"8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter" (2002) TV series 2002-2005

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creator:

Tracy Gamble

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

17 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The Hennessy clan -- mother Cate, daughters Bridget and Kerry, and son Rory -- look to one another for guidance and support after the death of Paul...

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Ellipsis In Title | Parent Child Relationship | Sitcom | Writer

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 8 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Katey Sagal	...	Cate Hennessy (76 episodes, 2002-2005)
Kaley Cuoco	...	Bridget Hennessy (76 episodes, 2002-2005)
Amy Davidson	...	Kerry Hennessy (76 episodes, 2002-2005)
Martin Spanjers	...	Rory Hennessy (76 episodes, 2002-2005)
James Garner	...	Jim Egan (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
David Spade	...	C.J. Barnes (39 episodes, 2004-2005)
John Ritter	...	Paul Hennessy (31 episodes, 2002-2003)
Billy Aaron Brown	...	Kyle (31 episodes, 2002-2004)

Also Known As:

"8 Simple Rules" (USA) (new title)
"A Few Simple Rules" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (76 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Television

Trivia:

After John Ritter's death, Katey Sagal hosted the final episodes featuring Ritter.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In several episodes, characters drink "Safeway Select" colas. The Safeway Brands are only available in Safeway Company Stores in the Western US and Canada, in and around the Chicagoland area and at some select convenience stores in the Eastern US. The show takes place in Detroit, Michigan. No Safeway Company Stores exist in or around Detroit.

Quotes:

Paul: Rory, you're baking cookies?
Rory: Big cookies. Man cookies. Cookies with nuts!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in 8 Simple Rules for Banging My Teenage Daughter 2 (2006) (V)

They should be applauded for the way they handled his death.

The writers of "8 Simple Rules" should be commended for the manner in which they handled John Ritter's death. There was a lot of speculation about merely replacing the star with another actor. The people at the show chose instead to go out on a limb and let the show mirror reality. They showed the pain of a family goes through when losing a loved one. "8 Simple Rules" is showing the family adapting to the hole that has been torn in their lives that can never be filled. They are showing the truth. And showing that there still is humor in life. Most sit-coms now-a-days shy too much away from reality and give us a syrupy-sweet, trite twenty minutes of simulated laugh tracks and simulated humor. The writers go for the easy sells and go cash their sponsor checks. "8 Simple Rules" has gone beyond such shallow ends to bring us a show we can all appreciate. Thank you, ABC.