I think its possible Penny and Carol are half sisters. Penny and Ivy's last name was Baker, but Carol says her maiden name is Williams. Carol also says later on her father was a gambling addict who almost put her family on the streets. It makes sense Ivy would divorce him, remarry, have Penny, and then Penny's father dies years later.

I think its possible Penny and Carol are half sisters. Penny and Ivy's last name was Baker, but Carol says her maiden name is Williams. Carol also says later on her father was a gambling addict who almost put her family on the streets. It makes sense Ivy would divorce him, remarry, have Penny, and then Penny's father dies years later.

I never saw this particular episode (where Carol gave her maiden name as Williams), so I'd always assumed that Carol's maiden name was Baker as well. This theory makes sense, or it's just another case of writers forgetting their own characters' history.

I never saw this particular episode (where Carol gave her maiden name as Williams), so I'd always assumed that Carol's maiden name was Baker as well. This theory makes sense, or it's just another case of writers forgetting their own characters' history.
It was season two, episode two when Carol visits her old teacher who is teaching JT now and later finds out she gave JT a bad grade because he's a jock. The quote is:
Teacher: Carol Williams!
Carol: Yes. Well then I was Carol Williams. Then I was Carol Foster. Now I'm Carol Lambert.

Ok. I always wondered what Carol's maiden name was. I was just thinking about it.

I think this is a pretty good theory. It explains why Carol and Penny look nothing alike, have different last names, and even possibly why Carol doesn't seem remotely upset when Penny disappears from the family. ;)

I think this is a pretty good theory. It explains why Carol and Penny look nothing alike, have different last names, and even possibly why Carol doesn't seem remotely upset when Penny disappears from the family. ;)
hahahahahaha

Yeah, that could be it. :)

Too bad though that both Penny and Ivy disappeared after just one season, never to be seen again. I mean, they could at least have made some cameos!

I liked Penny (Patrika Darbo) on SBS. I think her character could've been fleshed out more to give her an actual storyline instead of just a man hungry woman. She did have that one episode where she was getting serious about the mortician.

I'm kinda of glad that Ivy (Peggy Rea) left when she did because she went on to play Jean on "Grace Under Fire" and I liked that character a lot more than Ivy.

to me they added nothing and took away lines from the better characters

Now, now... I think you are way too hard on them. It might seem like they "added nothing", but I wonder if that wasn't only because they never were given that much to do. There were so many characters on the show in the beginning, and it seems like Penny and Ivy were the ones to get the short end of the stick.

but isn't that a blessing in disguise? it gave us so many more memorable moments with JT and the gang :)

Yeah, I guess that they were the ones, who had to go. But still, it would have been nice if they had turned up for a visit now and then, at least in a Christmas episode or something like that.

Yeah, I guess that they were the ones, who had to go. But still, it would have been nice if they had turned up for a visit now and then, at least in a Christmas episode or something like that.

Are you originally from Sweden or did you move there?


I had no idea Step By Step was famous outside of north america :)

Yes, I'm originally from Sweden. But our TV networks have aired many American TV shows.

Now, now... I think you are way too hard on them. It might seem like they "added nothing", but I wonder if that wasn't only because they never were given that much to do. There were so many characters on the show in the beginning, and it seems like Penny and Ivy were the ones to get the short end of the stick.

They were definitely on the low end of the totem pole.

They were definitely on the low end of the totem pole.
Yet again, I believe that Penny and Ivy simply never got their chance to shine, because there was no room for that many characters on the same show, and someone had to get the short end of the stick. And I repeat that they should have been allowed to make guest appearances.

^^^ I agree. To me, they could've still been on the show here and there. I think that Harriette should've still been on Perfect Strangers here and there even after she went to Family Matters always!!!

God bless you always!!!

Holly