"Step by Step" (1991) TV series 1991-1998

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Creators:

William Bickley
Michael Warren
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

20 September 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Frank Lambert is a construction worker and a single father of 3 kids: J.T., Alicia "Al" and Brendan...

Plot Keywords:

Wisconsin | Stepsister | Tomboy | Stepbrother | Competition

Awards:

1 win & 14 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 10	9:00 AM	FAM	Bully for Mark	#1.16
Sat. July 11	7:00 AM	FAM	The Boys in the Band	#1.17

Cast

Patrick Duffy	...	Frank Lambert (160 episodes, 1991-1998)
Suzanne Somers	...	Carol Foster Lambert / ... (160 episodes, 1991-1998)
Brandon Call	...	John Thomas 'J.T.' Lambert / ... (160 episodes, 1991-1998)
Staci Keanan	...	Dana Foster (159 episodes, 1991-1998)
Angela Watson	...	Karen Foster (159 episodes, 1991-1998)
Christine Lakin	...	Alicia 'Al' Lambert / ... (159 episodes, 1991-1998)
Christopher Castile	...	Mark Foster / ... (146 episodes, 1991-1998)
Josh Byrne	...	Brendan Lambert (130 episodes, 1991-1997)
Sasha Mitchell	...	Cody Lambert (111 episodes, 1991-1998)

(more)

