View source for Step by Step (TV series)

{{short description|American television sitcom (1991–1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Step by Step (Miller-Boyett sitcom) logo.svg
| image_size           = 230
| genre                = [[Sitcom|Family sitcom]]
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
* William Bickley
* [[Michael Warren (actor)|Michael Warren]]
}}
| developer            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Thomas L. Miller]]
* [[Robert L. Boyett]]
}}
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Patrick Duffy]]
* [[Suzanne Somers]]
* [[Staci Keanan]]
* [[Brandon Call]]
* [[Angela Watson]]
* [[Christine Lakin]]
* [[Patrika Darbo]]
* [[Christopher Castile]]
* Josh Byrne
* [[Peggy Rea]]
* [[Sasha Mitchell]]
* Emily Mae Young
* [[Jason Marsden]]
* [[Bronson Pinchot]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Jesse Frederick]] and Bennett Salvay
| open_theme           = "Second Time Around",<br />performed by Jesse Frederick and Teresa James
| end_theme            = "Second Time Around" (instrumental)<br />{{small|(season 1, used sporadically afterwards)}}
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* Jesse Frederick<br/>Bennett Salvay {{small|(both; seasons 1–2)}}
* Gary Boren {{small|(seasons 3–5)}}
* Steven Chesne {{small|(seasons 3–7)}}
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 7
| num_episodes         = 160
| list_episodes        = List of Step by Step episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* [[Thomas L. Miller]]
* [[Robert L. Boyett]]
* William Bickley
* Michael Warren
* Alan Eisenstock {{small|(season 1)}}
* Larry Mintz {{small|(season 1)}}
* Ross Brown {{small|(seasons 2–7)}}
* Bob Rosenfarb {{small|(seasons 6–7)}}
}}
| location             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Culver Studios]]<br />{{small|Culver City, California (1991–1993)}}
* [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios]]<br />{{small|Burbank, California (1993–1998)}}
}}
| camera               = [[Film]]; [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = approx. 23 minutes (per episode)
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* Bickley-Warren Productions
* [[Miller-Boyett Productions]]
* [[Lorimar Television]] {{small|(1991–1993)}}
* [[Warner Bros. Television]]<br />{{small|(1993–1998)}}
}}
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1991|9|20}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1997|8|15}}
| network2             = [[CBS]]
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1997|9|19}}
| last_aired2          = {{end date|1998|6|26}}
}}
'''''Step by Step''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] created by William Bickley and Michael Warren for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s [[TGIF (TV programming block)|TGIF]] Friday night lineup. Set in [[Port Washington, Wisconsin]], it follows single parents Frank Lambert and Carol Foster ([[Patrick Duffy]] and [[Suzanne Somers]]), each with three children, who marry and form a blended family in spite of their children's mutual resentment. It aired on ABC from September 20, 1991 to August 15, 1997, and then on [[CBS]] from September 19, 1997 to June 26, 1998, with a total of 160 half-hour episodes spanning seven seasons.

Among its co-stars are [[Staci Keanan]], [[Angela Watson]], and [[Christopher Castile]] as Carol's children Dana, Karen, and Mark, [[Brandon Call]], [[Christine Lakin]], and Josh Byrne as Frank's children J.T., Al, and Brendan, and [[Sasha Mitchell]] as Frank's nephew Cody.

The series was often described as a copy of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' because of its similar premise, and was otherwise ignored by critics after the pilot episode, which met with a consistently negative reception. The series was initially cancelled by ABC in May 1997 due to declining ratings; however, CBS acquired the series along with ''[[Family Matters]]'' for their own [[CBS Block Party|Friday night comedy lineup]], but only lasted for another season before it was officially cancelled in June 1998.

==Premise==
Frank Lambert, a divorced contractor whose wife left him,<ref>{{cite web |date=June 3, 2018 |title=He Wanted Wings |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUekPXtSVXw |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> has three children: John Thomas (J.T.), Alicia (Al), and Brendan. Carol Foster, a widowed salon owner, also has three children: Dana, Karen, and Mark. Both families live in [[Port Washington, Wisconsin]].

Frank and Carol marry while vacationing in [[Jamaica]] after a whirlwind courtship. They planned to keep their marriage a secret, but Frank accidentally reveals to J.T. that they are married during a barbecue he and Carol hold to introduce all the children, leaving them surprised and angry at first.

Each episode depicts typical situations for a new blended family. Family members' differences cause arguments and resentments, but over time they grow to tolerate and become loyal to one another.

