Step by Step

Two families become one, step by step.
Season 1 - Step by Step
20 Sep 1991
"The Lamberts move in with the Fosters and the kids are fighting right off the bat. Frank and Carol want the kids to think they are dating but Frank accidentally announces that they got ..."
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04 Oct 1991
"Carol's penchant for micromanaging the household had worked well for the Fosters, but it isn't with the Lamberts now part of the family. Frank objects to his having to cash in special \"..."
11 Oct 1991
"Frank and J.T. are tickled pink when cousin Cody, the cool demolition natural who lives in bis van, arrives for a weekend visit. J.T. naughtily bets that even he can't charm Barky into a ..."
18 Oct 1991
"J.T., who needs extra money, agrees to work for Frank. Frank is thrilled though J.T. does not feel the same way. After failing horribly there, J.T. works for Carol as a shampoo boy. The ..."
25 Oct 1991
"Carol wants the family to bond so she thinks the Port Washington games is the best way to do it. The Lamberts, who have won three years in a row, do not want the Fosters on their team ..."
01 Nov 1991
"Carol discover's at Brendan's 6th birthday that a traditional Lambert bowling day isn't his preference, so she arranges a regular kids party, with popular clown Yo-Yo. Alas the star cancels..."
08 Nov 1991
"Dana and her friend Bernice want to see their favorite folk singer at a bar called Jake's. At first, Carol lets her go but later learns from Frank that it is a very dangerous place so she ..."
15 Nov 1991
"Since Carol insists on joint activities, Frank agrees to join her to the opera if the Fosters join camping, a favorite Lambert pastime. The Foster kids wine non-stop from the start, and ..."
22 Nov 1991
"Cody tries to impress Dana and gets a job as a corporate executive. His job is to put prizes in the quarter machines for the young kids. He puts kids before profit and ends up getting fired..."
29 Nov 1991
"A show called \"America Up Close\" is doing a \"blended family\" segment and the Foster\/Lambert family is chosen. Carol is embarrassed because the whole world will see that the kids constantly ..."
06 Dec 1991
"Carol's car is doing pretty much everything except running correctly so she and Frank decide they need a new car. Frank brings Carol to his pal's car lot. Frank tries to get a good deal but..."
13 Dec 1991
"J.T. and Cody believe in aliens so Dana and Karen tease them. They try to make the guys like idiots by having a UFO fly over the house. Cody and J.T. learn of the plan and decide to play ..."
03 Jan 1992
"Frank and Carol go away for the weekend leaving Dana in charge. Dana has only one rule--no parties. The hotel is a dump but Frank and Carol try to make it work. Everything is going smooth ..."
17 Jan 1992
"After lecturing Dana endlessly about her drivers test, Frank is one day late to renew his license administratively, and fails the written test himself. Al tricks Frank into allowing her to ..."
07 Feb 1992
"Mark is doing homework for a classmate because he is being threatened. Carol feels that Mark should confront the bully in a peaceful way while Frank suggests that Mark defend himself. The ..."
14 Feb 1992
"J.T. helps Al come up with a name for her band and he becomes the manager. The band gets to perform at the bowling alley where Frank just did a remodeling job. The other four girls in the ..."
21 Feb 1992
"Carol decides to go back to school to finish college. Between that and the beauty shop, there is not much time left for housekeeping. When Frank steps in to relieve Carol of some the work, ..."
28 Feb 1992
"Frank's contractor friend, John Patterson, invites him and his family to join an exclusive country club. While the Lamberts and Fosters engage in a series of gags, Dana fumes about having ..."
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27 Feb 1992
"Frank is turning forty and Carol fears he'll go through a midlife crisis and maybe have an affair. So she gets him a boy's dream, flying lessons, and goes along. Unfortunately the flight ..."
1992-04-24
"Carol and Karen enter a mother-daughter beauty contest."
Season 2 - Step by Step
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25 Sep 1992
"The school year starts even harder the usual. Even Mark is terrified he has to take wood-shop. Al's cooking is so bad it requires power-tools to cut it. Worst off is JT's with a Shakespeare..."
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23 Oct 1992
"Dana is promoted to manager of a 50's style restaurant, and her condescending, overbearing demeanor quickly takes its toll on employees J.T. and Karen to the point they resign. Frank and ..."
30 Oct 1992
"Karen realizes a dream when she takes a modeling job in Chicago, but she has to deal with her overbearing mother. Carol tags along and interferes with the photo shoot, angering Karen. ..."
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13 Nov 1992
"Dana and J.T. become rival candidates for class president, J.T.'s candidacy prompted after he becomes annoyed that the only candidates are \"dweebs and geeks\" and that there are no everyman ..."
