<P> Frank and Carol meet while vacationing in Jamaica and impulsively get married after a whirlwind courtship . They had planned to keep their marriage a secret, but Frank accidentally blurts it out to J.T. at a barbecue he and Carol hold to introduce all the children . The children are surprised and angry at first . </P> <P> Each episode depicts typical situations for a new blended family . Family members' differences cause arguments and resentments, but over time they grow to tolerate and become loyal to one another . </P> <P> During the series' seven - season run, the main cast changed as the storyline progressed . Frank's nephew, Cody Lambert, was introduced early in the first season as a recurring character (becoming a series regular in the second season) and lived in his van in the driveway; he then left the series in 1996 . In the 1994--95 season finale, Carol gave birth to a daughter named Lily . Like many other sitcom babies, she was suddenly aged five years in the sixth season, after having spent the entire fifth season depicted as a baby . In the sixth season, J.T.'s friend, Rich Halke, moved in with him and the family after becoming Dana's boyfriend . Meanwhile J.T. meets Samantha, the woman of his dreams, and they date off and on for the sixth and seventh seasons . Also in the sixth season Carol got a partner, Jean - Luc Rieupeyroux, at her hair salon . In the seventh season Brendan is written out of the show as is Jean - Luc . </P> <Ul> <Li> Carol Foster - Lambert (née Williams) (Suzanne Somers)--the matriarch of the Foster family, who works as a beautician and runs a hair salon out of a room in her house (which is located next to the kitchen), originally with the cooperation of her mother, Ivy, and sister, Penny . Eventually, with Frank's help, she opens a bigger studio at a stand - alone location in the sixth season . </Li> <Li> Dana Foster (Staci Keanan)--Dana is the eldest child in the Foster family . She is depicted as a smart, wisecracking feminist . She is often seen being openly hostile to the Lamberts, particularly J.T., (with whom she frequently trades barbs regarding his hormonal tendencies with girls, his lack of intelligence and his poor hygiene), Frank (due partly to his perceived "caveman" behavior), and Cody (who has an unrequited crush on her, despite being technically related to her as an in - law). She and J.T. generally do not get along . </Li> <Li> Karen Foster (Angela Watson)--Karen is the middle child in the Foster family . She is an aspiring model and sometimes a country singer, and is portrayed as vain and not very bright, but with frequent moments of level - headedness . </Li> <Li> Mark Foster (Christopher Castile)--Mark is the youngest child in the Foster family, until Lily is born . He is into computers and academics and has a tendency to be timid . </Li> </Ul>

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