The BEST episodes of Step by Step

Every episode of Step by Step ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Step by Step!

Set in Port Washington, Wisconsin, Frank Lambert, a divorced contractor with 3 children, sons J.T. and Brendan and daughter Al, impulsively marries Carol Foster, a widowed beautician who also has 3 children, daughters Dana and Karen and son Mark. Both were residents of Port Washington, but met while vacationing separately in Jamaica. Their children are surprised and angered when they learn of the marriage. Stories depicted typical situations of a new blended family, their differences causing arguments and resentments between them, but the family eventually growing to tolerate and develop loyalty to one another

Last Updated: 1/30/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Rules of the House
star
8.08
121 votes

#1 - Rules of the House

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/1991

Noticing a certain lack of discipline about her new stepchildren, Carol sets about creating order by instituting a few rules -- which so infuriate Al that she threatens to go live with Grandmother in Milwaukee. The rule that really upsets Frank's kids is Carol's control of the television viewing time: everyone is allowed to watch no more than six hours of television per week. Everyone is given 12 tickets, and each is good for viewing one half hour of television. When Frank has run out of tickets but desperately wants to watch the World Series, he persuades Carol to lighten up a little.

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The Kissing Game
star
7.82
17 votes

#2 - The Kissing Game

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 8/8/1997

JT, Al, and Dana are having problems finding some privacy, when JT comes up with the idea to use Carol's new salon as a place for privacy. He, also, sells the key to some friends for the same purpose. They all want the salon at once though, so they end up just having a party. Carol tries to set up Jean-Luc with Julie. Jean-Luc messes up the barbeque and their clothes. He even sets his pants on fire. When he changes into Frank's clothes, He and Frank have a talk and Jean-Luc realizes if he wants to find the perfect one (like Carol is for Frank), he has to try. Frank and Carol go to get some take out while Jean-Luc and Julie stay and get to know each other. The restaurant Frank and Carol go to, happens to be right next to the salon, where they find a big party.

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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We're in the Money
star
7.82
28 votes

#3 - We're in the Money

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/19/1998

After traveling around the world for a year, Cody returns. He bought gifts for the family, including some magic necklace for J.T., that makes him attractive to woman. Unfortunately, J.T. can't accept the gift since he is dating Sam. He also gives Frank and Carol a huge check and they have a dispute on how to spend the money. Frank decides to buy himself a leather chair and Carol gets furious and they get into a big arguement.

Directors: Richard Correll
Writer: Brian Bird
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Do the Right Thing
star
7.71
21 votes

#4 - Do the Right Thing

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/8/1996

JT has a huge test coming up in one of his classes, and his friend is able to get a copy of the test. JT decides not to cheat on the test, but rather to study for it. JT ends up getting a B on the test, and when he and his friend get their books mixed up, Frank sees the cheat sheet and tells JT he is both disappointed and he will no longer pay for JT's schooling. Later, Frank overhears JT's friend returning for the book and he apologizes and they make up. Al gets an idea to get a tattoo. Even though she is told she can't she finds a way to get to the shop. Dana, however, saw her heading out and was able to tell Carol, who was able to arrive just before Al went in. Carol tried to tell Al several things, but was not able to convince her not to go through with it until she told and SHOWED her the ill effects of one.

Directors: Joel Zwick
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Phoney Business
star
7.69
16 votes

#5 - Phoney Business

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/9/1998

Al gets an acting job in what she thinks is a commercial for suntan lotion, but altered dialogue turns it risque. Meanwhile, Carol and Dana try to force healthy food on the family after taking a nutrition class.

Directors: Joel Zwick
Writer: Brian Bird
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Country Club
star
7.65
51 votes

#6 - Country Club

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/28/1992

A client of Carols' invites the family to spend a weekend at a Country Club. While Karen and Carol are extremely excited, Frank and Dana feel a country club is not for them. Cody gets a guided tour on a lawn chair of the country club; Al and Brendan make $60 playing pea in the cup with the rich kids; Karen finds four guys; Mark gives stock tips; Dana falls for the Country Club President's son; and Frank goes around fixing things. Because Dana is spending time with his son, the President recruits Frank to play on their scramble golf team. Dana becomes upset with Frank because he embarrasses her in front of her new beau. After frank leaves the President makes fun of his win for the team, Dana overhears and stands up for him. Dana and Frank grow to appreciate one another and are happy to find out that the President's snobbishness is not passed on to his son.

