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Season 1 – 8 Simple Rules

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – 8 Simple Rules 2002 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
57% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Raising the Hennessy's three children -- Bridget, Kerry and Rory -- is no easy task. Oldest daughter Bridget is traversing the dating scene. Kerry is cute and smart, but she has a hard time getting in touch with her true feelings because of her lack of self-confidence. The youngest of the three children, and only boy, Rory is beginning to discover one of life's greatest mysteries -- girls.
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8 Simple Rules — Season 1

8 Simple Rules — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

The first season of 8 Simple Rules is simple indeed, but nevertheless showcases the talents of genial sitcom legend John Ritter.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Philpot Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 8 Simple Rules doesn't need the risqué stuff, anyway; its funniest moments come from more traditional, innocuous situations. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Mike Duffy Detroit Free Press With 8 Simple Rules, you may well have the sense you've seen it all before. But given time to evolve -- and Ritter might lure an audience on the sheer energy of his comic gifts -- the show could get into a winning comic groove. Rated: 2/4 Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic Phoenix's Amy Davidson shines as one of the daughters. Feb 9, 2021 Full Review Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal Based on W. Bruce Cameron's book of the same name, the show is on the verge of funny now and then -- but never quite gets there. Feb 11, 2021 Full Review Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel Every line can be seen coming, the characters are not that engaging and they have virtually no chemistry. Apr 3, 2020 Full Review David Zurawik Baltimore Sun Since dad is played by the likable John Ritter, 8 Simple Rules is fairly likable in a bland sort of way - a very, very bland sort of way. Dec 13, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews
8 Simple Rules — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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John Ritter

Paul Hennessy

Katey Sagal

Cate Hennessy

Kaley Cuoco

Bridget Hennessy

Amy Davidson

Kerry Hennessy

Martin Spanjers

Rory Hennessy

Larry Miller

Guest Star

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 17, 2002 Pilot When Cate goes back to work, Paul has trouble dealing with his daughters' burgeoning interest in boys. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 24, 2002 Wall of Shame Paul's plan to watch an important football game is put on hold when Bridget is accused of shoplifting. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 1, 2002 Bridget's First Job Bridget gets a job at a mall clothing store to learn fiscal responsibility, but she can't resist the employee discount. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 8, 2002 Wings Paul makes excuses to keep Bridget from taking her driver's test; when Paul encourages Kerry to enter an art competition, her submission is rejected. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 15, 2002 Son-in-Law Paul eases up on the rules when Bridget dates a boy whose father is a baseball legend (Terry Bradshaw). Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 22, 2002 Cheerleader Kerry is chosen over Bridget for a spot on the cheerleading team; Paul tries to switch Rory's attention from video games to books. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 29, 2002 Trick-or-Treehouse Paul wants to relive the past with one last family camp-out in the old treehouse for Halloween, but it might turn into a nightmare. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 5, 2002 By the Book Turning to a parenting book for advice backfires on Paul when Bridget and Kerry discover it and turn it to their advantage. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 12, 2002 Two Boys for Every Girl Paul advises Bridget to tell Kyle the truth about her date with another boy; Kerry is dismayed when her dream date does not call her back. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 19, 2002 Give It Up Each of the Hennesseys gives up a bad habit for a week in a contest to determine who gets to pick the family vacation. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 26, 2002 Paul Meets His Match Paul discovers he has a lot in common with his new editor (Patrick Warburton); Paul forbids the girls inviting their boyfriends to Thanksgiving Day dinner. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 10, 2002 All I Want for Christmas Paul searches for perfect Christmas gifts for his family; Cate's church asks her to sing a solo at midnight Mass. Details Episode 13 Aired Dec 17, 2002 Rory's Gotta Girlfriend Paul proudly permits Rory to go out on his first date, prompting the girls to accuse him of having a double-standard because they weren't allowed to date when they were 13. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 7, 2003 Career Choices Paul and Cate are shocked when they're called into the principal's office and told Bridget wants to go to beauty school. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 21, 2003 Kerry's Big Adventure After a breakup, Kerry goes to a party. Kerry is shocked when a spark goes off between her and Kyle and the two share a romantic kiss. Meanwhile at home, Paul and Cate try to discover what is hidden in Rory's secret box. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 28, 2003 Come and Knock on Our Door Bridget gives Kerry the silent treatment after she learns her sister kissed Kyle at a party; Paul has a nightmare about Kyle and his daughters. Details Episode 17 Aired Feb 4, 2003 Drummer Boy Paul lets Bridget learn to play the drums. She later defies her father's rules and dates her drum instructor, Ben. Details Episode 18 Aired Feb 11, 2003 Drummer Boy Defying her dad, Bridget takes the car and follows her older boyfriend (guest star Nick Carter) to his college dorm. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 18, 2003 The Cool Parent Frustrated with the unsupervised parties Bridget and Kerry have been attending, Paul decides to chaperone a party for his daughters and their friends, but falls asleep while chaperoning. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 25, 2003 Every Picture Tells a Story A security camera catches Paul in the act of stealing something from a race car driver's (Jason Priestley) home. Details Episode 21 Aired Mar 11, 2003 Kerry's Video Kerry decides to videotape Bridget for a school project to show that life is easier for "beautiful people." Details Episode 22 Aired Mar 25, 2003 Good Moms Gone Wild Kerry and Bridget are caught partying on the evening news while the family is vacationing at Cate's parent's home in Florida. The news also runs an archived video that features a young Cate, who is very drunk at a bar. Details Episode 23 Aired Mar 28, 2003 Career Woman Paul's parental duties increase when Cate has to spend more time at the hospital; Rory is introduced to the hobby of baseball card collecting. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 8, 2003 Queen Bees and King Bees Paul crashes a co-worker's (guest star Larry Miller) poker game to socialize with his boss (guest star Patrick Warburton); Bridget tries to break up her ex-boyfriend and her nemesis. Details Episode 25 Aired Apr 29, 2003 Bake Sale After Bridget begrudgingly mothers a sack of flour for school, she notices her "baby" is mysteriously losing weight. Details Episode 26 Aired May 6, 2003 The Doyle Wedding Neighbors (John Ratzenberger, Shelley Long) invite the Hennessy clan to take part in their daughter's wedding. Details Episode 27 Aired May 13, 2003 Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman Paul invites Cate's sister Maggie (Cybill Shepherd) to visit when he learns of her marital troubles; Bridget's sudden maturity impresses Paul and Cate. Details Episode 28 Aired May 20, 2003 Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman Cate's sister Maggie (Cybill Shepherd) alarms her by getting a sexy makeover and giving Bridget a water bra; Paul discovers an empty pregnancy kit. Details

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8 Simple Rules — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
James Widdoes, Mark Cendrowski, Gil Junger, Terry Hughes
Executive Producer
Tom Shadyac, Flody Suarez, Michael Bostick, Tracy Gamble
Screenwriter
Paul Ciancarelli, Bill Daly, Tracy Gamble, Bill Callahan, Rosalind Moore, Janis Hirsch, Kim C. Friese, Heather MacGillvray, Martin Weiss, Bonnie Kallman, David S. DiPietro, Philip Wen
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-PG (L|D)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 17, 2002