Jarrett Lennon Kaufman (The Original Mark seen in the opening) Talks Step by Step

[Lorimar Television]

I noticed that Jarrett Lennon has been commenting on this Step by Step video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ng0yS_Jl5I

He gave alot of cool tidbits about how he was replaced and filming the pilot. (It's him because he has many links connected to himself through his youtube page)

Usually my pilots just never got picked up, or the show I was added to was canceled shortly after. This is the only one that was a big success, but I was recast out of before it hit. Anyway, they did put Christopher in the intro, but it was too expensive to refilm ALL of it. They closed Magic Mountain for the day to film this one.

Christopher Castile, who was a friend of mine at the time, replaced me in Step By Step. Years later I replaced him as the voice of Eugene in Hey Arnold!. Ben Diskin, who starred in Just Like Dad, and also a friend of mine at the time, went on to replace me in Hey Arnold!.

I won't take away from Christopher's own place in it. He picked up the mantle just fine and clearly fit whatever their perceived needs were better.

Honestly, in retrospect I should have known they had doubts when I was the only family member not put on the roller coaster. As for my credit, I think I had the same one as Christopher, with the popcorn. I believe they just redid that with him. And yes, dialogue was identical throughout. They only refilmed what was necessary.

I found out I was replaced when I was told the ABC holiday party was mysteriously "canceled." That seemed implausible and we showed up anyway, it was still going, and I was let in. Then my friend Christopher rushed up to tell me the exciting news that he'd just been cast in a TV series, and his mother's eyes bugged out and rushed him away. Then I locked eyes with my agent, who had told me it was canceled, and he quickly looked away. It wasn't a great party...

At the end of the day he looked like he belonged on the correct side of the family. I confused the audience. But they had to reshoot all my scenes in order to get Christopher into the show. No other way. I doubt they'll ever release the unaired pilot, though, because they'd rather not admit it. Plus I'd need to be paid for that. And I did watch the show for most of its run, anyway. I liked my former castmates.

[Blackout]

poor kid.

[Ryan Chamberlain]

I admit. I loved CC as Mark. But, I feel sorry for Jarrett. I mean. He was so screwed over. I don't even see how he confused audiences when Angela Watson (Karen) didn't? She also has dark hair. Also, Al was sorta blonde. She could have been confused for being Carol's kid.

I'm just saying. I don't see how audiences were confused. No offense to Watson or Lakin. I just don't get how they could have been non-confusing when Jarrett was.

I think maybe MB gave him a BS excuse.

Still....I wonder what SBS with him would have been like. Even though I so dearly adored Christopher when I was a kid.

[Lorimar Television]

Yeah. Angela and Christine both had different hair colors than their siblings and parent. I guess they both look more like their other parent we never see.

[Ryan Chamberlain]

Yep.

I still wish there would have been an episode with the former Mrs. Lambert coming back. I still think they could have wrote in Brendan's absence of him choosing to live with his mother.

[Mace Dolex]

I guess it's the case of the "Chuck Cunningham syndrome", although in this time Jarret was never able to play the role before airing of the pilot.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I guess it's the case of the "Chuck Cunningham syndrome", although in this time Jarret was never able to play the role before airing of the pilot.

Not really, his character didn't just cease to exist like Brendan in the last season, but was recast to another actor.

[RetroGuy2000]

Thanks LT. I never knew there was an earlier actor in the role of Mark.

I guess the 'confusion' comment relates to 'Mark' looking like 'Brendan' (short, brown-haired). I assume they wanted an actor who looked different.

Hollywood can be so cruel. The way Jarrett describes how he learned he'd been fired is so crappy. Just tell him the Christmas party has been cancelled?! Awful.

[TurboFool]

Hey guys!

So I did something embarrassingly egotistical and Googled myself just now. I DO have a good excuse involved a friend posting about Facebook and Googling herself, and me doing so as a joke, but let's face it: I was curious what was mentioned about me out there that I didn't know. Turns out I have a German Wikipedia page when the American one considers me unnoteworthy. Go figure!

Anyway, I found this in the search results and thought I'd comment in case any of you had questions.

To be perfectly honest, the bit about me confusing the audience was conjecture on the parts of the few authority figures I had access to. They never actually gave me the actual reason, which is slightly worse, as if it had anything to do with my performance, it would have been helpful to know in order to further my career.

