8 Simple Rules

8 Simple Rules (originally known as 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter) is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to April 15, 2005, with 76 episodes produced over three seasons. It is based on the self-improvement book of the same name. The show starred John Ritter until his death on September 11, 2003. Katey Sagal took over the show's starring position for the rest of the series's run. Veteran actor James Garner, and comedian David Spade, also joined the show after Ritter's death.

Premise

The rules are:

1. Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.
2. You make her cry, I make you cry.
3. Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.
4. Bring her home late, there's no next date.
5. If you pull into my driveway and honk, you better be dropping off a package because you're sure not picking anything up.
6. No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.
7. If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.
8. Dates must be in crowded public places. You want romance? Read a book.

The third season (after Ritter's death) took a creative turn, revolving more around cousin, C.J., and grandfather, Jim, than the immediate Hennessy family, more specifically not revolving around the raising of the Hennessy girls. After the novelty of newly added ensemble characters wore off, the show returned to its original format.

Notable episodes

The episode "Come and Knock on Our Door" features a dream sequence in which Paul is on the set of Three's Company, the sitcom in which John Ritter gained fame. His co-star on Three's Company, Don Knotts, appeared in a cameo at the end of the episode. Knotts was the last Three's Company co-star to work with Ritter before Ritter's death.

In the episode "Old Flame" (S03E15), Kate sneaks away from the house for an evening with her ex-boyfriend, Matt (Ed O'Neill). O'Neill and Sagal played Al and Peg Bundy in Married With Children.

In the episode "The Doyle Wedding" (s01e26), former Cheers stars (John Ratzenberger and Shelley Long) appear as the Doyle parents at their daughter's wedding. Ratzenberger guest-starred in three episodes, again playing Fred Doyle, the Hennessys' pesky and annoying neighbor. Although ex-Cheers co-star Shelley Long played Fred's wife Mary Ellen in "The Doyle Wedding, for Ratzenberger's other episodes, Laverne and Shirley's Cindy Williams played Mary Ellen. Ratzenberger's last appearance on 8 Simple Rules was on the first segment of the "Goodbye" episode following Ritter's death from an aortic dissection in 2003.

The first season finale and second season premiere featured Cybil Shepherd as Cate's sister, Maggie. Throughout the first season it is suggested that Cate and Maggie have a similar sibling bond to that of Bridget and Kerry, with Cate being like Bridget. But in the second episode, they switched roles.

Production

John Ritter's death

The first three episodes of the second season had been completed. Following an interview on the set with the Museum of Television & Radio, Ritter suffered an aortic dissection. After he experienced discomfort during a rehearsal of the season's fourth episode that afternoon, crew members took Ritter to a nearby hospital, where he died that night following a misdiagnosis of a heart attack. Following Ritter's death, ABC announced that the show would continue after a hiatus, and would incorporate the death of Ritter's character. The three new episodes that Ritter completed were aired with Sagal introducing them.

The show returned on November 4, 2003, with a one-hour episode, "Goodbye", dedicated to Ritter's death. Subsequent episodes dealt with the family's reaction to his death and them moving on from it. The first four, post-Ritter episodes were shot without a live audience (except for the cold open on "Goodbye"), and Suzanne Pleshette and James Garner guest-starred as Cate's parents. David Spade later guest-starred as Cate's wayward nephew, C.J. Both Garner and Spade eventually received starring roles.

Third season and subsequent cancellation

In its first season, the series ranked 42nd in the Nielsen ratings. By the end of the second season, it had slipped to 50th, but was renewed for a third season, for which ABC moved the show to Friday night at 8:00 p.m. as part of its TGIF comedy line-up. The series' creator and show-runner, Tracy Gamble, left the series for a time over creative differences prior to the third season (he later returned as a consulting producer midway through the third season). He was replaced by Judd Pillot and John Peaslee who had performed the same role in the final season of David Spade's previous sitcom, Just Shoot Me!^[1] The series plunged to 94th in the ratings. Even before the third season finale's airing, rumors began circulating that 8 Simple Rules was facing cancellation.

The Friday night "death slot" ratings took their toll on the show. The third season finale (in which Katey Sagal's character tells her family that she has been dating the school principal played by Adam Arkin) was not aired for May sweeps. The finale received a 3.9/8 rating share which gave ABC a third place finish behind NBC's Dateline (5.8/11) and CBS' Joan of Arcadia (4.9/10), which starred Ritter's son Jason. On May 17, 2005, ABC officially cancelled 8 Simple Rules.