Directors: John Tracy
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Growing Up is Hard to Do
star
7.65
31 votes

#7 - Growing Up is Hard to Do

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/1994

Al has a date with Kevin Philips,so she seeks advice from her step-sisters.Dana tells her she needs to stand up to him and make sure he doesn't push her around.While Karen's advice is completely opposite,saying that the only way Kevin will like her is if she agrees with everything he says.Al decides unwisely to take Karen's advice.The date doesn't go fairly well,but Kevin says he doesn't want to see Al again,as he thought she was more of an independent thinker. Meanwhile, Dana and Cody try to out compete each other in college

Directors: Richard Correll
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The Boys in the Band
star
7.64
50 votes

#8 - The Boys in the Band

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/14/1992

JT gives Al's band a name and becomes their manager. He gets them a gig at a bowling alley that Frank just finished remodeling. The owner of the bowling alley is inflexible, though, and when the other four girls in the band catch the flu, JT has to recruit Karen and Dana. Because he can recruit noone else, JT and Cody end up singing with the band dressed as girls. During the first song, the audience discovers JT and Cody are men and Carol steps up to save the day. A mouse that ran from the beauty salon to the house is scaring everyone except Frank. Frank is unable to kill the mouse, however, because his family does not think he should kill an ""innocent"" creature.

Directors: Richard Correll
Writer: Joe Fisch
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Someone to Watch Over Me
star
7.64
44 votes

#9 - Someone to Watch Over Me

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/6/1992

Carol is going out of town, leaving Frank in charge. Dana is upset about that, but manages to convince Frank to let her go on a date with ""Mike the Mover"" who Frank knows happens to have a bad reputation. After finally letting them,he gets scared and decides to follow,with Cody in tow.He climbs a tree above Mike's car in and attempt to hear what they are saying.But the limb breaks and he literally drops in on them. Later, however, Mike proves to be what Frank thought as he puts the moves on Dana in the living room,and while Dana proves to be trustworthy. JT borrows Frank's truck to go to the mall, by agreeing to wash and wax it. Frank gives J.T. 15 bucks to buy some expensive wax. But JT buys some that costs a dollar and pays Brendan to do it, but the wax strips the paint. Just as Frank is restoring his car, JT brakes the window with a baseball.

Directors: Jeff Ganz
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Future Shock
star
7.61
18 votes

#10 - Future Shock

Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/6/1997

Rich and Dana go to a wedding with JT and Sam. They are teased and told that someday soon, they will be married. Dana, furthermore, does not even go up to try to catch the bouquet, but it lands on her lap anyway. They each have terrible visions about what that might entail and become very scared. They agree not more weddings for a while.

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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Hog Wild
star
7.61
41 votes

#11 - Hog Wild

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1993

JT discovers that although Cody is the best motorcycle repairman in town, he charges everyone $9. JT convinces him to start his own business with a bigger shop. Cody has trouble getting a loan until Slasher ""convinces"" the banker by threatening to move his multi-million dollar account elsewhere. Cody, however, does not like the new business because he does not get to work on the bikes himself. Frank and Carol are celebrating an anniversary and again are fighting over presents. This time they agree to buy a present, but to limit it to $25. Both exceed the limit and end up struggling to buy a more expensive present than the other one. Brendan makes them an anniversary card, because he did not have the money to buy one. This ends the struggle.

