How popular was Step by Step at its peak

[TMC]

It did run for seven seasons, but Step by Step doesn't seem to be talk about too much anymore when compared to other TGIF-era shows like Full House, Family Matters, or Boy Meets World. Then again, Step by Step to the best of my knowledge, was not syndicated as long as those other those, and only really aired reruns on ABC Family and later The Hub. Plus, most of the actors quit/retired from acting after the show finished (Christine Lakin among the kids being the most notable exception), so it's naturally a bit harder for the show to remain in the public's consciousness if there's no real breakout star.

[Mace Dolex]

It must have been somewhat popular for it to stay on TGIF as long as it did but it was basically coasting along the tails of Family Matters, interestingly enough I just got done watching the entire series on Hulu because I never got around to seeing the last year when it moved to CBS.

It has its funny moments but it never gets as sappy like Full House, resident goofball Cody can get irritating but not so much as Steve Urkel, but in all honesty I always had a thing for Christine Lakin she got so hot as the show continued.

[biffbronson]

I remember watching it sometimes. I thought it was a pretty high-profile series for ABC.

[irehtman]

Originally Posted by TMC

It did run for seven seasons, but Step by Step doesn't seem to be talk about too much anymore when compared to other TGIF-era shows like Full House, Family Matters, or Boy Meets World. Then again, Step by Step to the best of my knowledge, was not syndicated as long as those other those, and only really aired reruns on ABC Family and later The Hub. Plus, most of the actors quit/retired from acting after the show finished (Christine Lakin among the kids being the most notable exception), so it's naturally a bit harder for the show to remain in the public's consciousness if there's no real breakout star.

Yeah I know, but don't forget that actress Staci Keanan moved on from acting to being lawyer. But since Staci is already married, she wants to also concentrate on her own new family in privacy.

[TMC]

I wonder if Step by Step may have fallen out of favor to most of the general public because it's a show that really hasn't aged too well. I don't know how to properly or fully explain it other than it was often very '80s in style and humor even though it premiered in the fall of 1991.

[TVFactFan]

Not too popular since the show never did as well as Family matters during its 7 year run

1991-92

Family Matters #28
Step by Step #35

1992-93

Family Matters-#32
Step by Step #33

1993-94

Family Matters-#28
Step by Step-#34

1994-95

Family Matters-#34
Step by Step-#39

1995-96

Family Matters-#42
Step by Step-#54

1996-97

Family Matters-#-50
Step by Step-#61

1997-98

Family Matters-#108
Step by Step-#110

[JO Sweet Heart]

To me, Sasha Mitchell should've been allowed to do the entire final season instead of just one episode. In my opinion, there was a huge gap in the cast when Bronson Pinchot left to go and do the show named Meego.

God bless you and him and Sasha always!!!

Holly

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by JO Sweet Heart

To me, Sasha Mitchell should've been allowed to do the entire final season instead of just one episode. In my opinion, there was a huge gap in the cast when Bronson Pinchot left to go and do the show named Meego.

God bless you and him and Sasha always!!!

Holly

At the time, Sasha Mitchell was accused of domestic abuse and was later convicted. They simply couldn't have a wife-beater on the series, in a regular role.

[JO Sweet Heart]

^^^ When the powers that be knew that the show would be coming to its end, Sasha should've been able to be a part of all that was left, especially when his every move away from the camera was in defense of his children. 2002 is when he told the Entertainment Tonight TV show about what had really been going on in his personal life back in those days, but I do not know when his ex-wife was finally labeled the unfit mother that she truly was. To me, Sasha was given a complete and total raw deal and in my opinion, he should've sued that woman for character defamation because all that she was guilty of ruined him.

God bless you and him and his family always!!!

Holly

[Hawkee]

I cannot figure out how in the world Step By Step became a hit lasting for seven seasons. I think it was simply a way for ABC to get Miller-Boyett Productions to create another sitcom that would be as successful as Family Matters and Full House for the TGIF lineup and when Step By Step debuted in 1991 ABC had that chance to prove themselves that they were the king of sitcoms thanks to Miller-Boyett Productions. But I think in my eyes Step By Step was just a way to jumpstart the careers of Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy as well as making a comeback for Staci Keanan after My Two Dads ended in 1990. But when you look at the general picture I think ABC was really hoping that Step By Step would be as big as Growing Pains was when it was launched in 1985. But what I think ruined Step By Step and caused it to go downhill was just like Growing Pains when they added baby Chrissy Step By Step added a baby and it caused the show to go downhill and it proves that when sitcoms add babies to the cast it makes the show worse. But a second factor was moving Step By Step to CBS and it really hurt ABC terribly that CBS decided to air their show along with Family Matters but ever Step By Step reruns left The Hub I don't think we will see Step By Step reruns return to TV again because it didn't have a big enough fanbase and didn't do well in reruns
Bestie

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by LaBestia

I cannot figure out how in the world Step By Step became a hit lasting for seven seasons. I think it was simply a way for ABC to get Miller-Boyett Productions to create another sitcom that would be as successful as Family Matters and Full House for the TGIF lineup and when Step By Step debuted in 1991 ABC had that chance to prove themselves that they were the king of sitcoms thanks to Miller-Boyett Productions. But I think in my eyes Step By Step was just a way to jumpstart the careers of Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy as well as making a comeback for Staci Keanan after My Two Dads ended in 1990. But when you look at the general picture I think ABC was really hoping that Step By Step would be as big as Growing Pains was when it was launched in 1985. But what I think ruined Step By Step and caused it to go downhill was just like Growing Pains when they added baby Chrissy Step By Step added a baby and it caused the show to go downhill and it proves that when sitcoms add babies to the cast it makes the show worse. But a second factor was moving Step By Step to CBS and it really hurt ABC terribly that CBS decided to air their show along with Family Matters but ever Step By Step reruns left The Hub I don't think we will see Step By Step reruns return to TV again because it didn't have a big enough fanbase and didn't do well in reruns
Bestie

I dont think it was in the HIT category

[TMC]

Originally Posted by LaBestia

I cannot figure out how in the world Step By Step became a hit lasting for seven seasons. I think it was simply a way for ABC to get Miller-Boyett Productions to create another sitcom that would be as successful as Family Matters and Full House for the TGIF lineup and when Step By Step debuted in 1991 ABC had that chance to prove themselves that they were the king of sitcoms thanks to Miller-Boyett Productions. But I think in my eyes Step By Step was just a way to jumpstart the careers of Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy as well as making a comeback for Staci Keanan after My Two Dads ended in 1990. But when you look at the general picture I think ABC was really hoping that Step By Step would be as big as Growing Pains was when it was launched in 1985. But what I think ruined Step By Step and caused it to go downhill was just like Growing Pains when they added baby Chrissy Step By Step added a baby and it caused the show to go downhill and it proves that when sitcoms add babies to the cast it makes the show worse. But a second factor was moving Step By Step to CBS and it really hurt ABC terribly that CBS decided to air their show along with Family Matters but ever Step By Step reruns left The Hub I don't think we will see Step By Step reruns return to TV again because it didn't have a big enough fanbase and didn't do well in reruns
Bestie

I know that Patrick Duffy had a deal in his contract with Lorimar in which once Dallas finally concluded (which it did at the end of the 1990-91 season), he would get to headline another show for them, which became Step by Step.