Black People Love Paramore — "Twitches" (October 30, 2025)

Overview

In this lively and witty episode, hosts Sequoia Holmes and Ryan Grant celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Twitches,” the beloved Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) starring Tia and Tamera Mowry as magical twin sisters. The hosts reminisce about the film’s influence, dissect twin tropes in pop culture, debate whether "Twitches" is truly a Halloween movie, and compare it to other iconic DCOMs and fictional witches. Their conversation covers representation, ‘90s/2000s nostalgia, and, as always, lots of irreverent humor and hot takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Gemini-Twin-Witch Connection (01:12 – 01:53)

• The hosts, both Geminis, find it “appropriate for Geminis” to discuss “Twitches,” a story about twin witches. Sequoia self-identifies as a witch, poking fun at the gendered term “warlock.”
• [01:46] Sequoia: “And as Geminis, that feels like it makes sense to me.”

Is "Twitches" a Halloween Movie? (04:16 – 05:04)

• Ryan admits he forgot the film is set on Halloween; initially thinking it was just a “fall movie about witches.”
• Sequoia posits, “If there’s magic and it’s fall, it’s Halloween.” Ryan is skeptical, using “Harry Potter” as a counterexample.
  • [04:37] Sequoia: “If there’s magic and it’s fall, it’s Halloween.”
  • [05:01] Ryan: “What? You can’t just say no.”
• They clarify “Twitches” is definitely a Halloween movie.

The Great Twin Debate (05:12 – 10:31)

• Extended riff on which pop culture twins “look like twins”—Tia and Tamera, Olsen twins, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, etc.
• Sequoia claims Tia and Tamera “look like siblings… not twins,” prompting friendly incredulity.
  • [05:57] Sequoia: “They look like siblings who look a lot alike.”
  • [06:08] Ryan: “Tea and Tamera look like twins. The only difference is one has a mole and the other one does not.”
• They riff on people constantly being told they look like others, often with questionable resemblance.

Recapping the Plot & Sister Sister Parallels (08:23 – 09:43)

• Sequoia and Ryan break down the “Twitches” plot: twins separated at birth, one rich (Cameron), one poor (Alex), reuniting at 21 in classic mistaken-identity fashion much like “Sister, Sister.”
• Sequoia notes both properties involve meeting at a mall.
  • [09:12] Sequoia: “This movie was based on a book, that’s how it went in the book.”

Mythological Easter Eggs & Character Trivia (11:41 – 12:02)

• Fun facts: The twins’ birth names are Apollo and Artemis—nods to Greek myth (sun and moon).
  • [11:55] Ryan: “That’s how you know which one’s which. The one who wears the moon is Artemis… Apollo is the god of the sun.”

Zodiac Signs and Character Accuracy (12:21 – 13:02)

• They confirm the twins' birthday is on Halloween, making them Scorpios (water signs).
• Sequoia: “Tamara’s character couldn’t be mysterious, dark, moody if her life depended on it.”
• Ryan: “She’s literally bubblegum pink. She’s like Glinda.”

Casting Oddities and Race-Blind Choices (13:13 – 14:08)

• Both note the twins’ mother “looks too close [in age] to their kids” and “too biracial” for the supposed parentage, likening it to “race-blind casting” in ’90s “Cinderella.”
• [13:25] Sequoia: “She looks too biracial to have a white dad… and for those kids to look as Black as they did.”

Production and Canadian Connection (15:04 – 15:13)

• Sequoia points out “Twitches” was filmed in Toronto; Ryan recognizes Cameron’s house as Regina George’s from “Mean Girls.”
  • [14:52] Ryan: “Regina George’s house. It is the same house. When I was watching it, I was like, that is that house.”

The Scary (or Not) Darkness & DCOM Ratings (15:38 – 17:32)

• Sequoia: “The darkness scared the hell out of me as a child. I was genuinely like, this is a horror film.”
• Ryan says the special effects “looked bad but not scary.”
• The movie’s Disney Channel debut drew over 7 million viewers—“the best DCOM ratings at that time.”
  • [17:21] Sequoia: “The movie drew in 21.5 million viewers and four airings on its first weekend and was the week’s most popular cable program, period.”

Disney Channel vs. Nickelodeon (18:00 – 19:07)

• The hosts discuss why Disney Channel dominated with seasonal movies and why Nickelodeon never matched DCOM’s formula.
  • [18:08] Sequoia: “…because you’re putting all your money in Dan Sniper. And that was the real problem.”

DCOMs and Pop Culture Impact (19:32 – 20:22)

• Sequoia and Ryan agree Disney’s output “had a chokehold on children,” especially around Halloween and Christmas.
• They debate the relative impact of DCOMs and Nickelodeon’s approach to theatrical movies.

Is "Twitches" Better Than "Halloweentown"? (22:17 – 24:29)

• Both discuss arguments that “Twitches” is Gen Z’s Halloween movie and “Halloweentown” Millennials’, ultimately rejecting the generational split (“Twitches belongs to at large. Period.”).
  • [22:45] Sequoia: “Twitches belongs to at large, period. And Halloweentown belongs to me.”