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04 Dec 1992
"Carol imposes a severe crackdown in family spending after a long-overdue video is found under Brendan's bed. The other siblings immediately blame Brendan, and their behavior toward him ..."
11 Dec 1992
"Frank's old high school buddy arrives for a visit, and it becomes obvious he still hasn't grown up. Meanwhile, Cody wins a live turkey in a supermarket raffle, but struggles with his ..."
08 Jan 1993
"A resident of the Lakeview Retirement Home (where Cody is a volunteer) dies. The man leaves Cody his estate, valued at $250,000. As Cody struggles with how to spend the money, his cousins ..."
15 Jan 1993
"When Frank and Carol veto Dana's plan to have a no-adults party for her 17th birthday, she decides to rent a hotel room. Things become complicated when Frank and Carol rent a room (for a ..."
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12 Feb 1993
"Dana is dumped by her boyfriend right before Valentine's Day, and takes out her frustrations on everyone, including a potential new suitor. Meanwhile, Frank gets a temporary job at Carol's ..."
19 Feb 1993
"The family - don't forget Cody - vacation in Hawaii. Among other adventures, Dana meets the man of her dreams, a beach bum named Brian. The two hit it off, and the romance quickly blossoms ..."
26 Feb 1993
"Frank and (especially) Carol refuse to accept daughter Dana's engagement, they get into a huge argument. Dana considers eloping with sweetheart Brian, but when the two begin talking about ..."
12 Mar 1993
"After meeting a biker chick at school, J.T. wants to ask her out ... but first consults Mark on how to treat this young woman. Meanwhile, Frank mortifies Al when he tags along with her and ..."
02 Apr 1993
"Mark is recruited to join the local Pony League baseball team (which Frank coaches and Al is the star catcher) after one of Al's teammates suffers a season-ending injury. Mark, who was ..."
30 Apr 1993
"As a practical joke, J.T. places an unflattering baby photograph of Karen in the high school yearbook. Later - after Cody and J.T. visit a psychic - J.T. becomes convinced that a dark-hair ..."
07 May 1993
"Frank wins a contract to construct a multi-million dollar office complex, and this will necessitate the removal of a house sitting on a key part of the property. He hires munitions expert ..."
1993-05-21
"Carol sets up Karen with Freddy, who is a 153 on Karen's grading scale. Karen, however, prefers Jeffrey (a 195). Despite disappointing Carol, Karen accepts a date with Jeffrey and dumps Freddy by lying to him. She sneaks out of the house to go with Jeff and they win Perfect Couple right after Freddy confronts Karen. She refuses the award and finishes the evening with Freddy.\n\nCarol does not like the way Frank organizes his money. She tries to make him use a male purse, but he refuses. He concentrates his efforts on putting an alarm on Lucille because Cody had his stereo stolen out of it. The alarm was so good Frank got stuck in the van demonstrating it."
Season 3 - Step by Step
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15 Oct 1993
"J.T. and Rich have to write a report for their English class. They decide to break into Mark's computer to steal the papers and sell them to the football players. Dana finds out and tells ..."
22 Oct 1993
"Is it easier being a teen-ager or a parent? That's the question Frank and Carol hope to resolve with J.T. and Dana when they agree to \"switch places\" for a weekend. The exercise comes after..."
29 Oct 1993
"When Mark frets over getting his first \"A\" (instead of the A-pluses he has been so accustomed to), Frank decides the best way to relieve the tension is to play video games. However, Mark ..."
05 Nov 1993
"Frank and Carol search like crazy for anniversary presents."
12 Nov 1993
"Cody moves into the house while his van\/house is in the shop for repairs, and drives everyone crazy. Meanwhile, Karen decides to volunteer at the local homeless shelter so she can meet a cute guy."
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07 Jan 1994
"When she has trouble making (and keeping) friends, Al decides to start hanging out with a group of bad girls. When Dana alerts Frank about Al's new friends, he prohibits her from seeing ..."
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18 Feb 1994
"Karen's coveted modeling opportunity falls by the wayside when Al is chosen for a new jeans advertisement. Meanwhile, Cody struggles with a good luck streak."
25 Feb 1994
"Frank decides to take Carol for a little week-end get away. But he unwittingly brings her to a place that he took one of his exes."
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06 May 1994
"Cody is looking forward to his father, who is Frank's brother, coming for a visit for his birthday. As a gift, he offers to make Cody the senior vice president of his real estate company. ..."
1994-05-20
"After a little bad luck, JT is deceitfully set up with a 13-year-old. Dana, on the other hand, was able to get a date with the just broken up, best looking guy in school. At the prom, however, Dana is dumped for his ex-girlfriend. Dana is heartbroken-- not only because she lost her date, but also because she must dance the spotlight dance (as Student Body President) all by herself. JT comes to console her and offers to dance with her. Although the two walk out insulting each other under their breath, they gain an appreciation for each other.\n\nBrendan belts a boy who cheated off his paper at school. Carol, feeling terrible, invites the boy and his family over. The situation is not reconciled when the boy's parents cheat at monopoly. In fact, after Carol hears them insult Frank and Brendan, Carol belts the boy's dad."
