"How could you make out with Freddie?"
— Sam to Melanie.
iTwins is the 23rd episode of the second season of iCarly and the 48th episode overall. The episode originally aired on July 11, 2009. Jennette McCurdy portrays a dual role in the episode as both her regular character Sam and as Sam's previously unknown twin sister, Melanie.
After Freddie is teased for being very gullible (he receives an email from Carly and Sam and dresses up as a clown, believing that it's Clown Day at school), he believes the girls are trying to prank him when Sam says her twin sister named Melanie is coming to Seattle since she goes to a fancy boarding school on a scholarship. He is unconvinced that Sam really has a twin sister, and tries to prove it, he asks Melanie out on a date, thinking that Sam would never go on a date with him.
The plan to try to prove that Melanie is really Sam takes an unexpected turn when Melanie accepts his invitation, doesn't act like Sam and then kisses Freddie at the dance club, causing him to believe that Sam kissed him on purpose. He immediately becomes extremely paranoid. In the end, since Freddie refuses to believe it, Sam "admits" to Freddie that there is no Melanie. Satisfied, Freddie departs shortly before Melanie arrives to go to the mall with Carly and Sam, proving her existence once and for all to the audience (although not to Freddie).
Subplot
Carly gets a job tutoring Chuck in math, to which Spencer objects, as Chuck keeps tormenting him. After Spencer shows Carly how awful Chuck really is (with the help of a hidden video camera that Spencer set up that Socko lent him), Carly thinks of a way to get back at Chuck. She makes up the number ߈̴ and teaches it to him, so he can use it on his next math test. When he fails his test, Mr. Chambers says Carly no longer needs to tutor him, and decides to send Chuck to Camp Add-'Em-Up for the whole summer (at Spencer's suggestion).
This is the first iCarly episode to be rated TV-G (previously rated TV-Y7).
This is the second time that a Disney animator named Eric Goldberg writes this episode of iCarly where Jennette McCurdy has dual roles for the first time in her life as an actress before her retirement from acting occurred.
Jennette McCurdy has stated in interviews that her natural speaking voice is "somewhere between Sam and Melanie." She affects a deeper tone when she is playing Sam (to emphasize Sam's tomboyish demeanor) and spoke in a higher pitch as Melanie (to project Melanie's more feminine personality).
Jennette McCurdy once told Tiger Beat that "iTwins" was her favorite episode to film. She said "It was so much fun" to play both her own character, Sam, and Sam's twin sister, Melanie.
This is the only appearance of Sam's twin sister Melanie, not counting her appearance in Sam & Cat. Despite this, both Dan Schneider and Jennette McCurdy showed positive reactions to the Twitter trend "iTwins Sequel".
Dan's and Jennette's reactions to the trend "iTwins Sequel"
The dance club that Melanie and Freddie went to was named Quisp (Under 21) DANce Club. The capital letters in "dance" is a reference to iCarly's creator, Dan Schneider.
The actress who appeared as Gibby's cousin Sabrina in the season three episode "iBeat the Heat", first appears here in a non-speaking role as a dancing girl who is responsible for Freddie spilling his drinks.
When Freddie told Chuck, "Don't waste your time, kid. I've been barking up that tree since the 6th grade," (In response to Chuck's suggestion that when he's older, he could date Carly), Carly originally replied, "Neutering is always an option." On his blog, Dan Schneider stated that this line got a lot of laughs on the set, but he chose to cut it during editing because he felt it slightly crossed the line in terms of what was appropriate for iCarly's younger viewers.
Coincidentally, both the main plot and subplot deal with someone oblivious to what is really going on (Freddie doesn't think Sam has a sister, Carly doesn't think Chuck is evil).
Miranda was not expecting this.
After Spencer says, "Good, 'cause you owe me 24 bucks for the pork roast," he starts to "shampoo" (as Dan Schneider described it) Carly's head with his hands, making her laugh. This was not scripted. Before the last take, Dan Schneider instructed Jerry Trainor to do that, without telling Miranda Cosgrove. When she was giggling and saying, "Stop ... stop it," Miranda was not acting. The laughter was her actual, natural reaction, and she was genuinely telling Jerry to stop.
At the end, the last "Me either," Melanie's voice is panned hard left and Sam's is panned hard right in the stereo field (i.e. Melanie's voice comes out of the left speaker and Sam's comes out of the right).
Spencer was the only character in the episode to capture proof of what he's trying to get evidence of, as he used Socko's laptop to get footage of Chuck beating him up, which gives Carly proof that Chuck is evil.
This is the second time Nathan and Jennette have had an on-screen kiss in iCarly. The first as Sam and Freddie in iKiss, the second as Melanie and Freddie in this episode. They've also had to kiss twice for iOMG as Sam and Freddie, where Dan revealed they shot the kiss two different ways. Then they kissed twice in iDate Sam & Freddie, twice for iCan't Take It and three times for iLove You - not counting practice kisses or do-overs. Also, it is the first and only kiss for Freddie and Melanie.
