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8 Simple Rules

Original title: 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
  • TV Series
  • 2002–2005
  • TV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
28K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,650
137
James Garner, Katey Sagal, David Spade, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers in 8 Simple Rules (2002)
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.
Play trailer0:46
13 Videos
99+ Photos
SitcomComedyDrama

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... Read allThe 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.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    28K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,650
    137
    • Creator
      • Tracy Gamble
    • Stars
      • Katey Sagal
      • Kaley Cuoco
      • Amy Davidson
    • 124User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 9 wins & 12 nominations total

    Episodes76

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos13

    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 0:52
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 1:10
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 1:10
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 0:42
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 1:28
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 1:03
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One
    Clip 0:50
    Eight Simple Rules: Season One

    Photos226

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    + 220
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Katey Sagal
    Katey Sagal
    • Cate Hennessy…
    • 2002–2005
    Kaley Cuoco
    Kaley Cuoco
    • Bridget Hennessy…
    • 2002–2005
    Amy Davidson
    Amy Davidson
    • Kerry Hennessy
    • 2002–2005
    Martin Spanjers
    Martin Spanjers
    • Rory Hennessy
    • 2002–2005
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Jim Egan…
    • 2003–2005
    David Spade
    David Spade
    • C.J. Barnes…
    • 2004–2005
    John Ritter
    John Ritter
    • Paul Hennessy
    • 2002–2003
    Billy Aaron Brown
    Billy Aaron Brown
    • Kyle
    • 2002–2004
    Larry Miller
    Larry Miller
    • Tommy
    • 2002–2003
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • Principal Ed Gibb
    • 2004–2005
    Nicole Hayden
    • Jenna Sharpe
    • 2002–2004
    Liam Kyle Sullivan
    Liam Kyle Sullivan
    • Zac…
    • 2004–2005
    Cole Williams
    Cole Williams
    • Anthony
    • 2002–2003
    Thad Luckinbill
    Thad Luckinbill
    • Donny Doyle
    • 2003
    Nicole Mansour
    Nicole Mansour
    • Rachel Sharpe
    • 2002–2004
    Howard Alonzo
    Howard Alonzo
    • Andre…
    • 2003–2004
    Artie Anderson
    • Artie…
    • 2002–2005
    John Ratzenberger
    John Ratzenberger
    • Fred Doyle
    • 2003
    • Creator
      • Tracy Gamble
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews124

    7.027.8K
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    Featured reviews

    bestsitcoms-1

    Thought it would finish, but now is stronger than ever

    I live in the UK and have watched this sitcom in bits and bobs when it has been on The Disney Channel. And I really enjoy it, its a bit like an old-school family sitcom but updated and not afraid to cross a few boundaries.

    When it first started it had it's full title 8 Simple Rules for dating my teenage daughter. It all focused around the dad's insecurity about trying to raise his two teenager daughters who were growing daily and how he couldn't connect with them in the way he did with his son. In these first episodes John Ritter's character dominated the show (and rightly so) but was pumped up so much that Katey Segal, who is one of my favourite actresses, was pushed to the sidelines until they decided to focus on the relationship between husband and wife as well as father and daughters.

    After the untimely death of John Ritter I thought this series may have been cancelled but they carried on and I'm glad they did. Now Katey Segal's been given more to do and they've introduced two new characters one played by James Garner and the other by one of my favourite comedy actors David Spade (who I'm glad's back on TV now Just Shoot Me's finished). These two new male characters fill the gap in the parental hole for the dad. Where James Garner's grandad character is the strict oldie who wants to discpline the kids, Spade's character is the chilled out cousin who wants to be down with the kids and tell them how to be cool but also is looking out for them. These two characters demonstrate both sides of the dad but at the same time are conflicting views on how the mother should raise her children.

    A great sitcom and long may it continue
    juliafwilliams

    John will live forever

    It has been nearly five months since the passing of John Ritter and my eyes still mist at the reality that the viewing public will never again by brought to laughter or even tears by this gifted actor.

    I would also like to add that in my opinion, the overall quality of situation comedies on the ABC Network has declined to a level of near-mediocrity, save maybe for shows with George Lopez, Bonnie Hunt, or Jim Belushi. But it seemed that Jonathan Southworth Ritter was the anchor, the ringleader of situation comedies on ABC.
    cosmic_quest

    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.
    canadian_eh88

    Its a show most fathers and teenagers can relate to.

    I'm actually closer to the age of the son, Rory, but I can totally relate to the two daughters. A protective father, who's out to kill his daughters boyfriends, most fathers are like that. And most teenagers are stubborn and like to break rules. Its real life!
    hartshad0w

    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.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The 8 Simple Rules are: * Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure as heck not picking anything up. * Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them. * Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place around your waist. * Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate: when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I WILL kill you. * Rule Five: In order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early". * Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make YOU cry. * Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her make-up, a process which can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car? * Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places lacking parents, Policemen, or nuns. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff t-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her chin. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Cate: [reading Paul's last article] Okay readers, today we're having a little pop quiz, it's multiple choice, so sharpen your number 2 pencils and put your thinking caps on. Ready? Here's a quote: "Dad, you're an idiot." Now, contestants, this was said to me because of which of the following transgressions? A: Coming to the breakfast table wearing pajamas and black socks? B: Asking my oldest daughter if that guy I saw her talking to yesterday at school was her boyfriend? C: Referring to rapper Fiddy Cent as "Fifty Cents"? or D: Entering the room? Okay, pencils down. Actually it was a trick question. The answer is all of the above. Now do you know how many times I called my father an idiot? Zero. Why? Because I feared him. Back then we didn't share our deep personal feelings, our deepest conversations usually revolved around the tigers bull pen. But my kids, I can't get them to shut up! There's not a feeling that my kids are afraid to express over and over and over. And my wife reassures me this is a good thing over and over and over, and she's always right. So do I wish that my kids feared me? Well my house would be quieter, and I'd spend a lot less time in the bathroom, but no. Because I know that whenever they insult me whether it's a "You're an idiot," "You're a geek," or an "I hate you," an "I love you" isn't far behind. And it's the knowledge that my wife and kids love me that makes it safe for me to wear pajamas and black socks to the breakfast table.

    • 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).
    • Connections
      Featured in Saturday Night Live: Eric McCormack/Jay-Z (2002)

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does 8 Simple Rules have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 2002 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Few Simple Rules
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Television
      • American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
      • Flody Co.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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