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The Worst Episodes of Step by Step

Every episode of Step by Step ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Step by Step!

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Step by Step is an American television sitcom with two single parents, who spontaneously get married after meeting one another during a vacation, resulting in them becoming the heads of a large blended family

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#1 Worst Episode
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0.0/10(0 votes)
#1 - Sister Act
S3:E1011/26/1993
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
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Bob Colleary
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Bob Colleary
0.0/10(0 votes)
#2 - Thirteen with a Bullet
S3:E151/28/1994
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.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
0.0/10(0 votes)
#3 - Birth of a Salesman
S3:E193/11/1994
Urged by his parents to either apply to college or find a job, JT gets a part-time position as an assistant salesman in a used-car lot. Not only does he actually enjoy his new job, but it turns out that he's incredibly good at selling cars. He thanks Carol for getting him off his keister and making him get a job. He dreams of one day owning the car lot and gets in a commercial for the place. Dana is assigned to write an essay for her psychology class. After Mark and Karen's refusals, she has to hire Cody as a subject for her study. She writes that Cody is a nutcase, but her teacher claims that she is close-minded. She gets a ""D"" on the paper and has to do a makeup assignment on one person's dreams for a week, and although Cody volunteers, she refuses.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
0.0/10(0 votes)
#4 - Prom Night
S3:E235/20/1994
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. Brendan 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.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#5 - Daddy's Girl
S1:E203/6/1992
Frank's dad, a widower, has a girlfriend who's a lot like Frank's mom--except she's a stripper.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#6 - He Wanted Wings
S1:E213/27/1992
Carol gives Frank flying lessons for his 40th birthday, and he gets a crash course when the instructor turns suicidal.
Director:John Tracy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:John Tracy
Writer:Unknown

