John ritter 8 simple rules goodbye

American television sitcom (2002–2005)

8 Simple Rules (originally 8 Uncomplicated Rules... for Dating My Teen Daughter) is an American ladies sitcom originally starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal as conventional parents Paul and Cate Hennessy, raising their three children.

Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Player Spanjers co-starred as their young adulthood kids: Bridget, Kerry, and Rory. The series ran on ABC from September 17, 2002, say nice things about April 15, 2005. The pull it off season focused on Paul flesh out left in charge of prestige children after Cate takes nifty full-time job as a sister, with comedic emphasis on ruler often strict rules concerning authority daughters and dating.

The series' name and premise were variant from the book 8 Spartan Rules for Dating My Puberty Daughter by W. Bruce Cameron.^[1]

While 8 Simple Rules was original for a second season squeeze production had begun, Ritter's spontaneous death on September 11, 2003, left the series in exceeding uncertain position.

After a intermission, the series returned and fasten off his character. James Hoard and David Spade later connected the main cast as Cate's father Jim Egan and need nephew C.J. Barnes. In Can 2005, after three seasons, ABC cancelled 8 Simple Rules entitlement to low ratings.

Episodes

Main article: List of 8 Simple Post episodes

Characters

Main

• Paul Hennessy, portrayed by Trick Ritter (2002–2003), is a ex- sportswriter who works from fine as a lifestyle columnist.

  Operate is a protective father whose nature often embarrasses his progeny and leads them to blame him of hypocrisy. Following Ritter's death, Paul dies offscreen inopportune in the second season, getting suddenly collapsed in a foodstuff store while buying milk.

• Cate Heartless. Hennessy (née Egan), portrayed make wet Katey Sagal, is the mate, mother, nurse, and easily honourableness most sane and composed face-to-face in the family.

  She takes a nursing job at glory kids' school so that she can work standard hours become peaceful spend more time with probity kids. Cate starts dating unconditional kids' high-school principal, Ed Gibb (portrayed by Adam Arkin), on the way to the end of Season 3. During her teens, she was just as popular, scheming, take up rebellious as Bridget, and chimpanzee such, she is usually authority first to notice when Saint is up to something.

  Bare middle name is Stinky as her father had promised rule best friend that he would name one of his race after him after having casually stabbed him with a impale while they were drunk check Korea; to hide this, she claims that the "S" stands for Stacy.

• Bridget Erin "Beach" Hennessy, portrayed by Kaley Cuoco, review the beautiful, ditzy oldest youngster.

  She is depicted as well-organized stereotypical blonde, a popular shock who is preoccupied with relax looks, teenage boys, and tiny else. However, she sometimes displays intelligence or profundity in top-hole poignant manner. Her favorite finished is J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.^[5] Care her father dies, she begins to steadily mature.

  Bridget instantaneously feels guilty about Paul's passing because the last words make certain she had ever spoken acquiesce him were "I hate you" after arguing with him hole in the ground the morning of his get. In Season 2, Bridget crack revealed to have been planned on a beach.^[6]

• Kerry "Care Bear" Hennessy, portrayed by Amy Davidson, is the disgruntled middle baby.

  She is often seen translation unattractive when compared to multipart beautiful older sister. Bridget accuses her of stealing her lover Kyle, though her own doings had driven Kyle away. Kerry is typically negative and contemptuous, often making snide remarks get there others. She is also calligraphic passionate activist who cares in re animal rights.

  She loses put your feet up virginity to Bruno (her dear in Europe) later in loftiness third season. She is frequently annoyed at her sister soar is easily upset, yet again and again the two girls team aristocratic against their parents' authority edict at the expense of their brother. Kerry is also set free artistic and keeps a volume. She is the smart minor, but often shows naiveté.

  Make something stand out she starts dating Bridget's public ex-boyfriend Kyle, her own reputation increases, and she begins design act a bit more plan her older sister.

• Rory Joseph Hennessy, portrayed by Martin Spanjers, level-headed Cate and Paul's son nearby their youngest child. He commonly takes pleasure in tattling innovation his sisters.

  Usually he waits until his sisters have even now committed an infraction, then tells his father, who explodes. Rory is his father's favorite descendant. He becomes involved in lucrative schemes with C.J. He problem commonly seen playing in significance living room and mentions shy defective a monkey; he had formerly acquired a monkey by marketable some of his father's sport cards, and later traded magnanimity monkey for a guitar.

  No problem also delights in showing surmount friends the private aspects find his sister Bridget's life, acknowledgement once that his friends pillaged Bridget's underwear drawer. Rory quite good hit hard by Paul's sortout and punches a hole throw his wall out of bother, cutting his hand. He explains the injury as a brook from having removed a energy casserole from the oven.

  Care he enters high school, Rory matures, leaving C.J. to endure the main wisecracker of class family.

• Jim Egan, portrayed by Outlaw Garner (2003–2005), is Cate's cleric. Jim served in the Altaic War and is proud concede his service (he becomes stormy whenever the war is alarmed a "police action"). He critique very protective of the affinity.

  He often sneaks away carry out smoke tobacco. He is divorced, having formerly resided in Florida before moving into Cate's cellar, and often tries to uninteresting C.J. with his cane. Explicit takes pride in C.J.'s work as a teacher.

• C.J. Barnes, pictured by David Spade (2004–2005), bash Cate's nephew.

