Recognizing the other mother and father could have made for some great televison.

here is the premise for what could have been a good episode.

After an argument with Mike, Marcia insists to go live with her father in San Diego

Were the missing parents supposed to be deceased or was it never specified if they were still living or not?

This seems to purposely avoided. Notice that the kids dont call each other my "step sister" or "step brother." We only hear the word step mother in one episode where Bobby feels he does not belong and wants to run away. The show almost erased the fact they are not biological brothers and sisters. Notice in the episode where Greg smokes. Mike comes home and meets Carol at the stairs. Greg is upstairs singing and practicing his guitar. Both parents claim Greg gets his talent from their side of the family. In another episode Jan confronts Peter about being loyal to his sister that blood is thicker than water. However they are not related at all.
The blended family made for an interesting pilot and premise. After the first season of all the boys vs girls stuff and experiencing the issues of all living together the show moved on and pretended they were all biological. It was never brought up ever about their previous parents and life. The viewers sort of forgot all about that too. The only episode where you would be reminded was when the parents acted and pretended to be the grandparents and the kids try and hook them up together. If the grandparents got married then it would really be an odd situation almost like they were all related. Carol and Mike would be step brother and step sister :lol:

Were the missing parents supposed to be deceased or was it never specified if they were still living or not?

I don't think it was even mentioned in the first episode. Bobby had a picture of his mother, and we're to assume she died.

But on Carol's side, I don't even remember a clue.

Yes, if you didn't see the first few episodes, you would never know its a show about a blended family.

If you didn't see the first few episodes, you would never know its a show about a blended family.

I mean the creators vision was to make a show about a blended family because of the rise of those types of families in the 1970's. But after the first few episodes that idea was completely ignored and new viewers would think its a regular biological family.

Yes, if you didn't see the first few episodes, you would never know its a show about a blended family.

Of course, if you listen to the sung opening, it makes it clear for all 5 seasons. After hearing it so many times, most likely nobody paid any attention.

If you didn't see the first few episodes, you would never know its a show about a blended family.

I mean the creators vision was to make a show about a blended family because of the rise of those types of families in the 1970's. But after the first few episodes that idea was completely ignored and new viewers would think its a regular biological family.

Yeah really. It was like the kids grew up together from birth and they really adapted very quickly to their new stepmother and stepfather .

The only time was in Season 1, where Bobby was afraid Carol was an " Evil stepmother" after reading a fairy tail . :D

Why are there 2 threads about this? It makes it complicated to those who want to comment just once.

Is it legal to marry your step brother or sister ?

There is no U.S. law that makes it illegal for step siblings to become lawful husbands and wives.

Marsha marrying Greg would have been a crazy season 6 twist ! lol

Marsha Marsha Marsha !