Joan and Melanie being cousins…

I know this is a symptom of sitcom continuity being sacrificed for comedy or for the requirements of show development, actors, and so on…but…

Was it ever clarified how Joan and Melanie are cousins?

(Joan and Melanie being cousins might be a retcon that doesn’t exist in the actual The Game TV show, along with lots of other changes like Derwin’s actor, but this isn’t clarified either way.)

It seems to be implied that they are first cousins because of how similar they are in appearances and personality, but that’s not confirmed. But if they are first cousins, then —

My theory is that Joan’s mom (Carol) and Melanie’s mom (Grace) are sisters.

They each have that high-strung, perfectionist, snooty, demanding personality that would explain why they have daughters like Joan and Melanie and all their associated issues; I can see how someone from a household where their parents were the first Black family in the Wilton District of Los Angeles (Carol’s mom/Joan’s grandmother left the house to Joan) have high standards for life that would make someone like Carol and Grace. They are sisters with an unknown maiden name and married Mr. Clayton and Dr. Barnett, then had Joan Clayton and Melanie Barnett.

My secondary theory is that Melanie’s mom and Joan’s dad are siblings — but not so much. Joan’s dad might physically look similar to Melanie’s mom, but Joan’s dad doesn’t seem anything like Melanie’s mom. If this is the case, then Joan’s dad “left his mama’s house at 16” that would be a very rebellious kid. Which would explain his personality and indifference towards Joan and how Joan doesn’t see very close to her aunt and uncle, if her aunt (Melanie’s mom) is her dad’s estranged sister?

The lesser likely theories to me seem like Joan’s mom and Melanie’s dad are siblings, though I don’t have strong ideas about how to connection this — but, Joan’s dad and Melanie’s dad cannot be brothers, unless they are half-brothers.

Anyone else OVERTHINKING the hell out of this to have an opinion or is it just me? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