Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen Empire


It may be difficult now to think of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as anything other than socialite bag ladies, but back in the 90s they were amongst the most successful young entrepreneurial stars on the scene. Don't let their current air of homelessness fool you: these girls have been building their multimillion dollar empire brick by straight-to-video brick since they were old enough to legally appear onscreen. Love them or hate them, they built themselves as an incredibly successful brand. Yes, they've stamped their name on everything from shampoo to training bras, but something's got to keep these girls in poorly fitting oversized sweaters.

When the girls debuted in TGIF's Full House as infants, a crafty lawyer saw great potential in capturing and packaging their essence. Their manager Robert Thorne created Dualstar Entertainment and in a then-shocking move named the girls (at seven years apiece) as executive producers. Moguls don't come much mini-er than that. While most of their peers were mastering the monkey bars at recess, the Olsens were already overseeing a fast-growing empire. Not too shabby.

Tween programming was still mostly an untapped well in the early 90s, with most media producers focusing on capturing the attention of either children or teens with no middle ground. The twins' manager saw an opportunity for some serious tween-tapped revenue and capitalized it by building the girls into a tightly managed, well-defined product that sold well with young girls and parents alike. While they may have shaken their once-wholesome all-American image, their fame is hinged on the fact that they turned selling out into a legitimate business prospect:


Full House

The twins got their start on Full House when they were only 9 months old, making them celebrities practically since birth. The girls were hired to play a single character, Michelle Tanner, to comply with time limitations of child labor laws. Initially, producers tried to hide the fact that Michelle was played by two different actresses. When Mary Kate and Ashley soon began developing a fan base, however, they quickly changed their tune. These girls had star quality from a young age, as you can see from the following interview with them. Warning: if you're sensitive to adorableness, you may want to skip this one.





To Grandmother's House We Go/Double, Double, Toil and Trouble/How the West was Fun


During their time on Full House, Mary Kate and Ashley expanded their young fan base by starring in a slew of children's made-for-TV movies. This cheesy fare went over well with young audiences and their overprotective parents, further skyrocketing the twins to atmospheric fame.





Our First Video


In 1993, the twin's manager saw great potential in the straight-to-video market, expanding the twins' brand to include children's videos with tie-in musical numbers. I watched this VHS so many times that the tape began to unravel, leaving me inconsolable. I just wanted to watch "I am the Cute One" and "Nobody Tells the President What to Do" on repeat approximately twenty thousand times. Is that so much to ask?

I'm not sure if the music industry would technically classify any of these songs as singles, but I do remember hearing "Brother for Sale" on the radio. Granted, it was a kid's station, but I was pretty convinced that these girls had a hit record on their hands.





The Adventures of Mary Kate and Ashley


Sometime around this era I distinctly remember receiving my Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen Fan Club Starter Kit in the mail, which was essentially a brochure for all of the overpriced things I could ever imagine begging for. Following Full House's cancellation, Dualstar expanded their straight-to-video enterprise with a series of MK&A adventure movies.

In these videos, the girls played kid detectives fully decked out in 40s-style detective gear. Everyone knows that's how real detectives go undetected: by dressing the part. By this point, the girls were pretty much unstoppable. The plots and acting were almost entirely inconsequential. It was shameless brand-building and we ate up every minute of it.




You're Invited....

The idea that Ashley and Mary Kate would even consider inviting me (me!) to their costume/dance/sleepover party was almost too exciting to bear. Okay, so everyone who could convince their parents to shell out the twenty bucks for the video was on the guest list too as far as Dualstar was concerned, but still.




It Takes Two

The Olsens made the leap to the big screen with 1995's It Takes Two. It was sort of a Parent Trap rip-off with a less substantiated premise, but it was a huge hit with kids. This was a simpler time, when Kirstie Alley was still of Hollywood proportions to play the female romantic lead and Steve Guttenberg was a household name. I was, per usual, surprised to learn that the movie holds a remarkably putrid 9% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com. For those of you slow on the math front that's 91% rotten. Yikes. As a kid, I was pretty certain this film was a masterpiece and was thus shocked at the Academy's blatant omission of the movie in its nominations. For shame.




Two of a Kind

You know what's a really good idea? Naming the main characters in the show after the actors but mysteriously changing their last name. Now that's good writing. The short-lived Two of a Kind premiered on TGIF in 1998, featuring Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as Mary Kate and Ashley Burke. See? Brilliant. The show's ratings were a serious disappointment, leading to its cancellation after one season. Remarkably, though, during that time they managed to release 39 (!) book adaptations of the show. That's just impressive.