Season 4 - Step by Step
23 Sep 1994
"Mark feels that he is not getting enough respect so he takes up karate. After the teacher kicks Mark out of the class, he turns to Cody for help. Cody, who has a black belt, helps train ..."
30 Sep 1994
"JT is sent his first credit card. Frank doesn't think he can handle the responsibility and a spending spree soon shows that JT can't. Dana is not happy about going to a local public college and her first English essay is a disaster."
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18 Nov 1994
"Cody's old friend has come to town; when Frank and Carol decide to build a new room for the baby, the children all want their own rooms."
25 Nov 1994
"Al has a new boyfriend, Zack, who has just moved into the area. His anti-establishment views on life upset Frank and he stops her from going on a date with him. Suddenly, Dana finds out that she is allergic to Cody."
09 Dec 1994
"Frank and Carol go away for a romantic weekend. Frank is worried that Carol is going overboard about the baby. Mark has a computer date. The girls have a bonding session, answering quizzes and talking about their fantasy man."
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06 Jan 1995
"JT has borrowed a Porsche from work and impresses a waitress. He lies and says that it is his and, using money he finds, he buys her an expensive necklace. Frank is reluctant to go with Carol to the gynaecologist for her ultrasound."
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10 Feb 1995
"Al pressures JT to help her learn to drive. JT suggests the driving lesson take place in Frank's new truck. It comes back with a huge dent in the side, and the two scrambling to cover up what happened."
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1995-03-03
"JT realizes that he can not find a good job, unless he goes to college. He struggles to study and fails his first test, but with the help of Mark and Cody discovers that he has dyslexia.\n\nCarol wants to get the future baby into The Sutton Academy, a prestigious pre-school, and sets up an appointment with a couple of representatives from that school. They insult the Lamberts, and Frank and Carol throw them out.\n\nMark and Gabrielle have a hard time controlling themselves while playing Ping-Pong and even while walking."
17 Mar 1995
"Cody is trying to reduce his use of the word dude and he enlists the help of Dana. Frank doesn't tell Carol that he is putting in a bedroom window for one of his old girlfriends. Carol is upset when she finds out."
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28 Apr 1995
"JT makes fun of Karen wearing a pregnancy pad. Then he and Frank are dared to wear the pads for a weekend. Cody takes Brendan to see his favourite play Kenny Barton but is unable to get his signature because Brendan hasn't got $50."
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12 May 1995
"Dana is taking Karen to a college party and Al talks Dana into taking her. Karen becomes jealous when the college casanova is attracted to Al and not her. Carol is having a sale of Frank's old junk, and he does his best to keep it."
1995-05-19
"Carol finally goes into labor. Frank rushes everyone to the hospital while Cody is taping everything on videotape. Carol had decided to have the baby without any anesthetic, but every time she has a contraction, she changes her mind (changing it back after the contraction, of course). The doctor convinces her that it is just as healthy for the baby to take drugs. JT, who was supposed to drive the kids, leaves the Foster kids at home. When the Fosters arrive, they begin fighting again with the Lamberts. Cody steps in and shows them how they have been happier when they have assisted one another. Lilly Foster Lambert is born!!"
Season 5 - Step by Step
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03 Nov 1995
"A mistake by Cody means that he ends up with a middle-aged mail-order bride. Frank and Carol are getting fed up with the many petty demands of the kids. Karen's attempt to be a country singing star doesn't quite go as planned."
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15 Dec 1995
"Cody manages to electrocute himself adding Christmas lights to his van. JT works part-time selling Christmas trees and gets a lesson in the true meaning of Christmas by a co-worker. Frank sets Al up with the son of an old family friend."
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12 Jan 1996
"Mark's teacher wants him to go to an academic academy for gifted students. Frank and JT will win Super Bowl tickets provided they dress up as cheerleaders, but there is a catch. Cody invents clothing made out of food."
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16 Feb 1996
"Carol and Frank go to a baby playtime class and find out they are the oldest parents there, which they find unsettling. JT thinks that two men would never fall out over a woman but Dana is determined to prove him wrong."
23 Feb 1996
"When Cody is wearing his cheese-head he guesses the lotto numbers. Mark and Karen try to take advantage of it. Dana has a new boyfriend who believes in honesty, which irritates everybody. JT pretends to be Lilly's father to pick-up a girl."