Here's where the ego comes in again, though: at that time, I was really commonly lauded for my performances. Heck, the only reason I'd even been CAST in the show was because Miller Boyett loved my guest role on an episode of The Hogan Family so much that they actually put me in a contract to star in my own show to be produced within X number of years. The problem was, by the end of that X number of years, they had jack for me, which meant they'd have a large payout and nothing to show for it. So they cast me in this. So honestly, I don't think it was my performance that was to blame, so much as the fact that it's possible I never fit their image for the character to begin with and was only cast as a contractual obligation and once that was fulfilled they redid things.

Or I did suck. It's possible. I've had roles in my career that I looked back on and had no choice but to say, "wow... I must have phoned that one in." As I never got a copy of this, I can't say.

Either way, I was recast. Christopher was a good guy, an audition buddy, and the only regret is that he and I lost our friendship over it. Although that was mostly because he was out of the casting pool and we never saw each other anymore, but I'm sure he and/or his mother also assumed bridges were burned and blood had turned. But I had nothing against him, and I think he handled the role quite well.

One thing left out of the Hey Arnold! notes above: I mentioned Ben Diskin replacing me on the show because he and I starred in Just Like Dad together. So it was a really funny chain of events to get some minor "payback" (joking) against Christopher, only to have another friend of mine replace me when MY voice changed.

In the end, I'm honestly okay with it. The money would have been great, but there's always a risk in getting cast in a sitcom like that, and the impact it will have on your career's image. That said, I took a break from mine a while back, so it's not like it would have made a huge difference. And I do get paid for every single episode, even if it's down to pennies now. I get a small kick out of that.

[Lorimar Television]

Hi Jarrett! I know it's really you because you have the same screen name as your twitter. Thanks for posting on here, I hope you don't mind I transcribed what you had commented on. I didn't know you and Christopher stopped seeing each other though, I know he's a teacher or professor now and quit the acting business. It's funny you say that about Miller/ Boyett liking you on The Hogan Family. The exact same thing happened for Jodie Sweetin for Full House. Although I think creator Jeff Franklin had more to do with it than Miller/ Boyett, as he said he created the role of Stephanie specifically for Jodie based on that episode of Valerie (later The Hogan Family). Christine Lakin did an interview with sitcomsonline not too long ago where she was asked about you, I believe she said she had a copy of your version of the Pilot.

[TurboFool]

Wow, interesting to see how The Hogan Family turned out to be a talent pool for the company. Regardless of how it turned out for me, I do appreciate when producers actively keep an eye on people who impress them and find additional outlets for them.

And Christine might have a copy of that, huh? Hmmm... Might need to see how I can track that down. Or maybe I'm better off leaving those memories lost.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by TurboFool

Hey guys!

So I did something embarrassingly egotistical and Googled myself just now. I DO have a good excuse involved a friend posting about Facebook and Googling herself, and me doing so as a joke, but let's face it: I was curious what was mentioned about me out there that I didn't know.

Nothing to be embarrassed about, Jarrett! It's cool that you could share your memories of the show with TV fans, even though your experience wasn't particularly good. And as you must be aware, Step By Step went through actors like crazy, with Patrica Darbo, Peggy Rea, Josh Byrne and even Sasha Mitchell being written out of the show. So you definitely weren't alone, you were just the first of many.

Anyway, I found this in the search results and thought I'd comment in case any of you had questions.

You're answering questions? Cool!

1. In the pilot, they briefly show the Lambert-Foster family in front of the house, which actually is in Pasadena. Did they actually drive you guys out to that location? Do you remember anything about it?

2. Did you get to keep anything from your time on the pilot?

3. Any funny memories or weird stories (other than what you've shared)?

Either way, I was recast. Christopher was a good guy, an audition buddy, and the only regret is that he and I lost our friendship over it. Although that was mostly because he was out of the casting pool and we never saw each other anymore, but I'm sure he and/or his mother also assumed bridges were burned and blood had turned. But I had nothing against him, and I think he handled the role quite well.

It's good that you remained so positive and didn't hate your replacement. Sounds like you had a really good attitude for Hollywood.

