor Roger. RonReaco Lee and Deon Richmond later joined the cast in the fifth season.[2]

The series was created by Kim Bass, Gary Gilbert, and Fred Shafferman, and produced by de Passe Entertainment and Paramount Network Television. As a result of ABC moving Sister, Sister from Fridays to Tuesday nights for its second season, ratings declined significantly and the network ultimately cancelled the series in April 1995.[3] The series was then picked up by The WB as a replacement for Muscle on its Wednesday night lineup, where it aired for an additional four seasons until May 1999. In 2018, a potential revival of Sister, Sister was confirmed, but was not pursued due to a lack of interest and copyright issues.[4][5]

Overview[edit]

In the pilot, the twins are reunited during a chance encounter shopping at a clothing store at the mall with their adoptive parents.[6]

Tia Landry (Tia Mowry) is the intelligent twin from inner city Detroit, where her adoptive mother, Lisa (Jackée Harry), works as a seamstress;[7] Tamera Campbell (Tamera Mowry) is the twin from the suburbs, where her adoptive father, Ray (Tim Reid), owns a successful limousine service. After their unexpected reunion, Ray reluctantly allows Tia and Lisa to move in because Lisa was about to take a design job in St. Louis, which would have separated the girls again. The girls' neighbor is nerdy Roger Evans (Marques Houston), an annoying teenager who is infatuated with both of them. Tia and Tamera would often break the fourth wall and address the audience. In the final season when the girls go off to college, Roger ceases to appear in the series because he was still in high school, though he does return as a guest in the final episode. By the fifth season, Tia and Tamera ended up with steady boyfriends: Tia's is Tyreke Scott (RonReaco Lee) and Tamera's is Jordan Bennett (Deon Richmond).

Episodes[edit]

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
112April 1, 1994September 6, 1994ABC
219November 16, 1994April 28, 1995
322September 6, 1995May 15, 1996The WB
422September 4, 1996May 14, 1997
522September 10, 1997May 17, 1998
622September 13, 1998May 23, 1999

Characters[edit]

Main[edit]

The main original cast of Sister, Sister (from left to right), Tia Mowry, Jackée Harry, Tim Reid, and Tamera Mowry as Tia and Lisa Landry and Ray and Tamera Campbell

Supporting[edit]

Production[edit]

For the first five seasons, the series often had Tia and Tamera, either together or separately, break the fourth wall by talking directly to the viewer.[7]

Theme song[edit]

The series' original theme song was written and composed by Tim Heintz, Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn.[8]

Syndication[edit]

U.S. broadcast and cable syndication[edit]

The series formerly aired reruns on BET, Disney Channel, ABC Family, WGN America, Up (formerly GMC TV), Centric, Hub Network, Logo TV, VH1 (In early 2021), and Fuse. The series currently airs on MTV2 and Dabl.[9][10][11]

As of 2021, the series is available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, and Paramount+ in the US.[12][13][14]

International syndication[edit]

In Australia and New Zealand, the series was aired on Network Ten and Nickelodeon; in the United Kingdom, Sister, Sister was aired on Nickelodeon, and on Channel 4 between 1995 and 2000[15] as the channel had the terrestrial rights to the show.

On October 5, 2020, the series began streaming on Netflix in a number of other countries.[16]

Home media[edit]

CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) released the first and second seasons of Sister, Sister on DVD in Region 1 in 2008 and 2009.[17][18] As of September 2014, these releases have been discontinued and are out of print.

