They Thought I Was You

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mary-kateandashley magazine: our premiere issue Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

On March 25th, 2001 (the same week Winning London premiered), Mary-Kate and Ashley launched the first of what would be three teen fashion magazines, aptly named the "mary-kateandashley magazine."
This wasn't one of Mary-Kate and Ashley's most well known projects, but it was an important moment in their career. As we've been discussing for the past 8 weeks , 2001 was an insane time our girls with their brand exploding at Walmart and their film & TV projects in full swing. But this magazine felt different. This magazine felt like something more intimate, more real, more authentically them. And on the first page, on their list of "Top 10 Reasons We Created a Magazine," their number one reason says it all:
Because we can.
So this week, Becca and Lani read the whole thing. We talk about what we remember about this magazine at the time of its release, what we thought it was/hoped it would be, and how it holds up now, 21 years later.
And since we will be referencing many of the articles/photos along the way, we recommend you read along with us with the PDF version of the magazine here:
mary-kateandashley: our premiere issue
(PDF Courtesy of @derricksdollcollection)
You can also watch the video version of this podcast by subscribing to our Patreon here
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Screenwriter Karol Hoeffner (Winning London) Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

Today we sit down with the woman who taught an entire generation that the Model UN was a legitimate school activity. We talk to the person who wrote of one of Mary-Kate and Ashley's nerdiest, most beloved, most perfect rainy-day-comfort movies of all time. We talk to Karol Hoeffner, screenwriter of Winning London.
And we learn that Karol is nothing short of a complete inspiration. When she was in her 40s, she started being ghosted by an ageist industry that had no interest in hiring a middle-aged female screenwriter. So she decided to write a raunchy screenplay under a male pseudonym, and the industry came banging down her door-- including our friend, Robert Thorne, who then asked her to pitch the next Mary-Kate and Ashley movie.
Karol tells us about the insanely stressful week she spent writing the entire Winning London screenplay (the week before they left for London!), the particularities of writing a script for Mary-Kate and Ashley, and how she feels about the movie now, 21 years later. And of course, we ask how she came up with the iconic line, "I don't clean up after lost boys."
We adored talking with Karol and left feeling absolutely inspired. We hope this conversation makes you feel the same way ❤️
You can also watch the video version of this interview by subscribing to our Patreon here
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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So Little Time: Ep 2-14 "Season 1" (Part 2) Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

Our So Little Time journey continues!

This week we're reviewing all of the So Little Time episodes that were released in 2001 (Episodes 1-14: "Siblings in the City" through "The Breakfast Club"), and we are thrilled to report-- we loved this SO much more than the pilot.

This show, like most sitcoms, takes a few episodes to find its footing, but once it does, it's a whoooole vibe. It's a show about the most incredibly fun, relaxed Malibu teen dream in life in y2k that you could ever imagine. And the fashion. Is. Everything. We dig into each episode, address lifelong questions we've had about Teddi and Manuelo, and eventually have a STRONG disagreement on the quality of episode 9, "True Lies" that almost broke up our whole podcast.
But luckily, we resolve our differences and come back together to celebrate this comforting teen sitcom and all it did well (and a few things it didn't quite get right).
So put on your low rise jeans with the chunky belt and flowy top, and strap in to revisit the iconic first half of So Little Time (before they add a coffee shop and change their hair to the iconic curly on top, straight on bottom).
As we said last week, this show is notoriously impossible to find on streaming, so head on over to SimplyOlsen's Instagram bio to watch the full show.
You can also watch the video version of this interview by subscribing to our Patreon here
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Who do you think was right about Episode 9 "True Lies"? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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So Little Time: The Pilot (Part 1) Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

The time has finally come... this week we watch a Mary-Kate and Ashley fan favorite, a show that solidified the Fox Family Channel as teen girl heaven and ignited the SoCal fashion trends of early '00s (we think).

This week we watch So Little Time. And since we have so MUCHtime, we're sticking to just the pilot, "Dog Day Afternoon." In this episode, we meet Riley (Mary-Kate this time) and Chloe (now Ashley) Carlson, their weird friend Larry (Jesse Head), their vivascious manny Manuelo (Taylor Negron), and their estranged parents Jake (Eric Lutes) and Macy (Clare Carey) Carlson. We talk about what this show meant to us as tweens, dissect this strange, clunky pilot, and puzzle over Teddi (Natashia Williams)'s modeling contract with the Carlsons. We also try to figure out why exactly the Carlsons had so LITTLE time.