==Cast and characters==
[[File:Step_by_step_tv_show_cast.jpg|center|thumb|Cast of ''Step by Step'' (seasons 2–5)]]

===Main cast===

* [[Patrick Duffy]] as Frank Lambert: Carol's 2nd husband and J.T., Alicia & Brendan's divorced father
* [[Suzanne Somers]] as Carol Foster: Frank's 2nd wife and Dana, Karen & Mark's widowed mother
* [[Staci Keanan]] as Dana Foster: Carol's first daughter and Frank's stepdaughter
* [[Brandon Call]] as John Thomas "J.T." Lambert: Frank's first son and Carol's stepson
* [[Angela Watson]] as Karen Foster: Carol's second daughter and Frank's stepdaughter
* [[Christine Lakin]] as Alicia "Al" Lambert: Frank's daughter and Carol's stepdaughter
* [[Patrika Darbo]] as Penny Baker Williams: Carol's sister and Dana, Karen & Mark's maternal aunt (season 1)
* [[Christopher Castile]] as Mark Foster: Carol's son and Frank's stepson
* Josh Byrne as Brendan Lambert: Frank's second son and Carol's stepson (seasons 1–6)
* [[Peggy Rea]] as Ivy Baker Williams: Carol's mother and Dana, Karen & Mark's maternal grandmother (season 1)
* [[Sasha Mitchell]] as Cody Lambert: Frank's nephew and J.T., Alicia & Brendan's paternal cousin (seasons 1–5, guest in season 7)
* Emily Mae Young as Lily Foster-Lambert: Frank & Carol's daughter and Dana, J.T., Karen, Alicia, Brendan & Mark's younger half-sister (seasons 6–7; originally portrayed by Lauren Meyering and Kristina Meyering in seasons 4–5)
* [[Jason Marsden]] as Rich Halke: J.T.'s best friend (seasons 5–7)
* [[Bronson Pinchot]] as Jean-Luc Rieupeyroux: Carol's partner (season 6)

===Recurring===

* Jeff Juday as Jake "Flash" Gordon (season 5, appearing in four episodes)<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Portantiere |date=July 23, 2001 |title=Just Jeff – Theater News – Jul 23, 2001 |url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/07-2001/just-jeff_1538.html |work=theatermania}}</ref>
* Alexandra Adi as Samantha Milano (seasons 6–7)

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Step by Step episodes}}
{{:List of Step by Step episodes}}

==Production==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2017}}
The series was created and executive produced by William Bickley and Michael Warren,<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Rosenbluth |first=Jean |title=Variety TV REV 1991–92 17 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=1994 |isbn=9780824037963 |at=September 20, 1991}}</ref> and developed and executive produced by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett.<ref>{{cite web |title=Step by Step Review - TV Reviews and News - EW.com |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315622,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904224714/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315622,00.html |archive-date=September 4, 2008 |work=EW.com}}</ref> It was produced by Bickley-Warren Productions, [[Miller-Boyett Productions]] and [[Lorimar Television]].<ref name=":0" />

The opening sequence depicts the Foster-Lambert family at a lakeside amusement park in Port Washington. It was filmed at the inland [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] in [[Valencia, California]], with a coastline digitally superimposed onto its parking lot in aerial shots.<ref name="Blake2">{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Lindsey |date=August 14, 2014 |title=Scene It Before: Colossus Roller Coaster from "Step by Step" |url=https://lamag.com/tv/scene-it-before-colossus-roller-coaster-from-step-by-step |work=Los Angeles Magazine}}</ref> Prominently depicted in the sequence is Magic Mountain's since-defunct [[Twisted Colossus|Colossus]] wooden roller coaster.<ref name="Blake2" />

ABC chose to delay the series' sixth season to the 1996–97 mid-season (premiering in March 1997), in order to make room on that season's fall schedule for freshman sitcoms ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'' and ''[[Clueless (TV series)|Clueless]]'', which joined established series ''Family Matters'' and ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' on the TGIF lineup; the network canceled it after six seasons in May 1997, due to declining ratings. CBS concurrently reached a deal with Miller-Boyett Productions to acquire the rights to it and ''Family Matters'' from ABC, as that network attempted to build its own Friday night lineup of family-friendly situation comedies for the fall of 1997, called the "[[CBS Block Party]]".<ref>{{cite news |author=Hal Boedeker |date=July 18, 1997 |title=He's A Goober But CBS Has A Lot Riding On Urkel TV |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/07/18/hes-a-goober-but-cbs-has-a-lot-riding-on-urkel-tv/ |access-date=April 12, 2017 |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |publisher=[[Tronc|Tribune Publishing]]}}</ref>

Ratings continued to decline despite the network change, and the show ended its run in June 1998 without an official series finale. According to Staci Keanan and Christine Lakin, the series was supposed to end with Dana and Rich's wedding at the house, and elaborate preparations were underway for it prior to the series' abrupt end.<ref>Christine Lakin and Alaa Khaled, "Worst Ever Podcast with Christine and Alaa," Episode 6, Staci Keanan (My Two Dads, Step By Step), Part 1, podcast audio, May 18, 2017, https://audioboom.com/posts/5935340-episode-6-with-staci-keanan-my-two-dads-step-by-step-part-1</ref>

==Syndication==
In September 1995, [[Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution]] began distributing the series for broadcast in off-network syndication.

