8 Simple Rules (2002–2005)
"8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter" (original title)

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, the family patriarch. Cate's parents lend a hand.

Creator:

Tracy Gamble

Stars:

Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 8 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
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 (38 episodes, 2004-2005)
John Ritter	...	Paul Hennessy (31 episodes, 2002-2003)
Billy Aaron Brown	...	Kyle (31 episodes, 2002-2004)

Storyline

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, the family patriarch. Cate's parents lend a hand.

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Plot Keywords:

daughter | detroit michigan | parental death | dog | eight word title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Kabel eins [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

8 Simple Rules

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Television, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Flody Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (76 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Ritter collapsed on the set of the show, and later died, after filming the first three episodes of the second season. The series then went on hiatus for a number of weeks, returning in November 2003 with a modified format addressing the death of Ritter's character. The first post-Ritter episode, "Goodbye," was produced without a laugh track/live audience.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Bridget: Ew. Your filling sucks.
Kerry Hennessy: Yours smells like wet dog.

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Crazy Credits

The opening sequence of the first season featured Kerry, Kate, Bridget and Paul each looking at Bridget's or Kerry's new date one at a time (the scene is viewed from the latter's perspective), the camera panning down to the doormat with the show's title, and finally Rory taunting the date. Rory's taunt changed in every opening sequence (although they were often repeated between non-consecutive episodes).

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.184 (2010)

User Reviews

One Of Disney's Best Comedies

This has to be one of the best comedies on the television at the moment. It takes the sugary-sweet idea of a show revolving around a close family and turns it into a quite realistic yet funny depiction of a typical family complete with sibling and parent spats, brat brothers, over-protective fathers and bimbo sisters. I'm almost surprised it's Disney!

To its credit, '8 Simple Rules' knows it's a comedy and doesn't try to be more. Too many shows (eg, 'Sister, Sister' and 'Lizzie McGuire') think just because its lead characters are now teenagers then they should tackle social issues and end up losing their humour by being too hard-hitting. This is a trap '8 Simple Rules' has avoided; it does tackle some issues (such as being the school outcast) but it has fun while doing so. In fact the only time it has really been serious was understandably when it sensitively handled the tragic death of John Ritter and his character.

And I think, although John Ritter will be sadly missed since he was the reason the show made its mark, '8 Simple Rules' can still do well if it remembers its humour and doesn't make Cate's father a second version of Paul Hennessy.