And disclaimer: we didn't love the pilot as much as we'd hoped. It takes us a minute to process the shift from the air-tight, network-produced perfection that was Two of a Kind and readjust to the relaxed and breezy fun that So Little Time did so well, but trust us, we DO get there.

Also, since this show is notoriously not on streaming, head on over to SimplyOlsen's Instagram bio to watch the full show.
You can also watch the video version of this interview by subscribing to our Patreon here
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Mary-Kate and Ashley: The Truman Show (RE-RELEASE) Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

In light of our interview with Winning London's Rachel Roth, we thought this would be a good time to replay one of our all time favorite episodes from the very beginning of our podcast, "Mary-Kate and Ashley: The Truman Show."
In this episode, we outline how Mary-Kate and Ashley were plucked from a regular life as two anonymous twin babies to becoming two of the most successful and well-known child stars of all time. This is an important episode for understanding how Mary-Kate and Ashley ended up where they were in 2001 when Rachel crossed paths with them, and what we'll be talking more about in the episodes to come this season.
We'll be back next week for a brand new episode, but until then, please enjoy this re-release of a classic from our vault!
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Mary-Kate and Ashley were just 6 months old when they had the audition that propelled them to stardom. Learn how Hollywood producers coerced the twins' mother, Jarnette "Jarnie" Olsen, into trapping her daughters in a real-life Truman Show situation — beginning with that fated Full House audition.
We also unpack the dangers of celebrity and the parallels between the Olsen twins and teen pop stars. And, of course, we play our favorite game: Britney Spears & Christina Aguilera, Billie Eilish & Finneas, Dave Coulier & John Stamos — who's the Mary-Kate, and who's the Ashley?
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SOURCE MATERIAL:
VH1 Driven Documentary: Mary-Kate and Ashley
Celebrity Profile: Mary-Kate and Ashley
PRESS APPEARANCES:
Lifestyles of Little Stars
Mary-Kate and Ashley present at the Emmy's
Mary-Kate and Ashley on Arsenio Hall 1991
Mary-Kate and Ashley on Regis and Kelly
Olsen Twins on QVC
Mary-Kate and Ashley Good Morning America
September 2010 issue of US Marie Claire, Mary-Kate saying they were “little monkey performers” and ‘I wouldn’t wish my upbringing on anybody.’
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Rachel: @rachiemcroth
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Rachel Roth (Winning London, So Little Time) pt 2 Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

We are SO sorry we left you all on a cliff this week, but your suspense is finally over-- Part 2 of our interview with actress Rachel Roth (Winning London, So Little Time) is here!
In this half, we hear Rachel's feelings on Robert Thorne, how a dinner with Mary-Kate and Ashley in London started a real life relationship with them back in LA, and what it was like hanging out with them at home with their "annoying" little sister Lizzie. Rachel describes being in the orbit of these tycoons at this epic time in their teen fame, and the sadness she felt at the incredible pace Mary-Kate and Ashley were expected to work.
Rachel also talks about working with them again on So Little Time and her little-known but groundbreaking LGBTQ role on the Fox sitcom Titus. This interview gets very, very real and gave us a sober understanding of the darker sides of Mary-Kate and Ashley's world in 2001.
HUGE thank you again to Rachel for talking with us, and for sharing some amazing BTS photos from the set of Winning London that you can see on our Instagram. You can also watch the video version of this interview on our Patreon here!
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Rachel: @rachiemcroth
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Rachel Roth (Winning London, So Little Time) pt 1 Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

We are pinching ourselves. We had the honor and privilege to talk with the most incredible guest from Mary-Kate and Ashley's cinematic universe. This guest was one of the only female friends Mary-Kate and Ashley ever had in their full-length movies and one of the few actors asked back for multiple projects. Driven, sensitive, and out to save the world-- today we talk with Rachel Roth (Winning London, So Little Time)!
We had the most incredible conversation with Rachel about how she started acting at 6 years old (because according to the Sound of Music, that's how old you have to be to act), and her life as a teen actress in the late 90's and early 00's working for all the kid's channel heavy hitters: Nickelodeon, Disney, and of course, Dualstar. She tells us about her experience auditioning for Winning London, learning she wasn't the first choice to play Rachel, her whirlwind 48 hour notice that she would be filming in London, and how her relationship with Mary-Kate and Ashley shaped her outlook on Hollywood.
This conversation was too good (and too long) to fit into one episode, so we leave you on a cliffhanger until part 2 next week, but let's just say, something's up with Robert Thorne...
HUGE thank you for Rachel to talking with us. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we enjoyed recording. You can also watch the video version of this interview on our Patreon here!
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Rachel: @rachiemcroth
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Mary-Kate and Ashley's First Fashion Show Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