The 20 BEST Episodes of Step by Step

5.0/10(1 votes)
#7 - Beauty Contest
S1:E224/24/1992
Carol and Karen enter a beauty pageant at Frank's Mallard Lodge, but can't cope with the judges' foul behavior.
Director:John Tracy
Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss
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Director:John Tracy
Writers:Pamela Eells, Sally Lapiduss
5.0/10(1 votes)
#8 - Virgin Territory
S2:E1011/20/1992
J.T. is mystified: Cody's still a virgin; and he plans to stay that way for the "dudette of his dreams."
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#9 - Back to Basics
S2:E1112/4/1992
Brendan feels responsible for a crackdown on family spending after he loses a rented video.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#10 - If I Were a Rich Man
S2:E131/8/1993
Cody's not sure how to spend the fortune left to him by a friend at a rest home, but it's not for a lack of suggestions.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#11 - One of the Guys
S2:E151/22/1993
Carol may be a '90s woman, but she can't see Frank's gorgeous co-worker as one of the guys. Meanwhile, the kids gamble their savings on the commodities market.
Director:Mark Linn-Baker
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Mark Linn-Baker
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#12 - Down and Out in Port Washington
S3:E811/12/1993
Lucille is in the shop being repaired so Cody stays in the Lambert living room. After Cody does his wash in the kitchen and loses his ant farm on the couch, the family is ready for him to move back into his van. Lucille, however, dies on the greaserack. Frank and Carol are relieved, however, when Cody tells them he is ready to be out as well. He decides to move into a stationary Lucille reasoning that many people live perfectly normal lives in non-moving structures. At the same time, Karen is interested in a guy who volunteers at a homeless shelter so she goes there one Saturday. He takes his girlfriend out, though, and Karen ends up spending a whole day at the shelter for ""nothing."" After a heart-to-heart with Carol, Karen decides that she needs to adjust her priorities.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#13 - The Marrying Dude
S3:E911/19/1993
After posting an ad in a biker magazine, Cody finally meets his blind date,Bonnie.She turns out to have an adorable 8 year old named, Riley who Cody Immediately befriends.Bonnie and Cody have a great time,but there priorities are different.Bonnie needs a father for Riley so she proposes to Cody. Al is perplexed at her breast size. The rest of the family is busy arguing about the house decor.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#14 - Close Encounters of the Marital Kind
S3:E1212/17/1993
Carol has just bought a book named ""Ten Minutes Per Day to a Better Marriage."" The book advised to tell each other a big secret. Carol tells him about a secret bank account with a lot of money in it. Frank feels betrayed and goes to his office to spend the night. Upon seeking support from Cody, Frank discovers that he was unsure in other areas (he had not thrown away his little black book). They realize that in the end they are better off for having told each other. Karen just passed her drivers license exam, creating three drivers (Dana, JT, and Karen) and no car. They decide it is time to buy their own car, but they can only come up with $400. JT manages to find an old Volkswagen Bug for $400. The car is a disaster and although Cody works on it, it is barely driveable. Cody and JT sell it for parts and get $425, and they keep the 8 track player with a Sonny and Cher 8 track.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Bob Rosenfarb
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Bob Rosenfarb
5.0/10(1 votes)
#15 - Bad Girls
S3:E131/7/1994
The boys at school tell Al they do not want to play with a girl; Frank tells Al to try to get more friends that are girls. Al begins to hang around with the only girls who she feels will be her friends. Al starts to wear combat uniforms, skip class, and stay out past curfew. Frank overreacts and the two get into a big argument. When Al's friends get her to steal Cody's guitar, Cody hears them and lets her take it. Cody points out to both Frank and Al that their relationship is vital. Carol sees the TV set being temporarily out of order, as a great time to start a desperate attempt at ""Family Fun Time."" The only thing Carol is able to get them to enjoy doing together is leaving. In the end, the TV is fixed and the Lambert boys are watching Baywatch again.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#16 - Read All About It
S3:E141/14/1994
Cody reads so much that he ruins the stories (by telling the ending) for JT, Al, and Carol and desserts (by crushing it with a big box of books) for Dana. However, it does yield him a job as a story time reader for the little kids at the library. He makes the reading time tons of fun and even teaches one of Brendan's friends to read. While filling out their taxes, Frank realizes Carol made more money than he did the previous year. He gets frantic over not being the ""provider"" of the family so he looks for a part time job. He looks everywhere but ends up passing out coupons for a local fried chicken restaurant while dressed as a chicken. Carol is, however, able to convince him that he is a great companion and father and she is perfectly satisfied with that.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#17 - My Bodyguard
S3:E162/4/1994
Cody acquires this strange ability to see things in the future accurately (although unclear and misleading at times). He goes to Chicago to protect Dana, and although he ruins her interview, he does help her out. Carol begins what Mark describes as ""aging"" by snoring- VERY loudly. She keeps everybody up several nights in a row, until Frank finally comes up with a plan (airport earmuffs for him and soundproofing the door for the kids).
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#18 - Pretty Woman
S3:E172/18/1994
Karen is having an interview at the mall for a jeans ad. The photographer is looking for a girl to promote the jeans ""with an attitude."" Al actually gets the job, which drives Karen crazy. Karen gets mad at Carol because she is not showing favoritism to her daughter (over her step-daughter). Carol is hurt and says that the whole Lambert/Foster family should be thought of as one family. Karen gets the point and is able to calm down Al with a ""family"" pep talk. Cody thinks he is the victim of some mysterious curse that makes him lucky at whatever he does, thus taking all the fun and excitement out of life. When Frank makes him play poker, the curse is re-activated. Cody wins $1,000 and a trip to the Bahamas, but breaks the curse by having an industrial accident in his van.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#19 - Nightmare Weekend
S3:E182/25/1994
Frank and Carol decide to celebrate the anniversary of thier first encounter (on June 20, 1993),by taking a weekend trip,thus leaving the kids alone.Carol and Frank get stuck at the hotel where Frank once spent a weekend with a red-headed ex-girlfriend of his.Ofcourse Carol gets mad several times before they finally make up and head home. Mark laughs at the horror film (Chainsaw Slumberparty II) J.T.,Al and Brendan are watching.They decide to take revenge by making Mark think the house is haunted.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#20 - Feeling Forty
S3:E203/25/1994
Worried about turning forty, Carol exercies and diets with Karen. When Karen steps out, Carol sees a commercial for Skinny Tabs and orders them. She loses three pounds, but possesses so much energy that she drives everybody crazy and is constantly talking and working. Frank tells her that he loves her for who she is, not just her body. Al has to write a report on Abe Lincoln, but all the books on him are checked out. Cody takes her to Madame Sonya and he encounters Lincoln. Al does not believe and therefore, she does not see Abe, but she has a great idea for her report-- Abe in the 20th Century. Cody gives Abe's golf scorecard to Carol for her birthday.
Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Bob Colleary
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Director:Rich Correll
Writer:Bob Colleary
5.0/10(1 votes)
#21 - Great Expectations
S3:E225/6/1994
Cody's father comes to see him on his 21st birthday. He gives him a job as executive VP of his successful real estate business. Cody comes into the first meeting and disturbs everyone even coming up with an idea to build a mall on the beach that looks like a sandcastle. Upon advice from Frank, Cody decides to quit realizing,he will not be happy. Carol keeps setting up Dana and Karen with blind dates. They are all bad especially the latest one where the guys are dressed up like Beavis and Butthead and bring fake snot. They plot with Frank to pay Carol back. Afterward, they all agree to not have anymore blind dates. Carol reneges, though, and tries to get them to date a cute guy, but they refuse before seeing him and later try to get him.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#22 - Midnight Caller
S5:E410/20/1995
While working on the Family Helpline, J.T. and Dana mishandle a call from a troubled teen.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#23 - Maid to Order
S5:E510/27/1995
J.T. hires an aspiring model to be the family's maid; and Carol gets overly involved in Karen's cheerleading tryouts.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#24 - Don't Ask
S5:E611/3/1995
Tired of the kids acting "either lazy, selfish or brain-dead," Frank and Carol order them to fend for themselves.
Director:Joel Zwick
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Joel Zwick
Writer:Unknown
5.0/10(1 votes)
#25 - Hello, Mister Chips
S5:E711/10/1995
Al takes a job at a cookie store and has to work alongside the company mascot, Mr. Chips the chimpanzee.
Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Bob Rosenfarb
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Director:Patrick Duffy
Writer:Bob Rosenfarb

Worst Episodes Summary

"Sister Act" is the worst rated episode of "Step by Step". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Patrick Duffy and written by Bob Colleary, it aired on 11/26/1993. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Thirteen with a Bullet".