Comparing Plot Holes & Funny Observations (24:29 – 26:12)

• The hosts notice continuity goofs, like scenes where Tia fills in for Tamara due to illness and vice versa.
• Laundry humor: “I know them clothes stank.”
  • [25:54] Sequoia: “Hitting the armpits with some Febreze.”

“Positive” Blended Families and Adoptive Representation (30:42 – 33:09)

• The show notes “Twitches” represents a positive depiction of adoptive families, referencing “Life With Derek” and its notorious step-sibling sexual tension.
• Both agree “Twitches” parallels “Sister, Sister” as Black adoptive family representation.

Pick Your Witch! — Bracket Segment (40:47 – 44:44)

• Sequoia and Ryan play a hilarious “one’s gotta go/only keep one” game with Disney witches: Twitches, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Wizards of Waverly Place, Maleficent, Snow White’s Evil Queen, Ursula, and Agatha Harkness.
  • [42:54] Ryan: “I think Hocus Pocus…those are the ones I want to hang out with.”
  • [44:13] Sequoia: “I’m gonna go with Halloweentown… It’s a coming-of-age story and I do like coming-of-age.”

Pick Your Fave Twins! — Bracket Segment (44:54 – 47:52)

• Sets include: Mowrys, Olsens, Parent Trap, Sprouses, Fred/George (Harry Potter). Ryan picks the Olsens (“the best set of twins… the Olsen twins have way more movies”), Sequoia “chooses the Blacks.”
• Nostalgic sidebar: Britney vs. NSync/Backstreet Boys divide as a “millennial/zillennial” test.

Build-Your-Own Witch Coven (48:14 – 50:09)

• Each drafts dream “witch covens” from pop culture and real life:
  • Sequoia: Angela Bassett (American Horror Story), Bonnie Bennett (Vampire Diaries), Elphaba (Wicked)
  • Ryan: Erykah Badu, Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Jessica Lange & Emma Roberts (“American Horror Story”)
• [48:32] Ryan: “I feel like [Erykah Badu would] have some real, good stuff. Deep-rooted magic.”

"Twitches" & Twin Fantasies (51:02 – 51:35)

• Both hosts relate to wanting a twin as Gemini kids and invite listeners to comment with Gemini emojis if they relate.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:37] Sequoia: “If there’s magic and it’s fall, it’s Halloween.”
• [13:25] Sequoia: “She looks too biracial to have a white dad… and for those kids to look as Black as they did.”
• [14:52] Ryan: “Regina George’s house. It is the same house. I fully recognize this house.”
• [15:38] Sequoia: “The darkness scared the hell out of me as a child. I was genuinely like, this is a horror film.”
• [17:21] Sequoia: “The movie drew in 21.5 million viewers… week’s most popular cable program, period.”
• [25:54] Sequoia: “I know them clothes stank. I know they was dry cleaning the hell out of them.”
• [32:18] Sequoia: “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.”
• [42:54] Ryan: “I think Hocus Pocus… those are the ones I want to hang out with.”
• [44:13] Sequoia: “I’m going to go with Halloweentown… It’s a coming-of-age story.”
• [48:32] Ryan: “I want Erykah Badu. She’d have some real good stuff. Deep-rooted magic.”
• [51:02] Sequoia: “I would have given anything to be a twin and a witch. That’s the Gemini in us."
• [52:54] Ryan (making up spells): “Success is coming, and you shall have no fear.”

Key Timestamps

• 01:12 — The “Gemini” and twin-witch intro
• 04:16–05:04 — Is Twitches a Halloween movie?
• 08:23–09:43 — Recap of Twitches plot and Sister Sister parallels
• 11:41 — Twin names as Apollo & Artemis (mythology trivia)
• 13:13 — Casting oddities and “race-blind” Disney casting
• 14:52 — Recognizing the “Mean Girls” house
• 15:38–17:32 — The “darkness” and Twitches’ ratings smash
• 18:00–19:07 — Disney vs. Nickelodeon DCOM discussion
• 22:17 — Comparing Twitches & Halloweentown
• 24:29–26:12 — Continuity goofs and “those clothes stank”
• 30:42–33:09 — Positive Black adoptive/blended family rep
• 40:47–44:44 — Best Disney witch bracket
• 44:54–47:52 — Pick your favorite twins bracket
• 48:14–50:09 — Dream witch coven draft
• 51:02 — The twin fantasy & Gemini anecdotes
• 52:54 — Podcast-signoff “spell”: “Success is coming, and you shall have no fear.”

Tone & Language

Throughout, the conversation is fast-paced, playful, self-deprecating, and references Black pop culture in-jokes and generational divides. Both hosts combine deep affection for nostalgic content with clear-eyed critiques, all filtered through their signature comic banter.

Conclusion

Sequoia and Ryan deliver a “fun watch” of a podcast episode, reliving “Twitches” and all its millennial/Zillennial trappings—from DCOM trivia to witch culture, twin representation, and that perennial childhood wish to discover you, too, might be a magical twin. Packed with sharp observations and warm nostalgia, the episode is a celebration not only of “Twitches” but of underrepresented slices of Black pop culture joy.

For more chat, follow @BPLPPod everywhere, and if you’re a Gemini (or want to be a twin), drop a ♊ emoji!