We are officially BACK! And what better way to kick off our new season than with Mary-Kate and Ashley doing the thing they love most: fashion!
On February 28th, 2001, Mary-Kate and Ashley debuted their much-anticipated fashion line at Walmart with a half hour fashion show on Fox (ABC?) Family called "Fashion Forward." The show was hosted by the twins and their costars from Winning London, Eric Jungmann and Brandon Tyler. It also featured musical performances by an obscure band called Gotti 13, "behind the scenes" of the making of the show, and interviews with Mary-Kate, Ashley, and their costume designer Judy Swartz.
Lani taped this TV special when she was a kid, but Becca had never seen it until now as an adult. And we'll just say, some things don't hold up so well. The pushing of heteronormativity on pre-teen girls is especially jarring to watch now and leads us to a long discussion on what exactly was meant by "Real Fashion for Real Girls." We also talk about what the Mary-Kate and Ashley Walmart line meant to us as kids and the great power of celebrity clothing lines.
Also, we've officially launched our Patreon! You can now support us and have access to monthly bonus episodes, video versions of our weekly podcasts, early access to content, and sneak peaks of future episodes! We're so excited to have you on this journey with us :)
EPISODE LINKS:
Watch Fashion Forward on YouTube:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Article, "The Olsen Inc" (Jan 30th 2000)
Support us on Patreon here
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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The Mary-Kate and Ashley Podcast May 24, 2022

Show notes

Hello again! We're still not back yet. But we are very close to coming back, and we stumbled upon a piece of Olsen history that we simply could not wait to share with you.
Our friend & listener @OlsenSistersFrance shared with us that in 2006, Mary-Kate and Ashley... had a podcast That's right, our brilliant twin icons had the knowhow in 2006 to start a podcast before podcasts were even a thing! @OlsenSistersFrance found the first episode in her digital collection and shared it with us, and we were shocketh.
This podcast was called the mary-kateandashley.com podcast (major flashbacks to SpringDance.com amiright?), and before you get your hopes too high-- it wasn't hosted by Mary-Kate and Ashley. But they are interviewed (separately) in the podcast about what they were up to as two 20-year-old, busier than ever, Hollywood veterans.
The podcast is hosted by Trish Nelson who also interviews Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron about High School Musical, and Dylan and Cole Sprouse about their boys' magazine and which Olsen twin they most identify with. We don't know much else about this podcast or how many episodes it had, who knew about it, or how successful it was. But we're eternally grateful to know that it existed.
We'll be back in just a couple of weeks for season 3, so get ready! And until then, enjoy this slice of forgotten Mary-Kate and Ashley history.
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Got any more into on the mary-kateandashley.com podcast? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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Elizabeth Olsen: The Olsen That Was Promised May 10, 2022

Show notes

SURPRISE! Today we have a special bonus episode in honor of last weekend's premiere of Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness starring everyone's favorite little sister, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Olsen.
Today's impromptu conversation came about when Becca and Lani were in a planning meeting for season 3 of the podcast and realized they both had VERY different opinions about Lizzie Olsen and her place in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Universe. Instead of waiting for our future deep dive into Elizabeth Olsen (oh yeah, it's gonna happen), we decided to go on record right now and state how we both feel about Lizzie and what her success as an A-List movie star means to us as Mary-Kate and Ashley fans.
Does Lizzie Olsen have the career we always pictured for Mary-Kate and/or Ashley? Is Lizzie the dark horse Olsen? Could Elizabeth Olsen have made it without Mary-Kate and Ashley? We dive into all these questions, and Lani even sprinkles in her hopes for Wanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (but don't worry, no Dr. Strange spoilers).
We hope you enjoy today's spontaneous mini ep, and let us know your thoughts on Lizzie Olsen! But most of all get ready, because we're coming back for an epic season 3 in just a few short weeks.
Find us on Social Media!
Instagram: @theythoughtiwasyou
TikTok: @theythoughtiwasyou
Becca: @beccaroth
Lani: @laniharms
Thoughts/questions? Email us at: theythoughtiwasyou@gmail.com

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