Step by Step backdrop
Comedy•Family

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!

Binge this in 2d 10h•Peaking at 7.7/10

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

Airs on
ABCCBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Step by Step Season 6 Episode 10 - Locket Man
    5.4/10(90 votes)

    #1 - Locket Man

    S6:E10

    Rich's gift to Dana turns out out be a locket he'd given another girl years earlier; meanwhile, Frank begins to feel his age.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Step by Step Season 3 Episode 20 - Feeling Forty
    5.7/10(85 votes)

    #2 - Feeling Forty

    S3:E20

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 12 - Boys Will Be Boys
    5.8/10(104 votes)

    #3 - Boys Will Be Boys

    S2:E12

    A visit by Frank's boorish bud sends Carol into orbit; Cody becomes attached to a live holiday turkey he won in a raffle.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Matt Ember

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Step by Step Season 1 Episode 18 - School Daze
    5.9/10(114 votes)

    #4 - School Daze

    S1:E18

    Carol returns to college as a student, but she's also a committed mother, wife, and beautician, and soon everyone's ready to be committed.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Step by Step Season 6 Episode 15 - Future Shock
    5.9/10(76 votes)

    #5 - Future Shock

    S6:E15

    Rich and Dana feel matrimonial pressure after attending a friend's wedding; Jean-Luc and Frank get zonked on homemade medicine.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 5 - It's a Dog's Life
    6.0/10(105 votes)

    #6 - It's a Dog's Life

    S2:E5

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

    Director:John Tracy
    Writer:Matt Ember

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Step by Step

    READ
  7. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 9 - The Making of the President
    6.0/10(104 votes)

    #7 - The Making of the President

    S2:E9

    It's J.T. vs. Dana for student-body president, pitting schmo against smarty--and Frank against Carol.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Step by Step Season 3 Episode 12 - Close Encounters of the Marital Kind
    6.0/10(86 votes)

    #8 - Close Encounters of the Marital Kind

    S3:E12

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Step by Step Season 6 Episode 2 - Crazy Love
    6.0/10(80 votes)

    #9 - Crazy Love

    S6:E2

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

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 7 - Model Daughter
    6.1/10(107 votes)

    #10 - Model Daughter

    S2:E7

    Karen's modeling job rouses the mother hen in Carol; the flu hits at home, testing the nurse in Frank.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 11 - Back to Basics
    6.1/10(103 votes)

    #11 - Back to Basics

    S2:E11

    Brendan feels responsible for a crackdown on family spending after he loses a rented video.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 16 - No Business Like Show Business
    6.1/10(101 votes)

    #12 - No Business Like Show Business

    S2:E16

    J.T. sees himself a star when a producer likes his TV show; in art class, Carol sees a lot that Frank doesn't like.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Matt Ember

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 23 - This Old House
    6.1/10(100 votes)

    #13 - This Old House

    S2:E23

    Frank's hired to raze a house for a new building, but a family's still living there--with nowhere to go.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Step by Step Season 3 Episode 3 - Never on Sunday
    6.1/10(99 votes)

    #14 - Never on Sunday

    S3:E3

    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.""

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Step by Step Season 6 Episode 20 - The Facts of Life
    6.1/10(71 votes)

    #15 - The Facts of Life

    S6:E20

    Frank and Carol tell Lilly about the facts of life, she then tells her kindergarten classmates; JT and Rich play the horses.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Bob Rosenfarb

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Step by Step Season 1 Episode 15 - Drive, He Said
    6.2/10(117 votes)

    #16 - Drive, He Said

    S1:E15

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

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 2 - To B or Not to Be
    6.2/10(104 votes)

    #17 - To B or Not to Be

    S2:E2

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

    Director:Joel Zwick
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 4 - JT's World
    6.2/10(118 votes)

    #18 - JT's World

    S2:E4

    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.

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 19 - Aloha (2)
    6.2/10(104 votes)

    #19 - Aloha (2)

    S2:E19

    Amid Maui's adventures, will...Dana marry Brian? Carol relax? J.T. and Cody find treasure? Brendan, Mark and Al win a helicopter tour?

    Director:Rich Correll
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Step by Step Season 2 Episode 21 - The Un-Natural
    6.2/10(91 votes)

    #20 - The Un-Natural

    S2:E21

    Carol goes to bat for Mark when he wants on the Cubs just before their big game.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Bob Rosenfarb

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Step by Step Season 3 Episode 9 - The Marrying Dude
    6.2/10(92 votes)

    #21 - The Marrying Dude

    S3:E9

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Step by Step Season 5 Episode 13 - Beautiful Ladies of Wrestling
    6.2/10(81 votes)

    #22 - Beautiful Ladies of Wrestling

    S5:E13

    To win Super Bowl tickets, Frank and J.T. dress up as cheerleaders and face off against a pair of women wrestlers named Assault and Battery.

    Director:Patrick Duffy
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Step by Step Season 6 Episode 11 - How the West Was Won
    6.2/10(80 votes)

    #23 - How the West Was Won

    S6:E11

    Frank falls asleep in front of the TV, prompting a dream of the Old West in which he's a drunken sheriff.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Step by Step Season 1 Episode 10 - Mixed Messages
    6.3/10(129 votes)

    #24 - Mixed Messages

    S1:E10

    An answering machine can be a lifesaver, but Karen doesn't get the message and, as a result, neither does Frank.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Step by Step Season 1 Episode 21 - He Wanted Wings
    6.3/10(112 votes)

    #25 - He Wanted Wings

    S1:E21

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Locket Man" is the worst rated episode of "Step by Step". It scored 5.4/10 based on 90 votes. Directed by Patrick Duffy and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/2/1997. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Feeling Forty".