In the end, I'm honestly okay with it. The money would have been great, but there's always a risk in getting cast in a sitcom like that, and the impact it will have on your career's image. That said, I took a break from mine a while back, so it's not like it would have made a huge difference. And I do get paid for every single episode, even if it's down to pennies now. I get a small kick out of that.

You get paid for every episode of Step By Step? Was that in your contract? So you get money for every episode they air, even though you're not in the show (aside from parts of the pilot and the 1st season opening credits where you can be partially seen)?

[TurboFool]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Nothing to be embarrassed about, Jarrett! It's cool that you could share your memories of the show with TV fans, even though your experience wasn't particularly good. And as you must be aware, Step By Step went through actors like crazy, with Patrica Darbo, Peggy Rea, Josh Byrne and even Sasha Mitchell being written out of the show. So you definitely weren't alone, you were just the first of many.

Fair enough, definitely. And quite a list, too. Man, Patrica was wonderful. I ended up working with her again years later in a friend's play festival of sorts. They had a couple short pieces they needed a kid my age for and brought me in, and one was with her. She a spectacular person.

You're answering questions? Cool!

Well, as best I can. We're talking a few weeks 23 years ago, so...

1. In the pilot, they briefly show the Lambert-Foster family in front of the house, which actually is in Pasadena. Did they actually drive you guys out to that location? Do you remember anything about it?

Nope, you officially know more about that house than I do. Wasn't it even the same house used in another sitcom around the same time? I could be wrong, but something's needling me in the back of the head about that. Generally for most of these shows, and especially at that time, they'd use simple stock footage of a generic house and then base everything around that. Some made more effort, though, so they could film rare outdoor shots around it. But everything I did was either on the stage, directly outside the stage (I'm now remembering them setting up the popcorn vendor shot from the opening credits directly outside the main stage door), or at Magic Mountain. For the pilot I don't think anything else was done on location.

2. Did you get to keep anything from your time on the pilot?

I got some cool gift baskets from the network, the studio, etc., which had various knick-knacks and toys in them. And I'd be pretty surprised if we didn't all get cast hats or jackets or bags or something, but as I don't have any of that now, I'm honestly not sure. Pilots are tricky, because the budgets are tight and they don't know what they're going to do with everything, so you don't get to take home props or wardrobe at that stage. Later on things get a little easier.

3. Any funny memories or weird stories (other than what you've shared)?

I argued with myself over whether to reveal this from the previous comments, but I think it's kind of funny and embarrassing, and why not go all the way, right?

I had a HUGE crush on Christine Lakin at the time. Or, at least, I had as big of a crush as a 9-year-old boy can have. I had a small crush on Staci Keanan from before the show (I loved My Two Dads), but while she was very nice, she tended to keep more to herself during the pilot and was very professionally focused, not to mention there was a huge age gap between us, so I spent a lot more time in schooling and in general around Christine. I remember getting into a play fight with Josh Byrne on the set one day over whether she was going to be MY honorary sister or his in real life, while she laughed with us and humored the two little kids (with her hugely more mature three extra years on me).

He made the incontrovertible point that she was playing his sister in the show already which made him the obvious choice, and in my 9-year-old wisdom I blurted out that that was fine, because that left me free to marry her. I instantly realized how insane that sounded, and how it totally gave up the jig, and remained mortified until, well... I guess I'm telling you this story now, aren't I? So forever.

It's good that you remained so positive and didn't hate your replacement. Sounds like you had a really good attitude for Hollywood.

I literally grew up in it. Heck, my ACTUAL first kiss was on camera. From the age of 4 I was in it. So I went through plenty of hits. Plenty of rejection, parts I wasn't cast in that I desperately wanted, shows canceled after I joined, and things I was replaced in. You develop a thick skin. It's easy now to look back at this and laugh. But at the time it was a pretty big blow. There's nobody in that cast who wasn't a joy to work with, and there's no type of job I ever enjoyed more than the sitcom process. It was always my dream to be a regular on one. But while Step by Step was the most successful one by far that I didn't end up in, it wouldn't be the last one. It's part of the job. Look how many great actors now went through a string of failed shows before finally getting one that stuck. It's part of the job. And the heartache is worth all the highs. It more than pays for them.

