India, Aug. 11 -- Wendie Malick and Lea Thompson spent most of The Chicken Sisters' first season circling each other like rival hens. Now, the two Hallmark veterans are playing something even stranger than enemies - roommates. "We really are The Odd Couple. We were at odds for 40 years, and now, suddenly, we're roommates. We have something to teach each other," Malick, 74, told People, name-checking the 1968 film (and Neil Simon's play before it).

Her character, Gus, hit a rough patch at the end of season 1 - living with M.S., wrestling with a hoarding problem, and accidentally burning down her own house. "Sometimes you have to hit bottom before you realize you need help," Malick said.

Season 1 barely gave the women a handful of scenes ...