8 Simple Rules
| 8 Simple Rules | |
|---|---|
The original cast of 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter during the first season. | |
| Created by | Tracy Gamble |
| Starring | John Ritter (2002-2003) Katey Sagal Kaley Cuoco Amy Davidson Martin Spanjers James Garner (2003-2005) David Spade (2004-2005) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 76 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx 22 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | September 17, 2002 – April 15, 2005 |
8 Simple Rules (originally known as 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter) is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from 2002 to 2005.
Premise
8 Simple Rules is about a married couple with three children, set in a Detroit, Michigan suburb. The father, Paul Hennessy (John Ritter), is a sportswriter who is prompted by his wife Cate's (Katey Sagal) return to nursing to take a more active role in raising their two teenage daughters, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), and Kerry (Amy Davidson), and their son Rory (Martin Spanjers). The show, created by veteran comedy writer Tracy Gamble, derives its name and some of its elements from W. Bruce Cameron's book 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (ISBN 0-7611-2314-8).
The rules are:
- Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.
- You make her cry, I make you cry.
- Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.
- Bring her home late, there's no next date.
- Only delivery men honk. Dates ring the doorbell. Once.
- No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.
- If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.
- Dates must be in crowded public places. You want romance? Read a book.
The third season took a creative turn, revolving more around Jim and CJ than the Hennessy family, more specifically not revolving around the raising of the Hennessy girls.
Production
On September 11, 2003, following an interview on the set with the Museum of Television & Radio, John Ritter suffered an aortic dissection. After experiencing discomfort during a rehearsal that afternoon, crew members took Ritter to a nearby hospital where he died that night. 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 reflections from the cast.
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 their moving on. The first four post-Ritter episodes were shot without a live audience. Suzanne Pleshette and James Garner guest starred as Cate's parents. David Spade later guest starred as Cate's wayward nephew, CJ. Both Garner and Spade eventually received starring roles.
Shortly after the third season finale, rumors began circulating that 8 Simple Rules was facing cancellation. In its first season, the show ranked a respectable 42nd in the Nielsen Ratings. It did a little better when more viewers tuned in out of sympathy and curiosity after Ritter's unexpected death. But by the end of the second season, the show slipped to 50th. After ABC moved 8 Simple Rules to Friday nights at 8:00 p.m., it fell to 94th in the Nielsen standings.
Some observers simply could not get beyond the tragic absence of John Ritter and welcomed its end. But others applauded the show's portrayal of a family sticking together and growing after a staggering loss that millions of families have shared. Regardless of either view, it is certainly one of a few times in U.S. television history that a series continued two full years beyond the death of its star. But the Friday night death slot ratings took their toll on the show that had already endured so much. 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 even 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 happened to star John Ritter's son Jason (and, coincidentally, was also canceled due to declining ratings).
On May 17, 2005, 8 Simple Rules was officially canceled by ABC.
"Jump the Shark" founder Jon Hein[1] believed that the idea of 8 Simple Rules bringing in David Spade was like bringing in Scott Baio to play Chachi on Happy Days. Hein added that while he thought Spade was really funny, the show should have ended immediately after John Ritter died.[2]
One episode features a dream sequence in which Paul is in the set of Three's Company. John Ritter gained fame from Three's Company. Also, Paul's wit and deadpan expression are similar to Jack Tripper. His co-star on that series Don Knotts even appeared in a cameo at the end of the episode. Knotts would be the last Three's Company co-star to work with Ritter before his death.
In scenes shot from the landing (where Bridget and Kerry have stormed to their room and either Paul or Kate are trying to reason with them), Bridget and Kerry appear to have separate rooms, but it is shown in scenes shot in the bedroom that they share a room. In fact, the second door is connected to their room via a semi-ensuite bathroom, making it appear they have two doors. The Hennessys are Roman Catholic as we hear Cate Hennessy speaking to a Monsignor about funeral arrangements.
Characters
Portrayed by John Ritter (2002-2003), A former sports writer, who now works from home as a "Lifestyle columnist". Described as being "the master of the double standard",a "Psycho-Dad" as well a hypocrite who often embarrasses his children. John Ritter died very suddenly in 2003 from a heart ailment, his character Paul collapsed and died at the store while getting some milk.
