This week, we’re heading back to 1963 and into the wonderfully wholesome, split-screen world of The Patty Duke Show — the sitcom that gave us identical cousins, iconic theme song lyrics, and some seriously impressive early TV special effects.

Created by Sidney Sheldon as a starring vehicle for teenage Oscar winner Patty Duke, the series ran for three seasons and became a Nick at Nite staple for our generation.

We discuss:

• The genius (and absurdity) of “identical cousins”
• How split-screen technology worked in the early ’60s
• Patty’s triple-role episode as Southern belle Betsy
• Why the show was canceled (spoiler: color TV got expensive)
• The wildly catchy theme song that now lives rent-free in our heads
• The 1999 reunion movie you might watch… but probably won’t
• The surprisingly clever PSA Patty did decades later
• The legacy connections to John Astin, Sean Astin, and The Facts of Life

We also talk about whether this sweet, bubblegum ‘60s sitcom holds up today — and why nostalgia sometimes matters more than modern relevance.

And yes… we sing the theme song. Repeatedly.

🎵 “Cathy adores a minuet…” (You’re welcome.)

After revisiting The Love Boat, we couldn’t help but sail straight into another iconic Saturday night favorite: Fantasy Island. This week, we unpack the mysterious island where dreams come true… usually with a twist.

We talk about the origins of the show, including how producer Aaron Spelling reportedly pitched the concept as a joke—only to turn it into a massive hit. We dive into Ricardo Montalbán’s unforgettable performance as the enigmatic Mr. Rourke, the power of that iconic white suit, and the question we still can’t answer: what exactly was Mr. Rourke?

From ageless mysteries and supernatural hints to the island’s sometimes-not-so-benevolent life lessons, we explore what made Fantasy Island such a pop culture phenomenon. Of course, we also spotlight Tattoo, the unforgettable assistant who made “De plane! De plane!” part of television history—and what happened when the show tried to move on without him.

Along the way, we cover:

• The show’s beginnings as a made-for-TV movie
• The secret behind the iconic seaplane footage
• Why Fantasy Island may have been more like purgatory than paradise
• Celebrity guest stars galore (from Debbie Reynolds to Jimmy “JJ” Walker)
• Early appearances by future stars like Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, and LaVar Burton
• Behind-the-scenes drama, recasting, and the many reboots that followed
• Why none of the modern revivals quite captured the original magic

Was Fantasy Island magical, mysterious, or mildly sinister? And does it still hold up today—or is it firmly a product of its time?

Grab your white suit and prepare for a nostalgic trip… just be careful what you wish for.

“Okay campers, rise and shine!” ❄️
This week, My Sister Made Me Watch This takes on one of our all-time favorite comfort movies: 1993’s Groundhog Day.

From blizzards and booties to time loops and piano lessons, we dig into why this movie is endlessly rewatchable—and somehow deeper every time. We talk about the real (and very questionable) history of Groundhog Day, behind-the-scenes movie trivia, casting what-ifs, Bill Murray’s complicated genius, and the moment Phil Connors finally gets it.

We also tackle the big questions:

• How long was Phil really stuck in the loop?
• Could this movie even work today with cell phones and the internet?
• Is the woolly worm actually a better weather predictor than the groundhog?
• And… why is there NEVER hot water at that bed & breakfast?

Grab some hot cocoa (or not—apparently that’s unreliable in Punxsutawney) and settle in for a cozy, funny, surprisingly thoughtful conversation about a movie we watch every single year.


🎬 What We Talk About

• The real (and absurd) history of Groundhog Day
• Why Punxsutawney wasn’t “pretty enough” for the movie
• Bill Murray vs. Harold Ramis—and how it shaped the film
• How long Phil Connors may have been stuck (10 years? 10,000??)
• The cultural impact of Groundhog Day
• Casting what-ifs (Tom Hanks! Kevin Kline!)
• Why this movie still works—and probably couldn’t be remade today
• The woolly worm hot take 🐛🔥
• The eternal mystery of the missing hot water 🚿❓

📺 Where to Watch

Groundhog Day is available to rent or stream on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and other major digital services (especially this time of year).

Love, exciting, and new… and very much a product of its time.

This week, we’re dreaming of warmer weather and giving in to winter escapism by revisiting the classic TV series The Love Boat. From Captain Stubing and Julie the Cruise Director to endless celebrity guest stars and unforgettable theme music, we take a nostalgic cruise through one of the most iconic shows of the late 1970s and 1980s.

We talk about why The Love Boat was such a huge cultural phenomenon, how it blended comedy, romance, and drama into tidy weekly storylines, and why it definitely doesn’t hit the same way today. Along the way, we quiz each other on the theme song, reminisce about staying up late on Saturday nights, and wonder why none of our real-life cruises ever included sitting at the captain’s table.

We also dive into:

• The real-life Pacific Princess cruise ship
• Famous (and surprising) guest stars
• The Aaron Spelling connection
• The show’s legacy, revivals, and reality-TV spin-offs
• And whether The Love Boat is worth watching now—or best remembered fondly

So grab your captain’s hat and join us for a fun, slightly snarky cruise down memory lane.

Bon voyage!

Where to Watch The Love Boat

You can currently find The Love Boat streaming on:

• Pluto TV (free)
• Paramount+
• Amazon Prime Video
• YouTube TV
• The Roku Channel

In this episode, we take a nostalgic (and slightly bewildered) look back at Disney’s 1978 live-action sci-fi comedy The Cat from Outer Space. Inspired by classic “fish-out-of-water” shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and My Favorite Martian, this forgotten Disney film features a talking alien cat, a magical collar, horse racing, pool hustling, and a surprisingly stacked cast of familiar TV faces.

We break down the plot, the performances, and the sheer absurdity of a Disney movie where an extraterrestrial cat needs $120,000 worth of gold to repair his spaceship—and somehow ends up gambling to get it. Along the way, we discuss Disney’s post-Walt transition years, why so many 1970s Disney films feel like made-for-TV movies, and whether this movie holds up today (spoiler: probably not).

If you love nostalgic deep dives, forgotten Disney films, or just the idea of a cat from outer space with secret powers, this episode is for you.

What We Talk About in This Episode

• Why magical, otherworldly TV shows were so popular in the 1960s and 70s
• Disney’s strange creative period after Walt Disney’s death
• The full (and chaotic) plot of The Cat from Outer Space
• The alien cat Jake and his very powerful collar
• Gambling, horse racing, and pool hustlers… in a Disney movie
• The surprisingly strong TV-star cast, including Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Roddy McDowell, and Harry Morgan
• How this movie compares to later “alien stranded on Earth” stories like E.T., Starman, Lilo & Stitch, and Men in Black
• Whether this film is worth revisiting today—or introducing to your kids
• The cult appeal and odd legacy of this forgotten Disney title

Why This Movie Still Matters (Sort Of)

The Cat from Outer Space may not be a classic, but it’s a fascinating snapshot of Disney trying to find its footing between the death of its founder and the animation renaissance that began with The Little Mermaid. It’s weird, it’s dated, and it’s undeniably charming in a very 1970s way.