You get paid for every episode of Step By Step? Was that in your contract? So you get money for every episode they air, even though you're not in the show (aside from parts of the pilot and the 1st season opening credits where you can be partially seen)?

I could have sworn I was actually in more seasons than just the first. Someone can totally prove me wrong, and I'll buy it, but I get paid for every episode in which I appear in the credits, even for a brief moment. Nothing like what I'd get paid if I was truly IN the show, but I get some minor consideration for the fact that they're making money off of my appearance. Because obviously a few quick shots of my face and the back of my head are what made those episodes great.

I get the same for 2 Stupid Dogs, although in that case it truly is every episode. I was one of the three actors who shouted "2 Stupid Dogs! 2 Stupid Dogs!....... 2 Stupid Dogs!" in the opening credits of the show, and so pennies get mailed to me every time an episode airs. Slightly more pennies than normal, too, since it was technically a theme song, and they were WAY ahead of the modern music curve and considered shouting words while music was playing to be "singing," which had a higher pay rate. So every few months I can supersize my combo meal at a fast food restaurant on their dime. Sweet deal, eh?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by TurboFool

Man, Patrica was wonderful. I ended up working with her again years later in a friend's play festival of sorts. They had a couple short pieces they needed a kid my age for and brought me in, and one was with her. She a spectacular person.

It's awesome that you have good memories of the cast. Did she remember you from SBS? It was such a large cast, and you weren't there that long, so I could understand if she didn't.

Nope, you officially know more about that house than I do. Wasn't it even the same house used in another sitcom around the same time? I could be wrong, but something's needling me in the back of the head about that. Generally for most of these shows, and especially at that time, they'd use simple stock footage of a generic house and then base everything around that. Some made more effort, though, so they could film rare outdoor shots around it. But everything I did was either on the stage, directly outside the stage (I'm now remembering them setting up the popcorn vendor shot from the opening credits directly outside the main stage door), or at Magic Mountain. For the pilot I don't think anything else was done on location.

In the aired version of the show, there is a scene, shown here at 5:15 seconds in, where the Lamberts move in to the Foster house. The actors portraying Carol, Dana, Karen and Mark 2.0 walk out of the house (maybe a set, because the interior can be briefly seen and it resembles the set).

It appears to be genuinely shot outdoors because there are birds chirping in the background and something (a bird or insect) flies past the camera at 5:42. But it could have been a backlot shell reproduction of the house, I suppose. Anyway, if you don't remember it, maybe it was a new scene added after you were cut from the show.


The Lakin story is funny, but I won't quote it in case you want to edit your post later. I can see why you'd be a little embarrassed, but after all, you were nine.

There's nobody in that cast who wasn't a joy to work with, and there's no type of job I ever enjoyed more than the sitcom process. It was always my dream to be a regular on one. But while Step by Step was the most successful one by far that I didn't end up in, it wouldn't be the last one. It's part of the job. Look how many great actors now went through a string of failed shows before finally getting one that stuck. It's part of the job. And the heartache is worth all the highs. It more than pays for them.

It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, and are just used to how the industry works. No big surprise, considering everything you've been in, but cool that you just kept going.

I could have sworn I was actually in more seasons than just the first. Someone can totally prove me wrong, and I'll buy it, but I get paid for every episode in which I appear in the credits, even for a brief moment. Nothing like what I'd get paid if I was truly IN the show, but I get some minor consideration for the fact that they're making money off of my appearance. Because obviously a few quick shots of my face and the back of my head are what made those episodes great.

LOL! Well, this one dude has compiled every season's opening theme, and you are definitely visible in all of the first season episodes, even after Sasha Mitchell was added to the credits in episode 8: you're seen where the Foster-Lamberts walk in front of the fountain, very briefly when Christine Lakin points, the back of your head in Suzanne Somers' credit, and again the back of your head when Patrika Darbo is credited.

Although the season 2 credits mostly use the same footage as the first season, they use tighter, shorter shots, so you're no longer included in Suzanne Somers' credit, Patrika was no longer on the show, and the scene where Christine Lakin points is gone. The original fountain scene was replaced with one that is clearly part of a studio set, and you're not in it. The only footage that could possibly be you would be the children's legs getting out of the vehicle, but the kid in the gray sweatshirt seems taller than you were, and is probably Christopher Castile.