Portrayed by Katey Sagal, A wife, mother, nurse and easily the most sane and composed person in the family, who becomes a widow after Paul's death. She takes a nursing job at the kids school so that she can work standard hours and spend more time with the kids. Aged roughly 50 throughout the running of 8 Simple Rules, her stunning body still managed to give the other lead female characters a run for their money. 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 his friend with a bayonet while they were drunk in Korea.
Portrayed by Kaley Cuoco, Bridget is the oldest child out of the 3 kids Cate and Paul have. She almost depicts a stereotypical blond "bimbo" bombshell, who is interested in her looks, teenage boys and is very shallow. She has many times mentioned she wears thongs. Sometimes she has a deep or intelligent moment, but these are few and far between.
Portrayed by Amy Davidson, She is "the middle child" and not very happy about it. She is sarcastic, and constantly makes snide remarks about essentially everybody, though less to her mother. She lost her virginity to Bruno (her boyfriend in Europe) later in the 3rd season. She is often annoyed at her sister and is easily upset. She is also very artistic and keeps a sketchbook. She is the 'smart child', but often shows naivety.
Portrayed by Martin Spanjers, "The boy". He is usually making wise cracks and is seen going out with Missy. 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 did whatever it was, then tattled just to see his father lose it as well, but he is still his father's favorite, being "the boy". He is also involved in money making schemes along with C.J. and is very immature at times as the youngest out of the three children. He can be seen playing games in the living room and shows signs of always wanting a monkey.
Portrayed by James Garner (2003-2005), Jim was in the Korean War and looks out for his family. He often sneaks away and "takes care" of his smoking habit. He is now divorced and used to live in Florida but now lives in his daughter's basement and often used to try to beat C.J. with his cane. He is now proud of C.J.'s success as a substitute teacher.
Portrayed by David Spade (2004-2005), C.J. is a thirty-two year old man who is Cate's nephew and was once in the Army and also claims to have a Purple Heart in some war. He is a substitute at the school and often tries to get women, but fails to do so. He lives along with his Grandfather in the basement (having previously lived in a van, which was burned by that same Grandfather).
- Kyle
Portrayed by Billy Aaron Brown, "the dumb one", Bridget and later Kerry's ex-boyfriend.
- Ed Gibb
Portrayed by Adam Arkin, principal of the high school.
- Coach Scott
Portrayed by Dan Cortese, Coach whom Bridget had a crush on, who likes Cate.
- Danielle
Portrayed by Amy Davidson (2002-2005).
- Jenna Sharpe
Portrayed by Nikki Danielle Moore (2003-2005), one of Bridget's rivals.
Episodes
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 it is thought that this would confuse and/or upset viewers, although, on UK TV channel ABC1 and Danish TV3, this does occur.
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 The CW Daytime.[3]
Starting Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the show will join the ABC Family Channel line-up airing weeknights from 6-7 p.m. [4] Ironically, it will run against Lifetime airings of Reba, the show that replaced 8 Simple Rules when Daytime WB became The CW Daytime in September 2006.
International
8 Simple Rules currently airs all its seasons in the UK on ABC1. The third season began airing at 5.30 p.m. on March 6, 2006 on ABC1. In Australia, the cable channel FOX8 is currently broadcasting its first season. Star World also airs weekly episodes in India. In Canada the Family Channel plays episodes on Monday-Thursday at 9:00 p.m., and again at 11:00 p.m., (Eastern time) and weekends at 8:15 p.m. In France, the show was shown on M6. In Belgium they air in on the TV station VT4. It was shown in Ireland on RTÉ Two and (the UK channel) ABC1. Also aired in Middle East on One TV and MBC 4. It is currently aired at the Spanish channel SET en VEO.
DVD Releases
On August 7, 2007, Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release Season 1 of 8 Simple Rules on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. The suggested retail price is $23.99.[5]
Trivia
The name of the show was parodied in the pornographic film 8 Simple Rules for Banging My Teenage Daughter.
| 8 Simple Rules: The First Season | ||||
| File:8 Simple Rules Season 1.jpg | Set Details | Special Features | ||
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| Release Date | ||||
| United States
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August 7, 2007 | |||