Billboard Dad/Switching Goals/Passport to Paris/Our List are Sealed/There Aren't Enough Front Slashes in the World to Complete this Insanely Extensive List of Straight-to-Video Movies


Ashley and Mary Kate cemented their status as tween icons with their incredibly successful straight-to-video offerings. They always played a different set of twins, but each set seemed to suffer from Wakefield syndrome: that is to say, one was a Jessica and the other an Elizabeth. I guess it's pretty much inevitable. I mean, how could there be any twins out there with something in common? No, polar opposites are really the only available permutation.



While Mary Kate and Ashley have moved on to pursue separate and more grown-up ventures, their empire remains intact. Dualstar even represented those twins from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody for awhile, proving that the company has some strangely sustainable twin business out there. The Olsens may not be the squeaky-clean tween idols of days past, but many of their fans remain fiercely loyal. These girls were workhorses from ages 0-18, so it's pretty fair to let them off the hook now with full-time gigs as essentially mannequins for enormous sunglasses and tattered scarves. They've earned it.

32 comments:

Shop Girl* said...

Umm... so I kinda want to punch rotten tomatoes in the face. It Takes Two is a masterpiece.

"It's that can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, world series kinda stuff."

Mr. Condescending said...

CotN, put a title up for the post! :)

Stephanie said...

I remember these movies! My sister is 4 years younger than me, and she was the perfect age to be way into them.

Maggi said...

These girls were major powerhouses back in the day, amazing!

Children of the 90s said...

Thanks, Mr. Condescending. You're always looking out!

Anonymous said...

I loved the Mary Kate and Ashley movies growing up! I don't mind them at all now, and it's mainly because they're NOT socialites. Those girls worked their butts off growing up and earned everything they have today. Plus I love how they're two of only a hand-full of child stars who grew up pretty normal and are still doing their thing.

Heather Taylor said...

My friends and I used to watch It Takes Two obsessively, we loved it! I seem to recall the Olsen twins having another TV show, I think it was an animated cartoon? It used to come on ABC on Saturday mornings and naturally I watched that too.

Freck said...

Loved MK & A back in the day. I kind of still love them now, but back then I totally wanted to be them. They're kind of set for life.

ChinkyGirLMeL said...

you got it dude. hehehehe. from cute little kids to coming out with their own labels. The twins have really come so far. =)

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

Loved Brother for Sale and It Takes Two!

teddi said...

Allow me to say three things:

1) I owned Our First Video. Wrote them fan mail. Never heard back.

2) Even when I watch "It Takes Two" now, (because I do, and often) I still think they were remarkably good actresses for their age.

3) You left out my favorite (and I think the best) straight-to-video, Holiday in the Sun. Otherwise, great post.

Sadako said...

I saw too many of those movies...I definitely saw It Takes Two. (Oh, Kirstie Allie, why didn't you recognize those beats as Xenu type creatures and mutilate them?)

I LOVED Full House and hell I still do. I especially like that off screen Bob Saget was super blue. But then I saw the his roast and people were mocking the Olsens because it's a roast, and Bob Saget was all uncomfortable about it. If in this day and age we can't mock them, whom CAN we mock?

Simply Colette said...

I admit I love a lot of their teen movies and Two of a Kind. Their hair rocked on that show. :)

JennyLee said...

Ah yes the young and innocent days...

Kellie said...

A guy I dated in high school went on to score a part in one of their beach movies. He was one of their love interests. We watched it and laughed our asses off. We are way older than them so he was kissing a minor I think. Ew. :)

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

No joke. My sis and I still watch To Grandmother's House We Go. My Mom still has an ancient VCR and we pop that bad boy in. Stellar movie. Ah ha

nikki said...

I'm just a little on the old side to have been an MK&A fan. But in college I did get...ahem...herbally enhanced...quite a few times whilst watching Full House and the rest of the TGIF lineup.

FWIW-Full House is no doubt a much better show when you're high.

Unknown said...

ha this is so funny seeing them when they were so small!

Missy
For all things fashion:
http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com

Melanie's Randomness said...

I'll admit, I add a lil bit to this ridicolous empire of these twins. I love the movie "It Takes Two". If it's on, I'll watch it. lol. Looking back it's seriously like Woa these girls were SO popular and now all u hear about them is who is in & out of rehab or which one is forced to eat. But I gotta give them credit for not being trashy adults.

Melissa Blake said...

"socialite bag ladies" -- you always make me laugh! I love it!

Anonymous said...

I love It Takes Two and To Grandmothers House We Go. When I was in elementary school I had the talking Michelle doll.

Elizabeth Marie said...

I was obsessed with them then and even more now...it's worse now. WAY. WORSE.

