Step by Step

A divorced contractor and a widowed beautician impulsively marry, but their broods are in no mood to meld.

Al is in the dumps after being dumped by a boy, so who's to undump her but lovable Steve Urkel.

Carol's new house rules are meant to bring harmony, but they drum up howls instead.

The newlyweds' one-month anniversary is marked by a misunderstanding over gifts and the arrival of Frank's nephew.

Frank's in a lather: J.T. doesn't seem cut out for carpentry, but he bubbles as Carol's shampoo boy.

Frank's kids are eager to compete in the rowdy Family Games--and Carol's are happy to let them.

Dana is beside herself when Cody outscores her on the SATs; the kids help themselves to Frank's clothes.

Frank teaching Shakespeare? 'Twould indeed be nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

To outdo the "superdad" of Al's friend, Frank enters a Human Fly contest in which he has to bounce off a trampoline and stick to a wall.

J.T. and Cody team for "J.T.'s World" on TV, but when a guest bats her eyes at Cody, J.T. gives him the boot.

The family dog-sits a Saint Bernard that keeps Frank away from Carol, and terrorizes Mark.

As assistant manager of the 50's Cafe, Dana runs the ship like Capt. Queeg--and drives the help to mutiny.

Dana's new boyfriend, Daniel, convinces her to be in a local play he is directing. Coincidentally, Cody is working on the set of the show and Daniel convinces Cody to join the acting team as well. They become Romeo and Juliet, and Dana is unable to do a good job, because she cannot see any redeeming qualities in Cody. Then Daniel fires Dana saying, ""The show is the most important thing."" Cody then quits saying, ""People are the most important thing""; which Dana finds ""loyal, generous, and giving."" She finally sees redeeming qualities in Cody.

A nearby family is going out of town and they want Dana to ""house-sit."" Carol is extremely uncomfortable with Dana leaving, but Frank talks her into it so when she goes to college, Carol will be ready. Everyone has trouble adjusting. Cody gives his plant, Gordo, to Dana so she will have someone to talk to. JT complains that the remaining Fosters (Karen and Mark) do not slam him good enough. Frank discovers he misses Dana as if she were his own. Most of all, though, Dana discovers after catching herself talking to Gordo repeatedly,that she does not like being alone.

While at church with the Fosters (and NOT the Lamberts), Carol invites the pastor and his wife over for Sunday lunch. The Lambert's notice that he is a normal guy, and Frank promises that the Lamberts will be there next week. Cody and his friends, Slasher and Death, come too because the Pastor is into bikes. The only problem is that a big televised Packer's game is on that week. While at church, JT sneaks away to watch the game, Frank follows him up and falls through the ceiling. Frank agrees to fix the roof and go to church from now on. The very next week he observes Cody, Slasher, and Death singing, ""Pharaoh, Pharaoh""-- a ballad of the Israelites to the tune of ""Louie, Louie.""

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.

JT is struggling with Algebra and Frank will not let him cheat. Dana doesn't like not having power and having to walk places. JT and Dana agree that being a parent is easier, whereas Frank and Carol think being a teenager is a breeze. They agree to switch places and bet a month's allowance on what is easier. After 2 days, all four agree that both are difficult and become satisfied with what they are. Meanwhile, Cody discovers that Slasher got married by putting an ad in a hot rod magazine. He decides to do the same and gets a response with a personalized License plate.

Mark is depressed about getting an ""A"" on a test, rather than an ""A+."" Frank tries to loosen him up by getting him a video game. Mark does loosen up, but his grades slip, he starts fights, and he becomes addicted to the game. Frank and Carol send him to a support group. There, he recognizes his addiction and begins to work it out. In the meantime, Cody goes to the health food store to obtain a cure for his cold. In the parking lot, he buys a booklet teaching him how to cure himself with the powers of his mind. Dana mocks him, despite the fact that using his newfound powers enable Cody to think of Karen wearing a turtleneck to hide her hickey. Dana, however, when she is unable to get rid of a cold, tries it herself (when no one else can see, of course).