Series Directed by
Patrick Duffy		(41 episodes, 1992-1998)
Richard Correll		(6 episodes, 1991-1995)
Joel Zwick		(5 episodes, 1994-1996)
William Bickley		(2 episodes, 1995)
Steve Witting		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Robert Griffard		(22 episodes, 1991-1997)
Brian Bird		(16 episodes, 1993-1998)
Larry Kase		(unknown episodes, 1994-1997)
Joel Ronkin		(unknown episodes, 1994-1997)
Howard Adler		(unknown episodes)
William Bickley		(unknown episodes)
Maria A. Brown		(unknown episodes)
John B. Collins		(unknown episodes)
Joe Fisch		(unknown episodes)
Richard P. Halke		(unknown episodes)
Adam Markowitz		(unknown episodes)
Casey Maxwell Clair		(unknown episodes)
Cary Okmin		(unknown episodes)
Bob Rosenfarb		(unknown episodes)
Fred Rubin		(unknown episodes)
Meredith Siler		(unknown episodes)
Robin Stein		(unknown episodes)
Chuck Tately		(unknown episodes)
Michael Warren		(unknown episodes)
Seth Weisbord		(unknown episodes)
Kevin White		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Karen Kirchner	....	co-producer / associate producer (141 episodes, 1991-1997)
Mea Squires	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1997-1998)
Fred Rubin	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 1997)
Howard Adler	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
William Bickley	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Brian Bird	....	co-producer / supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Robert L. Boyett	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Maria A. Brown	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Ross Brown	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
John B. Collins	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Correll	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Alan Eisenstock	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Lori Glass	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Robert Griffard	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Ronny Hallin	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Stewart Lyons	....	coordinating producer (unknown episodes)
Thomas L. Miller	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Larry Mintz	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Charles O'Brien	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Bob Rosenfarb	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Kelly Sandefur	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Michael Warren	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
John Wierick	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Gary Boren		(unknown episodes)
Steven Chesne		(unknown episodes)
Jesse Frederick		(unknown episodes)
Bennett Salvay		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Tony Askins		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Pam Marshall		(unknown episodes)
Jim Miley		(unknown episodes)
John Randle		(unknown episodes)
Steve Shultz		(unknown episodes)
Robert Souders		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Theodore S. Hann		(unknown episodes)
Ellie Kanner		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Tommy Goetz		(unknown episodes)
Lynn Griffin		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Bonnie Dermer		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Frankie Bergman	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Rachel Dowling	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Joe Hailey	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Sue Hailey	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Bob Osterman	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Laurel Van Dyke	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Gigi Williams	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Miles Kristman	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Stewart Lyons	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don-Martin Nielsen	....	first assistant director (69 episodes, 1991-1994)
Jill Frank	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Cameron Loring	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Charles H. Siegel	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Erik Grasteit	....	assistant property master (24 episodes, 1993)
Carl Dawson	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Paul Iannizzotto	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Joaquin Navarro	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Ron Garrard	....	sound editor (19 episodes, 1997-1998)
Walter Baker	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Paul Drenning	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Catherine Flynn	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Rick Himot	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Ken Kobett	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Eric Levinson	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Charlie McDaniel	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
George Nemzer	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Otis Van Osten	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes, 1995)
John R. Elliott	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts (12 episodes, 1997-1998)
Brian Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kelsee King-Devoreaux	....	stunts / utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Clark Tucker	....	stunt double: Brandon Call (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John O'Brien	....	video controller (2 episodes, 1996)
Gary Andersen	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Gary Howard Baum	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Raphe Berry	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
John Lazear	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Carl Manoogian	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Glenn K. Shimada	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Andy Young	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Barbara Miller	....	executive in charge of casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ricardo Richard Alvarez	....	set costumer (147 episodes, 1991-1997)
Lyn Paolo	....	costume supervisor (119 episodes, 1992-1997)
Lisa Eisler	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1998)
Roberta Haze	....	wardrobe: women (unknown episodes)
Bob Squire	....	wardrobe: men (unknown episodes)
Gina Trikonis	....	wardrobe: women (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Billy Crawford	....	post-production assistant (34 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bill Breshears Jr.	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)
Richard Garibaldi	....	final colorist (unknown episodes)
Alex Trocker	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
David Sibley	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes, 1992-1995)
Gregory Sill	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Bruce Callahan	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Jeffrey Cusick	....	production coordinator (79 episodes, 1995-1998)
Daniel Wulkan	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 1994-1995)
Stephanie Spangler	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1993)
Brian Bird	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Robert L. Boyett	....	developer (unknown episodes)
Maria A. Brown	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Ross Brown	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Matt Ember	....	executive script consultant (unknown episodes)
Erik Emi	....	technical coordinator (unknown episodes)
Joe Fisch	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Richard P. Halke	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Larry Kase	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Monica Kenyon	....	writer's production assistant (unknown episodes)
Casey Maxwell	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Damian Mcknight	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Thomas L. Miller	....	developer (unknown episodes)
Julia Newton	....	executive script consultant (unknown episodes)
Kory Olson	....	dialogue coach (unknown episodes)
Joel Ronkin	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Meredith Siler	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearance (unknown episodes)
Cheryl A. Walker	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Seth Weisbord	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
John Wierick	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Bickley-Warren Productions
• Lorimar Television
• Miller/Boyett Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1991-1997) (USA) (TV)
• RTL (1994-2001) (Germany) (TV)
• RTL2 Fernsehen (1999) (Germany) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min (160 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Bickley-Warren Productions

Trivia:

Sasha Mitchell was eventually given his job back and did appear in the second to last episode but the series was canceled and his return was short lived.

Quotes:

J.T: This stinks. In twenty years, I'm not gonna need algebra!
Frank Lambert: You will if you're still in high school.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Murder?... Anyone?... Anyone?... Bueller? (#3.2)" (2008)

Remember those Friday Nights???.....