On May 4, 2015, it was announced that Visual Entertainment Inc. (VEI) had acquired the distribution rights to the series for Region 1 (encompassing the United States and Canada).[19][20] It was subsequently announced on December 28, 2015, that VEI (through its deal with CBS Television Distribution) would release a complete DVD set of the series, Sister, Sister: The Complete Collection (which includes all six seasons), in Region 1 on January 19, 2016,[21] the release date was then pushed back to March 18, 2016.[22] The Mowry twins 2000 television film Seventeen Again is also included as a bonus disc on the Complete Collection set. On May 26, 2017, VEI released separate Seasons 1–3 and Seasons 4–6 sets of the series. Due to music copyright issues, these releases are heavily edited.[23]

Reception[edit]

Ratings[edit]

Season Episodes Nielsen ratings TV Season Network
Avg. ratings share Ranking
1 12 11.2 (estimated) No. 33 1993–1994 ABC
2 19 10.1[citation needed] No. 60 1994–1995
3 22 3.0[citation needed] No. 142 1995–1996 The WB
4 22 3.4[citation needed] No. 135 1996–1997
5 22 3.0[24] No. 149 1997–1998
6 22 3.6[25] No. 133 1998–1999

Awards and nominations[edit]

1998 – Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series – George Spiro Dibie (Nominated)
1997 – Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series – George Spiro Dibie (Nominated)
1996 – Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series – George Spiro Dibie (Nominated)
1995 – Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series – George Spiro Dibie (Won)
2000 – Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Won)
2000 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Jackée Harry (Won)
2000 – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tim Reid (Nominated)
1999 – Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Won)
1999 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Jackée Harry (Won)
1999 – Outstanding Comedy Series (Nominated)
1998 – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tim Reid (Nominated)
1996 – Outstanding Comedy Series (Nominated)
1996 – Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Nominated)
1998 – Favorite Television Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Nominated)
1998 – Favorite Television Show (Nominated)
1997 – Favorite Television Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Won)
1996 – Favorite Television Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Won)
1996 – Favorite Television Show (Nominated)
1995 – Favorite Television Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Won)
1999 – Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actor – Deon Richmond (Nominated)
1997 – Best Performance in a TV Comedy: Guest Starring Young Performer – Verner, Robin Marie (Nominated)
1997 – Best Performance in a TV Comedy: Leading Young Actress – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Nominated)
1996 – Best Performance by a Young Actress: Guest Starring Role TV Series – Selico, Krista Sherre (Nominated)
1996 – Best Performance by a Young Actress: TV Comedy Series – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Nominated)
1995 – Best Youth Comedian in a TV Show – Marques Houston (Won)
1995 – Best New Family Television Series (Nominated)
1995 – Best Youth Comedian in a TV Show – Victor Togunde (Nominated)
1995 – Best Youth Comedienne in a TV Show – Tia & Tamera Mowry (Nominated)
2017 – Choice Throwback Tv Show – Sister Sister (Nominated)

Potential revival[edit]

In June 2012 interview with TV Guide, both Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry have said they would like to reunite the cast for a reunion film. They were thinking of doing a "Twins in the city" plot, like the twins in New York City.[26]

In 2017, rumors started developing about a potential continuation of Sister, Sister, both Tia and Tamera have confirmed that talks are ongoing and that a sequel series is very close to happening.[27][28]

In October 2017, Tia Mowry stated in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that a revival of the series was "definitely closer than ever" and that she is "getting excited" about the possibility. She also said that she believed Jackée Harry and Tim Reid would be a part of the revival if it were to take place.[29]

On January 16, 2018, while appearing on Steve, Harry confirmed the revival, stating that "it's happening".[4]