The series previously aired reruns on [[Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family]] (on what was then known as Fox Family),<ref>[http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2010/02/step-by-step-leaving-abc-family-after-9.html Step by Step Leaving ABC Family After 9 Years; ABC Family March 2010], ''Sitcoms Online'', February 10, 2010.</ref> [[Discovery Family|Hub Network]]<ref>{{cite press release |title='Step by Step' to Premiere October 7 on the Hub |date=September 6, 2013 |publisher=Hub Network |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/06/step-by-step-to-premiere-october-7-on-the-hub/ |via=TV By The Numbers |access-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822171741/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/06/step-by-step-to-premiere-october-7-on-the-hub/ |archive-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref> and [[TruTV]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Step by Step - trutv.com |url=https://www.trutv.com/shows/step-by-step |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref>

In Australia, ''Step by Step'' aired on the [[Seven Network]] from 1991 to 1995 and on the [[Nine Network]] from 1996 to 2000. In 2011, ''Step by Step'' was acquired by [[7TWO]]. In 2015, [[111 Greats]] started airing the whole series.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

In the U.K., Seasons 1 and 2 of ''Step by Step'' aired sporadically on ITV weekday mornings at 10 throughout parts of the spring and summer in 1994 and 1995.<ref>[https://tvrdb.com/listings/1994-06-17 Step By Step on ITV], ''tvrdb.com'', archive TV listings.</ref> Episodes were also shown to a lesser extent during 1996 and 1997.

On September 29, 2017, [[Hulu]] acquired the streaming rights to ''Step by Step'' along with fellow Warner Bros. TV properties ''[[Family Matters]]'', ''[[Full House]]'', ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'' and ''[[Perfect Strangers (TV series)|Perfect Strangers]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Hulu Gets SVOD Rights To 'Full House,' 'Family Matters' & Other 'TGIF' Comedies – TCA |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/hulu-full-house-family-matters-step-by-step-perfect-strangers-warner-bros-1202137645/ |access-date=October 3, 2017 |work=Deadline}}</ref> in addition to fellow ABC programs ''[[Boy Meets World]]'', ''[[Dinosaurs (TV series)|Dinosaurs]]'' and ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hatchett |first=Keisha |date=September 29, 2017 |title=This Is Not a Drill: ''Boy Meets World'' Is Now On Hulu |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/hulu-boy-meets-world-tgif/ |access-date=October 28, 2017 |publisher=TVGuide.com}}</ref> The series expired on Hulu on September 30, 2021.

''Step by Step'' moved to [[HBO Max]] on October 1, 2021 until the show was removed from the service on September 30, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 23, 2021 |title="Dune," "The Many Saints Of Newark," The Third Season Of "Succession," And The Final Season Of "Insecure" Arrive On HBO Max This October |url=https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/dune-many-saints-newark-third-season-succession-and-final-season-insecure-arrive-hbo |access-date=September 30, 2021 |publisher=WarnerMedia Pressroom}}</ref>

==Home media==
[[Warner Home Video]] originally released a six-episode ''Television Favorites'' collection on [[DVD]] on June 27, 2006 until September 26, 2023 when the complete series set was finally released for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2006 |title=Step by Step (Television Favorites Compilation) (1991) |url=https://www.amazon.com/Step-Television-Favorites-Compilation/dp/B000EU1QC2 |access-date=2008-10-20 |website=Amazon}}</ref> [[Warner Archive Collection]] has released individual seasons on DVD in Region 1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete First Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-first-season-mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Second Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-second-season-mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Third Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-third-season-mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Fourth Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-fourth-season-mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Fifth Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-fifth-season-mod}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Sixth Season |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-sixth-season-mod}}</ref> These are Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) releases, available from Warner's online store and Amazon.com.
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |DVD Name
! rowspan="2" |Ep #
! colspan="1" |Release dates
|-
!Region 1
|-
|The Complete First Season
|22
|June 12, 2018
|-
|The Complete Second Season
|24
|September 18, 2018
|-
|The Complete Third Season
|23
|November 20, 2018
|-
|The Complete Fourth Season
|24
|February 12, 2019
|-
|The Complete Fifth Season
|24
|November 5, 2019
|-
|The Complete Sixth Season
|24
|February 11, 2020
|-
|The Complete Seventh and Final Season
|19
|April 21, 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Step by Step: The Complete Seventh Season (MOD) – WB Shop |url=https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-seventh-season-mod |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317222953/https://www.wbshop.com/products/step-by-step-the-complete-seventh-season-mod |archive-date=2020-03-17 |website=www.wbshop.com}}</ref>
|-
|The Complete Series
|160
|September 26, 2023
|-
|}