Characters

Main characters

• Paul Hennessy, portrayed by John Ritter (2002–2003). A former sports writer who worked from home as a Lifestyle columnist. Described as being "the master of the double standard", a "Psycho-Dad" as well as a perceived hypocrite who often embarrasses his children, even if he wants what is best for them. Nonetheless, he loves his children, and wants them to have happy futures. Paul dies in the second season after collapsing in the store while buying milk. (Though no real reason is given for why he collapsed, it's believed that it had something to do with his heart, as was the reason for John Ritter's death.)
• Cate S. Hennessy (née Egan), portrayed by Katey Sagal. The wife, mother, nurse and easily the most sane and composed person in the family. She takes a nursing job at the kids' school so that she can work standard hours and spend more time with the kids. Cate starts dating her kids' high school principal, Ed Gibb (portrayed by Adam Arkin), towards the end of Season 3. She received her middle name "Stinky" as a result of her father promising his best friend he would name one of his children after him after accidentally stabbing him with a bayonet while they were drunk in Korea; to hide this, she claims that the S stands for "Stacy."
• Bridget Erin "Beach" Hennessy, portrayed by Kaley Cuoco. Bridget is the beautiful, dim-witted oldest child and the main protagonist of the show. She is depicted as a stereotypical blonde, a popular bombshell who is interested in her looks, teenage boys and little else. She has many times mentioned she wears Thongs. Bridget once complained that all she had left was thongs having worn her "only real underwear to church". Sometimes she has a deep or intelligent moment, but these are initially few and far between, yet often surprisingly poignant, like when she reveals her favorite book is J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.^[2] After her father dies, she starts to mature more. Bridget initially felt guilty about Paul's death because the last words she ever spoke to him were "I hate you" after arguing with him earlier that morning, because he said no to her using the car. It is mentioned many times that Bridget has a tattoo, though it is not known what it depicts. (However, there have been a very few times when a tattoo is seen on her lower back for brief moments.) It was revealed in season 2 that Bridget was conceived on a beach.^[3]
• Kerry "Care Bear" Hennessy, portrayed by Amy Davidson. She is the middle child and the secondary protagonist of the show, but she's not very happy about it. She is often seen as unattractive when compared to her beautiful older sister, Bridget. She was accused by Bridget of stealing her (ex-) boyfriend, Kyle, though it was quite clear that Bridget's actions drove Kyle away. Kerry is sarcastic, often making snide remarks about essentially everybody, though less to her mother. She is also a passionate activist who cares about animal rights. She lost her virginity to Bruno (her boyfriend in Europe) later in the third season. She is often annoyed at her sister and is easily upset, yet frequently the two girls team-up against their parents' authority or at the expenses of their younger rascal brother. Kerry is also very artistic and keeps a sketchbook. She is the smart child, but often shows naiveté. After she starts dating Bridget's popular ex-boyfriend Kyle, her own popularity increases, and she begins to act a little more like her older sister.
• Rory Joseph Hennessy, portrayed by Martin Spanjers, is Cate and Paul's son, their youngest child and the deuteragonist of the show. He constantly tattles on his sisters, getting twisted pleasure out of it, as per his remark when he had stirred the pot to his liking: "This is just like my birthday!" Usually he waits until his sisters already commit an infraction, then he tattles to see his father explode. Rory is his father's favorite, being the boy. He becomes involved in money-making schemes with C.J. He is commonly seen playing in the living room and mentions wanting a monkey, which he once had by trading some of his father's baseball cards; the monkey was later traded for a guitar, which was short-lived as Rory annoyed the family with it. He also delights in showing his friends the private aspects of his sister Bridget's life, mentioning once that his friends looted Bridget's underwear drawer. Rory was hit hard by Paul's death and ended up punching a hole in his wall out of anger, cutting his hand. He covered for it saying he burnt it taking a casserole out of the oven. After he enters high school, Rory matures, leaving C.J. to be the wisecracker of the family. However, Rory still had his moments.
• Jim Egan, portrayed by James Garner (2003–2005), is Cate's father. Jim served in the Korean War and is proud of his service (he angers whenever it is mentioned as a "police action"). He is very protective of the family. He often sneaks away to smoke tobacco. He is divorced, having formerly resided in Florida before moving into Cate's basement and often used to try to beat C.J. with his cane. He once sent CJ on a long journey to Canada to buy "acetylsalicylic acid" for him. When C.J. discovers this is merely aspirin, Jim explains, "C.J., the pain in my hip is still here. But now the pain in my ass is in Canada!" He takes pride in C.J.'s success as a teacher. When C.J.'s biological father comes to visit his son, Jim feels out of place and angry because he prepared a car for C.J. after he becomes a full-fledged teacher, but then Mr. Barnes gives C.J. a sports car.
• C.J. Barnes, portrayed by David Spade (2004–2005), is Cate's nephew. He was once in the Army and claims to have studied aerial photography during the Gulf War, and to have received a Purple Heart in combat, which is in complete contrast with his generally childish attitude. He is a teacher at the school and often pursues women, albeit unsuccessfully. When C.J. first arrives, the family is initially surprised. He reveals to them that he was ashamed that he did not live up to be the person Paul had once said he would be and avoided them because of that. He lives along with his grandfather, Jim, in the basement (having previously lived in a van, which was burned by that same grandfather). He once dated Mrs. Krupp, his cousins' (Kerry and Bridget) math teacher, but he ended up cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl. He once revealed that his first initial stands for Corey (while trying to get a woman to go out with him) to Rory's girlfriend's sister Sissy, but Rory said that was untrue. CJ previously smoked marijuana heavily (and in fact used to smoke with Kyle's older brother), but at the start of his appearances, he claims not to have touched it in two years (he originally claimed it was five, though he relented after Jim expressed disbelief).