08 Mar 1996
"JT receives a probation note for poor results and Frank warns him that he needs to buckle down or get a job. He does better but is under suspicion of cheating. Al wants to get her hair shaved and a tattoo in order to stand out."
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26 Apr 1996
"Dana is having trouble choosing a career path and goes to a career testing centre with JT and Rich to help them choose a career. There are some unusual results. Carol hires an over-active worker for Frank's work crew."
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1996-05-17
"J.T. and Rich eagerly apply and are hired at a restaurant (which Dana and her feminist friends had planned to protest against) with sexy waitress. They learn how bad harassment really is in those places, but they get in one final night of not caring.\n\nFrank converts part of the basement into a lounge using items he bought from a closed tavern. While the men love it, Carol has a serious accident with a one of the lounge's \"\"toys\"\". The closer shows interesting riding on the toy by everybody, especially Dana.\n\nFlash sleeps on the Lamberts' couch while his apartment is being fumigated. He brings a lot of energy to the house and the lounge."
Season 6 - Step by Step
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14 Mar 1997
"JT and Rich head out on a road trip to Mexico, and Dana stows away to keep an eye on Rich. Things don't go well when all three end up in jail. When Carol learns that Jean-Luc cannot drive a car she offers to teach him."
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11 Apr 1997
"J.T. claims like Rich cars are men's business, till his is repaired -actually just diagnosed wrong gear- by foxy mechanic Samantha 'Sam' Milano. It's love at first sight, sealed by mutual ..."
18 Apr 1997
"JT doesn't think the rules of the house should apply to him so he decides to move out, to everybody's joy. Carol wants a girls night with the three girls but has to trick them into going out with her to a karaoke bar."
25 Apr 1997
"JT gets Rich to move in with him to help pay the costs of setting up. They take it too casually and, when they don't pay the rent on time, Frank evicts them. Jean-Luc indulges Lilly's every whim and spoils her with dozens of gifts."
02 May 1997
"Frank is feeling old and going through a mid-life crisis. He decides to try and change his image to that of a much younger man. It is Dana's birthday but she is not impressed when Rich recycles a gift he'd given to another girl."
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16 May 1997
"It's Lilly's 6th birthday coming up and Dana thinks it will be easy to supervise, as long as you let them know who's boss. Fabio comes to Jean-Luc's studio for a hair cut, which has the girls besotted."
23 May 1997
"Karen wears the tightest pants and the tallest boots but she still gets dumped by her boyfriend. She then decides to get collagen in her lips as well. Mark has a date with a hot girl but she is far too fast for him, so he panics and runs."
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04 Jul 1997
"JT finds out that Sam is having a dinner date with a workmate and becomes very jealous when they become room-mates. When Jean-Luc has a tax bill after spending his money on his girlfriend, Carol decides that they will lend him the money."
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25 Jul 1997
"Mark is being embarrassed by Carol, who is having trouble with the idea of him growing up. So Carol is banned from his next basketball game. Spurred on by JT, Rich tries to become more independent from Dana."
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1997-08-15
"Carol comes back from Hair Spectacular '96 with Jean-Luc, who is to become her new business partner. As they start a new business, Frank has to do all the chores. He is happy to do them, but becomes very picky about his cookies. Jean-Luc does help out JT by teaching him how to dance, but JT's date is a disaster anyway. Jean-Luc tells Karen, Al, AND Dana, on separate occasions, that he thinks they are beautiful. Also, Lilly learns to write her name, and Cody calls from his new job in Russia."
Season 7 - Step by Step
19 Sep 1997
"It's the first day of school for Emily and Karen starts college. Carol is bored so she decides to go to college and enrols in the same classes as Karen, to her embarrassment. Dana dumps Rich over his lackadaisical attitude to school."
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03 Oct 1997
"Frank and Carol are going through a bedroom drought and, no matter what they do, they keep getting interrupted. Rich acts mysteriously and Karen is convinced he is cheating on Dana. Karen and Al follow him to find out what he is doing."
10 Oct 1997
"JT is having trouble keeping a job when he pressures Sam into getting a position for him at her garage. As payment for a patio job he did, Frank accepts a boat in lieu. Carol is not happy when she sees the piece of junk that it is."
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16 Jan 1998
"JT takes up aerobics to impress the instructor but it turns out much more difficult than he thought it would be. When Carol is upset at finding Dana and Rich together in his place, Dana angrily decides that she and Rich will elope."
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19 Jun 1998
"Just as Karen is musing that nothing ever happens, Cody returns from his overseas trip after two years, bringing with him gifts for the family. For Frank and Carol he has a cheque for $50 ..."
1998-06-26
"When obnoxious yuppies offer to buy the family's home, Lilly is the only family member who isn't excited about getting a bigger house, but then Frank and Carol have second thoughts."