Directors: James O'Keefe
Writer: Julia Newton
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The Fight Before Christmas
star
7.61
28 votes

#12 - The Fight Before Christmas

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1995

Franks old friend Mitch Crawford is coming to town Carol and Frank set up a date for Al with Mitch's son,Matt. Both Matt and Al come in with a bad attitude, but they soon discover they have a lot more in common than they think and start having fun.There having so much fun they end making out in the driveway as the car is being covered in snow. When Frank discovers them, he kicks Matt and his family out of their house. Al goes with them because she thinks her father is being unreasonable. Frank has to go to the all-you-can-eat-turkey for to apologize and invite them back. Cody blows up his van by running Christmas lights from the main generator. Because ""The Night before Christmas"" was in his van, Cody was required to tell Lilly an impromptu version. JT has a job selling Christmas trees. Cody cannot make it because he was injured in the van accident; therefore, his friend, George, spends his free time with JT. George teaches JT that more important than money is the joy of a kid's

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Just for Kicks
star
7.60
62 votes

#13 - Just for Kicks

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1991

Dana and Bernice want to go see their favorite folk singer at a local bar named Jake's. Carol gives her permission to go, but later finds out from Frank that Jake's has ""a two fight minimum."" Carol tries to tell Dana not to go, but Dana feels Frank is trying to control her life so she sneaks out anyway. Cody learns that Dana went to Jake's and rushes out to help her and gets there just in time. He beats up several punks and got some help from Frank who comes looking for her as well. Upon arriving back at home, Frank and Dana learn to appreciate one another through a revealing conversation on the troubles of a stepfather-stepdaughter relationship.

Directors: Larry Mintz
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One Truck, Al Dente
star
7.58
31 votes

#14 - One Truck, Al Dente

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/10/1995

Al is learning to drive, but she gets into a predicament when JT lets her drive while Frank and Carol are away at the doctors. Meanwhile, Dana has her wisdom teeth removed, but the drugs get to her head.

Directors: Howard Adler
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The New Car
star
7.58
52 votes

#15 - The New Car

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/6/1991

Carol's old car has one wheel in the junkyard, and she and Frank determine that she needs a new car. Frank visits his old fishing buddy's car lot, but Carol turns out to be the better bargainer. J.T. ""borrows"" Carol's car for a date, and someone ""borrows"" it from him. Penny finds a mortician that really likes her. She brings him over to Frank and Carol's for a date but he seems to like to talk shop a little too much.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Julia Newton
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Pilot
star
7.56
208 votes

#16 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1991

During their vacations in Jamaica, contractor Frank Lambert and widowed beautician Carol Foster get married. When they return to their hometown, Port Washington, Wisconsin, they need to slowly introduce their very different children. Their plan is to make the children think they are dating but Frank accidentally tells the truth (that they are married) and there is nothing to hide so eventually the Lamberts move to the Foster's house. Later, as a sign of ""step-maternal"" love, Carol believes Al is having a pain that is hurting her (something Frank never believed) and she takes her to the hospital; the pain results to be a appendix and they remove it.

Directors: Richard Correll
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A Foster/Lambert Production
star
7.55
31 votes

#17 - A Foster/Lambert Production

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/19/1995

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!!

Directors: John Tracy
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The Paper Chase
star
7.55
44 votes

#18 - The Paper Chase

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1993

JT and his friend Doug find out that they have a book report due on Monday. Mark tells them that he has read and written reports on at least 10 of the books on their list. JT and Doug get into Mark's computer, get the reports, and decide to sell the extra reports to the football team. Dana finds out and convinces Mark to change the reports into bogus reports. Consequently, Dana has to help JT write his real report. Slasher and his wife, Debbie, go on a trip and leave their baby son Harley with ""Uncle"" Cody. Carol ends up wanting to have another baby and seeing that Cody is a natural father.

Directors: Richard Correll
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Virgin Territory
star
7.54
46 votes

#19 - Virgin Territory

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/20/1992

J.T and Cody score dates with two pretty sisters. After the date the sisters really want the boys to come home with them. Cody wanted to save his virginity till he found the "" Dudette of his dreams"". So J.T gets mad at him because Cody blew off his date making J.T's date mad too.

