Step by Step was a sitcom that ran on network ABC from 1991 to 1997. It then ran for one more season on CBS. The series was part of the Friday night comedy line-up TGIF, which also included Full House and Perfect Strangers. It starred television veterans Suzanne Somers from Three’s Company and Patrick Duffy from Dallas. They played single parents to three kids each. When they marry, their kids all move in to one house, and have to learn how to get along as a family. The premise is very similar to The Brady Bunch.
The show is set in Port Washington, Wisconsin, but like most sitcoms, was filmed in Hollywood.
The House
The house used for establishing shots on the series is located in Pasadena. It’s located on a quiet residential street. No filming took place at this locations, but shots of the house appeared in nearly every episode. Even in 2023, the house looks nearly identical to how it did in the 1990s.
Port Washington
In the opening credits, we see several shots of “Port Washington”, where the show is set. Of course, these shots are not actually from that location at all. The locations featured are in South Pasadena, including the South Pasadena Historical Museum. I imagine the producers thought this area conveyed the small town look that they were going for.
The opening theme park scenes were filmed at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita. The wooden roller coaster is not actually on the shows of Lake Michigan, as the water was digitally added in post-production. I haven’t had a chance to go to this theme park yet, but hopefully will have pictures coming in the future.
Warner Bros. Studios
The series was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. The production used Stage 8, which held the various sets. While nothing remains from Step by Step, you can still take one of the public tours of the Warner Bros. Studios.