==Critical reception==<!--SECTION CAN AND WILL BE EXPANDED. THIS IS JUST A STARTING POINT. IMPROVE, NOT REMOVE.-->

According to ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' writer [[Ken Tucker]], ''Step by Step'' was generally regarded as a copy of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' and otherwise ignored by critics.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tucker |first=Ken |title=Kissing Bill O'Reilly, roasting Miss Piggy: 100 things to love and hate about TV |date=2005 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-312-33057-6 |edition=1s |location=New York |pages=33}}</ref>

Reviews of the pilot episode were consistently negative, with [[Howard Rosenberg]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' calling it "plain awful"<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Rosenberg |first=Howard |author-link=Howard Rosenberg |date=1991-09-20 |title='Bridge' Connects; 'Step by Step' Stumbles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/161297751/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=532}}</ref> and Matt Roush of ''[[USA Today]]'' describing it as "demonically slick junk food";<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Roush |first=Matt |date=1991-09-20 |title=Sitcom's funny and phony family style servings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today/161297887/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=USA Today |pages=35}}</ref> other critics declared it to be the "worst" new show of the season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=1991-09-20 |title=Step by Step: The nitwit's Brady Bunch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel/161041540/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=South Florida Sun Sentinel |pages=50}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Peath |first=Greg |date=1991-09-20 |title='Brooklyn Bridge', 'Step by Step' are best, worst of season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/162158916/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Cincinnati Post |pages=29}}</ref> It was frequently compared to [[Brooklyn Bridge (TV series)|''Brooklyn Bridge'']], a critically acclaimed [[CBS]] series which premiered the same day, as representing the "worst" and "best" of television, respectively.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bianco |first=Robert |date=1991-09-20 |title=Don't miss 'Brooklyn Bridge', but run from 'Step by Step' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press/163012488/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |pages=37}}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'s'' Jean Rosenbluth was more positive, calling it a "modestly amusing, occasionally heartwarming show" despite its "utter lack of originality",<ref name=":0" /> and argued that while it wasn't comparable to [[Shakespeare]], "neither was ''The Brady Bunch''".<ref name=":0" />

Of the acting performances, Somers and Keanan received praise, even in otherwise negative reviews. Somers was singled out for praise by Rosenbluth<ref name=":0" /> and Roush.<ref name=":1" /> Rosenbluth described the children as a "well-cast lot", in particular singling out Keanan as the "most amusing";<ref name=":0" /> her "wisecracking timing"<ref name=":5" /> was commended by Ray Richmond of [[Knight-Ridder|Knight-Ridder News Service]],<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=1991-09-20 |title=Brooklyn Bridge far and away best new show of the season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-new-era-brooklyn-bridge-far-an/163013084/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=Lancaster New Era |pages=13 |agency=Knight-Ridder}}</ref> who in addition forwarded the actress as the "best thing"<ref name=":5" /> about the series, a sentiment echoed by Ron Weiskind of the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'',<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Weiskind |first=Ron |date=1991-09-20 |title=You can go home again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-you-can-go-home/163012967/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=49}}</ref> who found her to be the only one who "shows any talent"<ref name=":6" /> out of the cast.<ref name=":6" />

''Brady Bunch'' creator [[Sherwood Schwartz]] later said that at one point he considered filing a lawsuit over ''Step by Step'', claiming that they "stole my show"<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Owen |first=Rob |title=Gen X TV: the Brady Bunch to Melrose Place |date=1997 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |isbn=978-0-8156-0443-3 |edition=1st |series=The television series |location=Syracuse, N.Y |pages=23}}</ref> and likening its advertising as a "''Brady Bunch'' for the 1990s"<ref name=":2" /> to "intrusion or certainly riding on coattails."<ref name=":2" />

==References==
<references responsive="1"></references>

==External links==
{{Portal|Television|United States|Comedy|1990s
}}

* {{IMDb title|id=0101205|title=Step by Step}}
* {{epguides|id=StepbyStep|title=Step by Step}}
{{TGIF (ABC)}}{{MillerBoyett}}

[[Category:1990s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1991 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1998 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company sitcoms]]
[[Category:American television series revived after cancellation]]
[[Category:CBS sitcoms]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series about children]]
[[Category:Television series about families]]
[[Category:American television series about teenagers]]
[[Category:Television series by Lorimar Television]]
[[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:TGIF (TV programming block)]]
[[Category:Television series about siblings]]