In 2019, the reboot was put on hold indefinitely. Tia commented, "To be honest with you, I hate to pop the balloon. [A revival of] Sister, Sister kind of looks dead right now," and cited rights issues as part of the reason for the reboot not moving forward.[5][30]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Werts, Diane (April 3, 1994). "Ascent of a woman". The News Journal. p. H1. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  2. ^ Kopotsha, Jazmin (July 30, 2020). "Sister, Sister Really Needs To Make A Comeback". Grazia. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Richmond, Ray (May 23, 1995). "Out with the Old, in with New at Fox, WB Network". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2014 – via HighBeam Research.
  4. ^ a b Alexander, Princess-India (January 17, 2018). "Actress Jackée Harry on 'Sister, Sister' Reboot: 'It's Happening'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Jamie Primeau (July 2, 2019). "A 'Sister, Sister' Reboot Isn't Likely, Says Tia Mowry, But There's A Very Good Alternative". Bustle.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  6. ^ Bark, Ed; Williams, Scott (April 1, 1994). "Twins separated at birth reunited on 'Sister, Sister'". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 8E. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  7. ^ a b "'Sister, Sister' story of identical twins". The Daily News Journal. April 3, 1994. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  8. ^ Scott, Tony (November 15, 1994). "Sister, Sister Hair Today …". Variety. Archived from the original on September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Fox and The CW Upfront 2007–08: Fall 2007 Schedule; ABC Family Adds 'Sister', '8 Simple Rules'". Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  10. ^ Pavan -- SitcomsOnline.com (September 2, 2010). "BET Fall 2010 Schedule Has 3 New Sitcoms; Network TV Fall Preview Specials for 2010 – SitcomsOnline.com News Blog". Blog.sitcomsonline.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  11. ^ "'Fresh Prince' Comes to TBS in May, 'Sister, Sister' to WGN in the Fall; TV Land Awards Prev Includes Spoof 'Ugly Betty...White'". Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  12. ^ Stewart, Shelby (July 30, 2020). "Netflix to add 7 iconic, wishlist-topping Black television shows to its roster". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Sister, Sister". CBS All Access. April 1994. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Bjornson, Greta (February 2, 2021). "'Moesha,' 'Sister, Sister' and More Land on Hulu to Kick Off Black History Month Celebration". Decider. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  15. ^ Alistair McGeorge (February 17, 2016). "Sister, Sister: Where are they now? See what Tia, Tamera and more have been up to". Mirror.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Schneider, Michael (December 10, 2020). "'Sister, Sister,' 'Girlfriends' and Other Beloved Black Sitcoms Are Finding New Life on Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020. Following the success of the shows on Netflix in the United States, the service also expanded its acquisition rights on "Sister, Sister," "Girlfriends" and "Moesha" last month to Netflix in Canada, the U.K. and across Africa.
  17. ^ "Sister, Sister DVD news: Announcement for Sister, Sister – The 1st Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. July 14, 2008. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  18. ^ "Sister, Sister DVD news: Announcement for Sister, Sister – The 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. February 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  19. ^ Lambert, David (May 4, 2015). "Sister, Sister – Real-Life Twins Tia and Tamera Star in the '90s Show That's Getting New DVDs". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Lambert, David (September 14, 2015). "Sister, Sister – Oh, Brother! What's Happening With the Sisters on DVD? Studio Says..." TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  21. ^ "Sister, Sister DVD news: Release Date for The Complete Collection". TVShowsOnDVD.com. December 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Sister, Sister DVD news: Release Date for The Complete Collection". TVShowsOnDVD.com. February 3, 2016. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  23. ^ "Sister, Sister DVD news: Announcement for Seasons 1-3 and Seasons 4-6". TVShowsOnDVD.com. April 28, 2017. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  24. ^ "Final Ratings for '97–'98 TV Season". sfgate.com. May 25, 1998. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket a Final Tally of the Season's Shows". Archived from the original on October 29, 2009.
  26. ^ Ross, Robyn (October 2, 2011). "Tia and Tamera Mowry Talk Season Finale, Babies, and a Sister, Sister Reunion". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  27. ^ Lindsay Kimble (July 21, 2017). "Sister Sister reboot moving forward, Tamera Mowry says". Ew.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  28. ^ "Tia Mowry Says a 'Sister, Sister' Reboot Is In the Works". BET. June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  29. ^ "Tia Mowry Says 'Sister, Sister' Reboot Is 'Closer Than Ever': 'I'm Getting Excited' (Exclusive)". TVonline.com. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  30. ^ Randee Dawn (November 12, 2019). "'Sister, Sister' reunion! Tia Mowry, Jackée Harry together in trailer for special". Today.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.

External links[edit]