Mark feels his friends don't respect him, and his mother babies him. In order to earn respect he joins a Karate class. His teacher kicks him out for being too wimpy. Cody agrees to help Mark prepare for the big karate tournament (Cody is a black belt) in a month and Mark becomes a totally new man. He faces the best person in the first match and falls behind quickly. Cody, however, notices his weakness and Mark uses it to catch up and force the guy to the final point. Mark loses the match, but wins respect from everybody except the coach of the other guy who mocks him and Cody and then challenges Cody to a karate match. Cody beats him badly. Frank is tired of all the yelling in the house so he installs an intercom that has a radio in it, but he is forced to destroy it when it wakes everyone up in the middle of the night.

Carol adds to her vast collection of ""first"" pictures by taking one of Dana's first day at East Wisconsin University. Dana feels she is being shafted when she receives a ""D"" on her English paper. That evoked varying responses including an ""Another first-- get a picture Carol"" from Al and an ""I'm the smartest now"" from Mark. Carol tells Dana her ego is too big and although she is smart she only had to look to her driveway to find someone smarter (remember SATs). Dana later apologizes and promises to correct her attitude. Immediately after this she finds out Cody was accepted at ""Cheese Wis U"" and enrolled in all her classes. Meanwhile, JT receives a credit card and despite a warning from Frank, he charges $20,000 worth of stuff, including a mink coat which Carol adores. When everything is returned Carol has a hard time parting with the coat. Frank puts the next credit card JT gets in the blender.

Cody joins a college fraternity (Delta Delta Beta),to be cool.But finds the way they treat woman disgusting after Karen attends a party with him. Meanwhile joins the schoolband.

When a part time Sportscaster job becomes available, Frank's old visions of being a great announcer come back. He chokes and Carol gets the job which bums him out seeing himself stuck in an endless life of average. He snaps out of it when Carol tells him that to her he is a superstar. Ironically, when Carol denies the job, Cody ends up with it. Carol's health food kick has the kids buying their own junk food. This causes JT and Al to patrol the kitchen and endless fights over stealing each other's junk food. Finally, a food fight breaks out and when Cody tries to break it up, he is attacked from all sides. As a funny side note, in the middle of all this JT put glue in Dana's conditioner.

Karen tries to become Homecoming Queen, and discovers it's not worth the effort.Cody suffers an identity crisis.

Cody makes the world's largest Jack-o-Lantern and Mark discovers an alien life.

J.T. and Rich are excited about going on dates, but J.T. didn't expect Al to be invited.

With Frank and Carol out for dinner, Dana, Karen and Al are left to watch their new baby sister.

Cody, J.T. and Mark suspect their new neighbor is a jewel thief. Meanwhile, Dana moves out and loosens up a little too much.

While working on the Family Helpline, J.T. and Dana mishandle a call from a troubled teen.

J.T. hires an aspiring model to be the family's maid; and Carol gets overly involved in Karen's cheerleading tryouts.

Tired of the kids acting "either lazy, selfish or brain-dead," Frank and Carol order them to fend for themselves.

Jean-Luc celebrates a lonely birthday; Dana tutors Rich and romance blossoms.

JT, Rich and Dana take a trip to Mexico and wind up in jail; Jean-Luc takes driving lessons from Carol.

19-Year-old JT dates a 29-year-old woman with an ulterior motive; Mark and his buddies are caught watching an adult video.

Al is tempted to toke at a rock concert; Carol's married friend Patti is tempted by Jean-Luc.

Rich tries not to be jealous when Dana's old boyfriend arrives; Frank and Jean-Luc go on a disastrous camping trip.

JT finds romance with a female tow-truck operator, but his fear of commitment may stall the courtship.

With the kids at school, Carol decides to take some college courses--the same ones Karen is taking. Meanwhile, Dana tells Rich to get serious about his education.

Al lands a part in a movie and dreams of a career in Hollywood; Carol gets in a bake-sale battle.

Rich secretly takes dancing lessons to impress Dana at a wedding, but she thinks he's cheating on her.

JT's job at a garage is an accident waiting to happen; Frank is obsessed with restoring a boat docked in the backyard.

The teaching assistant who's been giving A's to Karen now wants something in return; Mark dates a slacker girl.

Carol tries to convince an old classmate, now a rich developer, to hire Frank; Karen wants Dana to join a sorority.