Other characters

• Kyle, portrayed by Billy Aaron Brown, is Bridget's — and later Kerry's — ex-boyfriend. He is often seen spending time with Rory when not with either Kerry or Bridget. His father, Tommy, used to work with Paul.
• Ed Gibb, portrayed by Adam Arkin, is the principal of the local high school. He and Cate knew each other in high school, and even dated. When discussing it, his and Cate's account of their first romantic encounter varied, with either believing they had more self-control and admitting to the other that they liked the other as just friends. Despite this, they have had some very intimate moments.
• Coach Scott, portrayed by Dan Cortese, is a high school coach on whom Bridget had a crush. He likes Cate, and Cate initially likes him, but then discovers Bridget's crush, which causes her to deny Scott's romantic advances towards her.
• Jenna Sharpe, portrayed by Nikki Danielle Moore (2003–2005). Paul's boss Nick's daughter, and one of Bridget's rivals, who later becomes her friend. She has a younger sister, Rachael (Nicole Mansour), who is a friend of Kerry.
• Missy Kleinfeld, portrayed by Daniella Monet (2003–2005), is Rory's love interest in Season 2. She has a sister, Sissy (Elena Lyons), who likes CJ.
• Jeremy, portrayed by Jonathan Taylor Thomas (2003–2004), is Bridget's tutor and eventual boyfriend. He is considered a nerd at school, and because of this, Bridget at first denies her interest in him by saying it was only because he was her tutor.
• Anthony W., portrayed by Cole Williams (2002–2003), is a student in Bridget's class. He was a white boy who spoke like a black rapper, often resulting in confusion. It is revealed in "Cool Parent" that he plays lacrosse.
• Maggie Barnes (née Egan), portrayed by Cybill Shepherd, is Cate's sister and CJ's mother. Maggie shares the same sensitive, moody nature as Kerry. However it appears (from a conversation between Ed Gibb and Cate) that Cate was the smarter one as well as being more popular.
• Fred Doyle, portrayed by John Ratzenberger, is a persistent and over-friendly neighbor of the Hennessys, and husband of Mary Ellen (portrayed originally by Shelley Long and then by Cindy Williams). He is the father of Donald "Donny" Doyle who has dated Bridget for some time. Fred was the head of the neighborhood watch, and it was noted that his family is religious when Bridget claims she is going over for Bible study in an episode in Season 2.
• Mrs. Crupp, portrayed by Suzy Nakamura, is a math teacher from school.

Episodes

American ratings

Syndication

While 8 Simple Rules ratings were well above those of the surrounding TGIF shows during its third season, ABC canceled it due to the inability to sell it to syndication. Due to John Ritter's death, 8 Simple Rules could not air two daily cycles (with episodes from varying seasons), as some think doing so would confuse and/or upset viewers. However, Danish channel TV3 and the Canadian channel YTV does air episodes featuring Ritter.

On July 11, 2005 (less than two months after ABC officially canceled it), the WB television network announced it would air back-to-back repeats of all 76 episodes of 8 Simple Rules from 4–5 p.m. weekdays from January 2, 2006 to September 15, 2006 when it was replaced by Reba on The CW Daytime.^[7]

On Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the show joined the ABC Family line-up, airing weekdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Then in September 2008, the show started airing from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., until October 10, 2008. On October 3, 2009, 8 Simple Rules returned to ABC Family, having been absent for a year, airing on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and Sundays at 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.^[8] Airings have mostly been sporadic due to the channel's unpredictable movie schedule and holiday programming block. On February 8, 2010, the series was added back to ABC Family's weekday lineup, airing from 6-7PM/ET, replacing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After a few months of being absent on the channel, 8 Simple Rules resumed airings on ABC Family at 7/6 c on select weekend mornings, beginning July 18, 2010, and lasting through August 7, 2010. 8SR currently airs in an hour block from 3:00-4:00 P.M., on weekday afternoons, on ABC Family.

In 2003 the show began airing in the UK on the Disney Channel.^[9] And then in 2008 was shown on 5*.^[10]

DVD releases

On August 7, 2007, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Season 1 of 8 Simple Rules on DVD in Region 1. Season 1 was released in Britain on 1 September 2008.^[11]

In August 2008, Lionsgate Home Entertainment announced that they had acquired the rights to the series from ABC Studios. They subsequently released Season 2 on DVD in Region 1 on May 19, 2009.^[12]

References

External links

• 8 Simple Rules at the Internet Movie Database
• 8 Simple Rules at TV.com
• 8 Simple Rules at epguides.com
• An online (archived) version of Bruce Cameron's article presenting the premise of the 8 Simple Rules
• Jump The Shark – 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter
• James Garner Interview on the Charlie Rose Show
• James Garner interview at Archive of American Television