Le sigh.

Anonymous said...

I miss the days when they were normal and not weird.

MS said...

I can't believe I used to watch them on Full house when they were just little kids!

Andhari said...

I like them the most in full house. Can't stand it, so cute.

And when they grow older all they do is starring in movies about traveling and meeting foreign boys. It's just getting old to me.

Urdu News said...

Girls Chat Rooms
Indian Chat Room
Lahore Chat Room
Karachi Chat Room
Video Chat Room
Yahoo Chat Room
Bangladesh Chat Room
Gupshupcorner
Hi Hello Bye
School Chat Room
College Chat Room
Mature Chat Room
Public Chat Room
Games Chat Room
Private Chat Room
Teenager Chat Room
Female Chat Room
Twitter Chat Room
Facebook Chat Room
Skype Chat Room
Hindi Chat Room
Dehli Chat Rooms
Bollywood Chat Rooms
Tamil Chat Room
Usa Chat Room

Anonymous said...

obat kutil kelamin
obat kutil kelamin manjur
obat kutil kelamin salep dan kapsul
obat kutil dan herpes dari alam
obat kutil kelamin yang sudah terbukti manjur
obat kutil kelamin yang aman tanpa efek samping
obat kutil kelamin tanpa operasi
obat herbal untuk kutil kelamin
obat manjur untuk kutil kelamin
obat bintik bintik di area telur penis
tanda tanda wanita berpenyakit kelamin
apakah obat callusol manjur untuk mengobati kutil kelamin?
obat herbal untuk kutil kelamin
callusol apa bisa untuk kutil kelamin?
obt kutil kelamin wilayah lampung
kutil kelamin di liang vagina
Yang jual obat kutil kelamin di daerah bngkinang ada tidak?
jual obat untuk kutil kelamin di kota semarang
jual obat kutil penis daerah sorong
jual obat kutil kelamin di solo
gatal berlebihan dimuara Vagina

robbyjaksan said...

The Bangalore Escorts Services also spots connected as your girlfriend and far half inside the make any difference of sex, but, the only variance they received’t wait to meet ambitions
||Bangalore Escorts
||escorts in bangalore
||escort in bangalore
||bangalore escort
||independent bangalore escorts
||independent escorts in bangalore
||escort service in bangalore
||bangalore escorts service
||bangalore female escorts
||bangalore russian escorts
||escort agency in bangalore
||female escort in bangalore
||call girls in bangalore
||bangalore escort girls
||bangalore escorts agency
||Bangalore Escorts
||escorts in bangalore
||escort in bangalore
||bangalore escort
||independent bangalore escorts
||independent escorts in bangalore
||escort service in bangalore
||bangalore escorts service
||bangalore female escorts
||bangalore russian escorts
||escort agency in bangalore
||female escort in bangalore
||call girls in bangalore
||bangalore escort girls
||bangalore escorts agency
||Bangalore Escorts
||escorts in bangalore
||escort in bangalore
||bangalore escort
||independent bangalore escorts
||independent escorts in bangalore
||escort service in bangalore
||bangalore escorts service
||bangalore female escorts
||bangalore russian escorts
||escort agency in bangalore
||female escort in bangalore
||call girls in bangalore
||bangalore escort girls
||bangalore escorts agency

Nikitha Bangalore Escorts said...

Bangalore Escort Services
Call Girls in Bangalore
Enjoy your fantasies with beautiful bangalore escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts Service
Dirty calling talk with Nikitha Bangalore Escorts Girls
Make Your Weekend Delightful With The Sexy Bangalore Escorts
Elite Model Bangalore Escorts
Hire pretty Renowned Escorts
Sexual Relationship with Bangalore Escorts
Escorts Service in Bangalore

Deepika Rai said...

Get the best Bangalore Escorts & sexy call girls at Deepika Rai, the best escorts service provider in Bangalore, contact us to get erotic massage service, sex service. Get your dream girl today.

Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts
Escorts Service in Bangalore
Bangalore escorts services
Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts
Bangalore Escorts Services
Escorts Services in Bangalore
Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts

Nikitha Bangalore Escorts said...

High Class Girls Bangalore Escorts
Best escorts agency Bangalore
Young and Sexy Call Girls in bangalore
Curvy Escorts
Bangalore Escorts
Independent Call Girls
Escort Girl in Bangalore
Independent Model Escorts
Best Escorts Agency
VIP Bangalore Escorts

Nikitha Bangalore Escorts said...

Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts

Bangalore Escorts
Bangalore Escorts
Bangalore Escorts
Bangalore Escorts
Independent Bangalore Escorts

Digg This!