The song that Melanie and Freddie dance to is Tightrope by AnnMarie Montade.
A split-screen was used to film scenes when Sam and Melanie were seen at the same time (which doesn't happen until the very end of the episode). A stunt double (namely the actress who played the Sam lookalike in iLook Alike, as revealed in the ending credits) was also used (sometimes as Sam and sometimes as Melanie), for Jennette to have someone to react to.
Allusions
To be added
Character Revelations
Freddie can be pretty gullible (although he says he usually isn't).
Sam has an identical twin sister who is her polar opposite.
Sam hates stripes on guys, while Melanie does not; but likes wearing stripes herself according to Dan Schneider.
Freddie has been trying to get Carly to go out with him since 6th grade.
Carly and Sam hate the letter Q.
Chuck is gullible, as he believed Carly that a new number was created between 5 and 6.
Spencer used to have trouble with math and was sent to math camp by his dad.
Goofs
Freddie is supposedly gullible in this episode, but he wasn't fooled by Consuela's Revenge in iStage An Intervention. But in that episode, he admits that he didn't know the first part of Consuela's Revenge but later saw Sam loosening bolts on his bike.
When Chuck sprays Spencer with the brown liquid, he immediately regretted tasting it, although it got in his mouth, so he would have tasted it.
When Chuck sprays Spencer with the brown liquid, it splashes all over the walls in the kitchen, the door to the fridge is off its hinges and the cupboard door is lying on the counter. Spencer calls out for Carly to show her the mess, but the scene changes and we do not see her reaction, which is odd given that he was trying to prove to her that Chuck was evil. By the next scene in the kitchen, the mess is gone, the fridge and cupboard doors are back in place, and it is never discussed.
Freddie's date with Melanie was on Saturday (as said by Freddie when he asks her out). Since he later refers to the date as "last night", the final scene should take place on Sunday; however, Mr. Chambers comes by on the same day to tell Carly that Chuck failed his math test, which he is supposed to take on Monday.
When Melanie kisses Freddie, Freddie (believing she is Sam) says, “You swore we’d never do that again,” referring to the time when Freddie and Sam kissed in iKiss. However, Sam never swore that the two would never kiss again. She merely asserted that they would “go back to hating each other” after the kiss. Although Freddie may have interpreted this as she would never kiss him, since kissing almost always indicates affection.
Carly tells Chuck that there was a new number, but technically "derfteen" and "derfty-seven" would count as different numbers. Though she probably just meant the single digit.
Carly hits the up button on the elevator call station, but she and Melanie are going down.
Because Spencer was trying to get rid of Chuck and trying to prove to Carly that he was evil, he could have called the cops on him or even filed a restraining order against him for the incessant attacks Chuck performed in the apartment. He later does this in IBattle Chip.
Running Gags
Chuck tormenting Spencer.
Freddie still thinking Melanie is Sam.
Carly and Sam pleading with Freddie that Melanie is real.
At the end of the episode, Freddie still doesn't believe Melanie is real, because Carly and Sam never proved it, Sam admitted Melanie isn't real to him, and he never saw Sam and Melanie together. However, in iThink They Kissed, Freddie states he may have kissed Sam twice, but the second time might have been her twin sister, adding that he was "still fuzzy on the whole Melanie thing." This indicates that he has accepted that Melanie might be real, although he still isn't sure.
After iThink They Kissed, Melanie is mentioned in one more episode. In Season 4's iSam's Mom, Sam's mother, Pam Puckett, asks Sam why she can't be more like Melanie. Sam tells her mother to stop comparing her to her sister.
Melanie is the first person to know about Sam and Freddie's kiss (seen in "iKiss") other than themselves. Carly did not find out until iThink They Kissed.
Sam called Freddie Fredichini, which is revealed to be his middle name in the revival episode iBuckled, but it's unknown if Sam knew that is his middle name and just called him that by coincidence.
Quotes
[during the iCarly webcast] Sam: I call this video "Gullible Freddie." Check this out. [In the video, Freddie walks into Ridgeway dressed up as a clown. Everyone laughs] Freddie: Hey, why aren't you guys dressed like clowns?! [Carly and Sam burst out laughing] Sam: What do you mean? Freddie: I got an email from the school saying that today was clown day. Didn't you guys get-- you guys sent me that email. Carly:[points to Sam] She made me! Freddie: Wait, is this on camera? GIBBY! COME HERE! [screen goes to static]
Freddie:[to Sam] I've been to your house. How come I've never seen a picture of this “sister”? Sam: You have, you just didn't know it was Melanie 'cause we look identical. Carly: They're twins. Freddie: Oh, twins! TWIIIINS!!! Riiiiight, you know I have an uncle who's an avocado. Yeah, we call him "Uncle Green Mush". Carly: We're telling you the truth. Freddie: I'm not falling for it. Sam: Who cares what he thinks? Let's go. Freddie: People care what I think! Mr. Howard: No, they don't. Freddie: Yes sir.
