Identical Social Security Cheater Cousins?

​From the Wow, That's Really Random File comes word that the cast of the 1963-66 ABC sitcom The Patty Duke Show is reuniting today so Commissioner of Social Security Michael J. Astrue can discuss his federal agency's campaign "to let America's nearly 80 million baby boomers know about Social Security's new online services."

Scheduled to join Astrue at 10 a.m. at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills s are: Patty Duke, who played cousins--identical cousins in every way--Cathy and Patty Lane; William Schallert, who played Patty's father Martin Lane (and, in some episodes, Cathy's dad Kenneth); Paul O'Keefe, who played Patty's brother Ross Lane; and Eddie Applegate, who played Patty's high school sweetheart Richard Harrison.

Jean Byron, the actress who played Patty's mother, Natalie Lane, passed away in 2006.

Duke, an Oscar-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress (and mother of Sean Astin, Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy), resurrected her Cathy/Patty characters for a Social Security Administration public service announcement last year.  

The sitcom's reunited cast has shot new PSAs that show how Social Security's online services "make it easier than ever for millions of Americans to do business with Social Security." The spots are to be unveiled at the Paley Center.

Actually, when you think of it, Patty and Cathy Lane did require federal attention.

See, Cathy and her British accent lived most everywhere, from Zanzibar to Barclay Square. She adored a minuet, the Ballet Russes and crepe suzette.
 
Patty, on the other hand, was a typical American girl who'd only seen the sight from Brooklyn Heights. She loved rock 'n' roll and a hot dog made her lose control.

Are they not a crazy pair? Different as night and day? A wild duet who laughed alike and walked alike and, at times, they even talked alike? You really can lose your mind when cousins are two of a kind.

But did anyone bother to check Cathy's papers? Did she even have a green card? Whose name was on her Social Security card--or, for that matter, Patty's?

Too bad reality shows have taken over, sounds like the makings of a solid sitcom--or at least a Lifetime movie.

Of course, Clockwork realizes this post may as well be scribbled in French (or Zanzibarian). Discussing the blessed Social Security event with a colleague last week elicited this response:

"What's the Patty Duke Show? Who's Patty Duke?"

And where's my walker?