Directors: Judy Askins
Writer: Julia Newton
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Sister Act
star
7.54
35 votes

#20 - Sister Act

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1993

Karen is interested in Michael, but is too scared to talk to him so she gets Dana to talk to him. Dana talks to him and gets to know him as he gets to know her. He asks her out and she cannot help but say yes. As they get closer, Dana must keep Karen in the dark. The Lambert kids find out by monitoring a telephone call. They convince Karen to start a fight. Karen tells Michael several lies (including the one about Dana only being 14 years old) things about Dana so Michael will dump her. Unfortunately for the Lamberts, Dana and Karen discuss the problem and turn on them instead of each other. In an unprecedented dialogue, Karen tells Dana how she envies her ""book"" smarts, while Dana tells Karen how she envies her ""street"" smarts. Karen and Dana team up to repay the Lamberts for listening in on telephone calls. After Frank refuses to dance with her, Carol ignores him. It is discovered that Frank does not know how to dance. Cody with excellent dancing skills teaches Frank to dance. Frank

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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And Justice for Some
star
7.53
17 votes

#21 - And Justice for Some

Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 6/5/1998

Frank acquires two tickets to the Bucks-Bulls game. He invites JT to go with him. They really enjoy the first half, but then a guy with a huge ""Yosimite Sam"" hat sits down right in front of JT. Frank agrees to switch seats with JT. Immediately following the switch, the seat JT is now is drawn and JT wins a brand new truck. Frank and JT spend two days arguing over who should get the truck. Finally, Carol arranges for them to meet a friend of hers who is a judge. Just before the judge rules Carol makes a speech on how their friendship should take precedence. They decide she is right and decide to sell the truck and split the profits. Karen and Al have no interest in Dana's self protection class-- until they see the instructor, that is. Upon seeing him, both girls attempt to win his heart, argue over him, and threaten each other's lives. A week after the class is over, both girls call 911 to have the instructor refresh their memory on a self-defense tip.

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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Drive, He Said
star
7.52
50 votes

#22 - Drive, He Said

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/1992

Dana passes her driving test with flying colors, but Frank flunks his.

Directors: Richard Correll
Writer: Joe Fisch
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Making the Grade
star
7.50
22 votes

#23 - Making the Grade

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1997

It is the first day of school for all the kids,and Karen is off to college.Carol on the other hand is feeling like she has nothing to do, so she registers for college. Signing up for all of Karen's classes and following her around.She then tell a story about when Karen was a baby in class. Carol finally realizes that she is ruining Karen's life. Rich is happy about getting a C on his pop quiz and Dana tells Rich that if he doesn't start taking something seriously, they don't have much of a future.So after talking to JT, Rich stays up all night studying (instead of watching Xena, the Warrior Princess with JT) and gets an A,while Dana only gets a B. JT raids the refrigerator,wearing his trenchcoat, Frank catches him, he hugs JT and the food squirts every where.

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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Thirteen with a Bullet
star
7.50
32 votes

#24 - Thirteen with a Bullet

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/28/1994

It's Mark's 13th birthday.While frank introduces him to the fine art of shaving,and Carol arranges a real party for him with music and girls.One of the girls is a lovely girl named Marissa,with who Mark falls in love with.But he's soon brokenhearted as he finds out her feelings for him are not quite the same as what he thought. J.T. passes his mechanics exam.But Dana feels if he can do it so can she.So she challenges him to a bet,that she can do it.

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Getting Organized
star
7.50
56 votes

#25 - Getting Organized

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1991

JT and Cody become engrossed with the idea of aliens while Dana and Karen make fun of them, but then try to make the boys look foolish by pretending to have a UFO fly over them. Cody and JT find out about their plan and turn the tables on them. Frank's office is extremely disheveled. Carol sees this and in an effort to help him and organizes his office. She even puts his records that were in shoe boxes into a computer before throwing them away. Just as Frank gets excited about the new system he will have, Carol loses the information that was in the computer. They end up having to go rooting through a dumpster to find the boxes. Just their luck as a dump truck comes by and picks them up for even messier results, Low and behold though, they do recover the missing boxes.

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