Freddie: Hey, can I borrow a scissors? Carly: Don't you have a scissors? Freddie: No, my mom says "they're too dangerous to keep around the house" ... Spencer: We've got a scissors in the kitchen drawer. Can you handle 'em? Freddie: I think I can. Spencer: Come with me ... [Freddie and Spencer walk to the kitchen; doorbell rings] Carly: Yeah? Melanie:[On intercom] Carly, it's Melanie. Carly: Oh, hey Melanie! Come on up! Spencer: That's Sam's sister?
[after Melanie enters from the elevator] Freddie: OK, this is the stupidest thing ever! Melanie: Oh my gosh, you're Freddie! I recognize you from iCarly. Freddie: Oh shut up! Melanie: Huh? I'm confused ... Freddie: Really ... Sam?
T-Bo: Would the gentleman care for a pickle? Freddie: No, I don't want a pickle. T-Bo: Why? You afraid of pickles? Scared to take a walk on the pickle side of town? Freddie: No, I just think that pickles and smoothies don't really go together. T-Bo:[sarcastically] Oh. Well, pardon me for thinking that all foods and beverages can get along.
Melanie: Hey Freddie. Where's Sam? Carly: Oh, she had to go back to detention. Freddie:[sarcastically] Yes, and isn't it interesting how ”Sam” had to leave right before ”you” showed up here ... Melanie: Is he still on this?
Freddie: Sam would rather chew broken glass then go on a date with me for a whole Saturday night. No way she's going through with this! Carly: You asked Melanie. Freddie: OOOKAYY. You can pretend I'm going on a date with Melanie, but I know I've got a date with Sam. [chokes on his smoothie and coughs it out] Carly: What?! Freddie: I'VE GOT A DATE WITH SAM!!!! T-Bo: You wanna buy a pickle?? Freddie:NO!!!!
Chuck: Hey, when I get older, maybe I could go on a date with you ... Carly: Oh, Chuck ... Freddie: Don't waste your time, kid; I've been barking up that tree since sixth grade.
Freddie: So, "Melanie" ... you look pretty hot tonight. Melanie: Thanks! I love your shirt! Freddie: No, you don't. Carly said you hate stripes! Melanie:Sam hates stripes. Freddie: How long are you gonna keep this up?! [pushes Melanie on her shoulder] Just admit you're Sam and we can leave! Melanie: I would, ow ... [rubs her shoulder] ... but I'm not Sam! Freddie: OK. If you're not Sam, then I guess you wouldn't mind if I held your hand. Melanie: I don't mind at all. I think you're really cute. Freddie: How can you say that without vomiting!? Melanie: What? [A slow song comes on] Freddie: All right. If you're not Sam ... I suppose you wouldn't mind dancing ... With me. Melanie: I'd love to. Freddie: This is a slow dance, you know. Melanie: I know. Freddie: We have to dance together, pressed against each other. Melanie: Yeah, let's go.
[Freddie and Melanie are slow-dancing] Freddie: I can't believe you're doing this. Melanie: Why? I like you! Freddie: You hate me; you always have! Melanie: Maybe Sam hates you. Freddie: You ARE Sam! Melanie: Really? Would Sam do this? [kisses Freddie on the lips] Freddie:[shocked] You swore we'd never do that again! Melanie:I didn't swear anything. [tries to kiss him again; Freddie becomes extremely paranoid and runs away. Melanie chases him]
Carly: Hi Mr. Chambers, [plainly] Chuck. Mr. Chambers: Carly I just wanted to let you know that we're not going to continue with the tutoring. Chuck failed his math test. Carly:[acting sad] Oh, no. Mr. Chambers: It´s not your fault. He made up some fake number called “derf”. Carly:[Acting confused] “Derf”? Chuck:[Angrily] I learned it from you! [Carly feigns a look of obliviousness at Mr. Chambers.] Mr. Chambers: Okay, that does it, Chuck. If you're gonna blame Carly for your failure, I'm gonna ground you for 3 weeks. Chuck: Dad!! Spencer: Mr. Chambers, you know, I also had trouble with math when I was a boy. So my dad sent me to math camp for the whole summer. Mr. Chambers:[sounding interested] Math camp? Chuck: Math camp?! Spencer: Yeah, here's a brochure. [looks down at Chuck] Mr. Chambers: Ohhh, Camp Add-Em-Up. This looks perfect. Spencer: Enjoy your summer, Chuck. Carly: Yeah, Chuck. [Chuck walks away with his father shaking his head.]
Sam: You won. We tried to trick you but we couldn't pull it off. Freddie: Ha, then admit there's no Melanie, and that I am not gullible, and that I'm too smart for you. Sam: There's no Melanie, you're not gullible, and you're too smart for me. Freddie: That's right! In your face, Puckett! Bye, ladies.
Sam: How could you make out with Freddie? Melanie: He's adorable! Carly: I can't believe you two are sisters. Sam & Melanie:[shaking their heads] Me neither. [Then the elevator goes down to an end.]