Season three apparently uses identical footage as season 2.

Season four adds newly-shot scenes of the kids, now older, but does retain that shot of the kids' legs, one of which could be you (but probably is not, because of the height). But the back of your head is back, very briefly, in Suzanne Somers' credit, starting with episode 4-03. I had to stop the video several times to see the back of your head and the old gray sweatshirt. But you are there.

The later seasons have no footage of you, for sure.

So, definitely seasons 1 and 4, and possibly seasons 2 and 3. And that was probably way more detailed than you needed. But I just wrote it, so I'm not deleting all that now.

Anyway, thanks so much for answering questions, Jarrett. I realize it was a very long time ago, but your recollections are VERY much appreciated on this board. Getting some first-hand back-stage history of the earliest part of this sitcom is pretty awesome.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, this one dude has compiled every season's opening theme, and you are definitely visible in all of the first season episodes, even after Sasha Mitchell was added to the credits in episode 8: you're seen where the Foster-Lamberts walk in front of the fountain, very briefly when Christine Lakin points, the back of your head in Suzanne Somers' credit, and again the back of your head when Patrika Darbo is credited.

Although the season 2 credits mostly use the same footage as the first season, they use tighter, shorter shots, so you're no longer included in Suzanne Somers' credit, Patrika was no longer on the show, and the scene where Christine Lakin points is gone. The original fountain scene was replaced with one that is clearly part of a studio set, and you're not in it. The only footage that could possibly be you would be the children's legs getting out of the vehicle, but the kid in the gray sweatshirt seems taller than you were, and is probably Christopher Castile.

The later seasons have no footage of you, for sure.

Yes, that's the video where I originally found Jarrett's comments. That's actually my YouTube account, and is linked to in my signature also.

Actually Jarrett can be seen in Suzanne's credit in seasons one- five. Season two and three is shorter so if you blink your eye you'll miss him but you can see the top of his head on the corner of the screen for a moment. He actually can be seen in season seven's credits also. If you go to 8:21 of the theme song link you'll see behind the photo booth strip of Suzanne Somers the background has both Jarrett and Josh Byrne riding in one of those planes. so season six is the only season that doesn't have Jarrett in the opening.

I always assumed those WERE Jarrett's legs running out of the Explorer, maybe he remembers?

Originally Posted by TurboFool

I'm now remembering them setting up the popcorn vendor shot from the opening credits directly outside the main stage door.

Ah! I knew that scene must have been filmed on the studio lot, it's scenery is different from the amusement parks shots (of course I mean the updated one with Christopher sneezing). Do you remember if Peggy Rea and you/ Chris looking up and waving was done in the studio? I noticed that they use the exact same spot when they replace Peggy with Sasha in seasons two and three. What about Patrika's credit? I also assumed seasons two- five's opening scene of the cast walking was done on stage, as well as the updated credits in seasons four- five because they look more like a fair than an amusement park, but obviously those were after you left.


Those stories you mentioned were great, they weren't too embarassing imo, and you did make a great point about not being related to her. Do you remember anything about Brandon, Angela, Patrick or Suzanne?

Originally Posted by TurboFool

I literally grew up in it. Heck, my ACTUAL first kiss was on camera. From the age of 4 I was in it. So I went through plenty of hits. Plenty of rejection, parts I wasn't cast in that I desperately wanted, shows canceled after I joined, and things I was replaced in. You develop a thick skin. It's easy now to look back at this and laugh. But at the time it was a pretty big blow. There's nobody in that cast who wasn't a joy to work with, and there's no type of job I ever enjoyed more than the sitcom process. It was always my dream to be a regular on one. But while Step by Step was the most successful one by far that I didn't end up in, it wouldn't be the last one. It's part of the job. Look how many great actors now went through a string of failed shows before finally getting one that stuck. It's part of the job. And the heartache is worth all the highs. It more than pays for them.

You certainly have an extensive resume, you should definitely be proud to be in so many shows! I always watched Grounded for Life, but I had no idea you played Brad's friend. I like it when actors of shows I like appear in other shows. And if the opening credits were an indicator of your acting I would say you did a good job on the show. You looked like you were having alot of fun in your scenes.