Step By Step was a typical, TGIF, ABC sitcom of the era. Stereotypical characters run rampant on the show, but let us remember the REAL reason it lasted seven years. The show's creators knew that they had TV gold when they enlisted TV veterans Duffy (Dallas) and Sommers (Three's Company) to play the role of Mom and Dad. Now, parents of young preteens and teens could watch the show with their kids and have "adult" eye candy to gaze upon. One cannot discount both of their abilities as all-time television sex symbols. Nor the casting of Staci Keanan, the cute as a button girl from "My Two Dads". These three vets allowed for the creators to not worry about finding good writers or creative ideas, but ride the wave of the familiar faces. As for the characters, with so many kids, all stereotypes are fully represented. The "best" (or worst) has to go to Cody (Sasha Mitchell). He alone dropped the comedic IQ of this show from average to pathetic. His "dude", "whoah" and "wow" is more than 50% of his total dialouge. Although an idiot is found on nearly every sitcom post 1980, Cody may take the cake for the worst written. Besides not being a real child of the family (he's a cousin) and living in a van in the garage, Cody doesn't do much but walk in and marvel at something he finds interesting, say one of the three words, nod his head crazy, and move on. The writing/acting makes "Bill and Ted" (who had to help inspire the role) look like Mensa members. Keanan acts well for her part as the intelligent anti-male, with Angela Watson portraying the hot ditz with adequate flair and substance. Christine Lakin also acts well as the tomboy (AL), then Hottie in a tomboy's body in the later years. The women overcame bad writing with being gorgeous and actually acting the part they were given, knowing the roles they needed to fill. However, the guys in the show really didn't hold up to the bargain. Castille IS the biggest wimp in TV history as Mark, and Brendan (Josh Byrne) came across as nearly retarded in trying to get out his lines. Only JT (Brandon Call), the smart-witted, no common sense son actually gets what he is trying to convey as the "this is the way it was, and will be" attitude towards the family, as well as being a perfect beta-male in the house. I always wondered why NONE of the guys was an "IT" guy, like Karen the model, cheerleader-esquire character. All the guys seemed to be wimps, losers, and dorks who just could not get what they wanted. Had JT been the ladies man, Big man on campus guy, I feel the show would have added a nice dimension. Anyways, the characters in the show all live up to their strict gender roles, with Mom being a hairdresser, dad the construction man, etc. etc. Other characters came and went: JT had a perverted friend Rich (James Marsden) that Dana actually dated later, which will blow your mind if you see an early episode with Rich featured. Sommers had a sister helping cut hair, she left after season 1, Sommers decided to have MORE kids (original storyline) and at the end, Perfect Strangers alum Bronson Pinochet came in to string along another 52 weeks of paychecks for the show. I must also add that this is the one show with school-aged kids who, to my knowledge, were rarely shown actually IN school. (They did have the occasional school function, but the show was not normally set around an AT school problem) I do not doubt they went, but the show was so much more about the house, family, and their interactions. Even the Brady Bunch had some school scenes, but not on SBS. I think the viewer would have had a better understanding of characters had we see them interact with ANYONE besides their stereotypical family.

Re-watching this show may give you a different perspective, as previously stated this show was over-sexed and strangely written. (and I didn't notice at age 12, but age 22). The sexual overtones of this show, after watching again, is shocking. Duffy and Sommers reprise their sexual appetite from their former shows, always wanting to get the kids asleep for some fun under the covers. No show in history had more kids walking in as their parents were "asleep" than Step By Step. Some episodes had 5-10 minute scenes of Duffy "begging for sex" as Sommers contemplated one of their many kids' current problems. Their acting seemed so easy to them, I think they just acted as themselves the entire show. Other issues include a cousin, Cody, being in love with Dana (Keanan) and parents always wanting to sneak off for alone time, proving this show would not be thought of in the "family show mold" of 2004. I am shocked to see it on ABC Family, because the show rarely had the -aww, shucks- moments practically trademarked by ABC's TGIF. Where as Boy Meets World, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Family Matters seemed to always have a moral, lesson, or rule to be found, followed, and understood, Step By Step seemed to throw away any diverse message and just stuck with "love your family, it is the only one you have". That is a fine mantra to live by, but hardly revealing. Overall, a show with a permanent place in history considering its stars and placement as a 90's TGIF staple, and worth seeing on re-runs, just to see what television was putting in young minds from 1991-1998. 6-7 stars out of 10.