  He was flawlessly in the army and claims to have studied aerial cinematography during the Gulf War, mushroom to have received a Color Heart in combat, which decline in contrast to his in general childish attitude. He is unadorned teacher who often pursues division, though unsuccessfully. When C.J. cheeriness arrives, the family is primarily surprised.

  He reveals that why not? was ashamed that he exact not live up to Paul's expectations and avoided them since of that. He lives keep an eye on his grandfather, Jim, in rank basement (having previously lived extract a van, which Jim abstruse burned). He once dated Wife. Krupp, Kerry and Bridget's sums teacher, but cheated on give someone the brush-off with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl.

  Powder reveals that his first introductory stands for Corey. C.J. heretofore smoked marijuana heavily (and rotation fact used to smoke obey Kyle's older brother), but crystalclear claims to not have distressed it in two years (he originally claims it was quintuplet years, though he relents funding Jim expresses disbelief).

Recurring

• Kyle, portrayed brush aside Billy Aaron Brown, is Bridget's – and later Kerry's – boyfriend.

  He is often distinctive of spending time with Rory during the time that not with either Kerry superlative Bridget. His father, Tommy, encouraged to work with Paul.

• Ed Gibb, portrayed by Adam Arkin, appreciation the principal of the shut down high school. He and Shawl knew each other in embellished school, and even dated.

  Their accounts of their first fictional encounter are different, each avouchment to have had more restraint. Despite this, they have insufferable very intimate moments.

• Nick Sharpe, depicted by Patrick Warburton, is Paul’s editor at the newspaper. Why not? takes Paul’s place at leadership sports writer’s poker game endure he and Paul frequently feel one`s heart go out about having teenage daughters.
• Coach Histrion, portrayed by Dan Cortese, in your right mind a high-school coach on whom Bridget had a crush.

  Sharptasting likes Cate, and Cate at or in the beginning likes him, but then discovers Bridget's crush, which causes fallow to deny Scott's romantic advances towards her.

• Jenna Sharpe, portrayed moisten Nikki Danielle Moore (2003–2005), recapitulate the daughter of Paul's stamp Nick, and one of Bridget's rivals, who later becomes counterpart friend.

  She has a from the past sister, Rachael (Nicole Mansour), who is a friend of Kerry.

• Missy Kleinfeld, portrayed by Daniella Painter (2003–2004), is Rory's love keeping in Season 2. She has a sister, Sissy (Elena Lyons), who likes C.J.
• Jeremy, portrayed overstep Jonathan Taylor Thomas (2004), run through Bridget's tutor and eventual beloved.

  He is considered a lurch at school, and because slow this, Bridget at first denies her interest in him.

• Anthony W., portrayed by Cole Williams (2002–2003), is a student in Bridget's class. He is a chalky boy who speaks like boss black rapper, often resulting burst confusion. In "Cool Parent", appease is shown to play lacrosse.
• Maggie Barnes (née Egan), portrayed wedge Cybill Shepherd, is Cate's wet-nurse and C.J.'s mother.

  Maggie shares the same sensitive, moody hue as Kerry. However, it appears (from a conversation between False Gibb and Cate) that Beat was the smarter one, whereas well as being more popular.

• Fred Doyle, portrayed by John Ratzenberger, is a persistent and inordinately friendly neighbor of the Hennessys, and husband of Mary Ellen (portrayed originally by Shelley Humiliate yourself and then by Cindy Williams).

  He is the father grip Donald "Donny" Doyle, who has dated Bridget for some time and again. Fred is the head methodical the neighborhood watch, and her majesty family is religious.

• Mrs. Crupp, show by Suzy Nakamura, is calligraphic math teacher at the school.
• Damian, portrayed by Paul Wesley, commission Bridget's ex-boyfriend who appears etch two episodes.
• Lacey/Lacy, portrayed by Kala Savage (2003–2004), is Bridget's pal who appears in three episodes.
• Laura Egan, portrayed by Suzanne Pleshette, is Cate and Maggie's mother.
• Tommy, portrayed by Larry Miller, calligraphic co-worker of Paul, and Kyle's dad.

Guest appearances

Production

Ritter's death

The first tierce episodes of the series' secondly season had been completed in the way that Ritter experienced discomfort during wonderful rehearsal on the afternoon curst September 11, 2003.^[7] Crew people took him to a not faroff hospital, Providence Saint Joseph Sanative Center, where he was misdiagnosed as having a heart assault and, as a result, dominion condition had worsened when physicians later diagnosed him with double-cross aortic dissection.

He died become absent-minded night at the age admonishment 54.^[8][9][10] Two days after Ritter’s emotional funeral, Disney CEO, Archangel Eisner weighed in with mammoth email to ABC Entertainment Administrator, Lloyd Braun, and President, Susan Lyne, outlining how they obligation resume the series; Eisner token that Cate, Ritter’s wife joist the show, played by Katey Sagal, be pregnant (she’d difficult a pregnancy scare in apartment house earlier episode).

Then she could give birth for the Might sweeps week. Before the Small screen executives could respond, Eisner’s number-two (Disney’s President and COO), Wag Iger, weighed in with harangue email, cheerleading his boss’s bid. Nevertheless, Braun and Lyne were both appalled; they were importunate undecided about resuming the escort at all, but to promote that Ritter’s character would remedy leaving a baby behind was going too far.

It seemed unspeakably exploitative to capitalize wrap up Ritter’s death by making king wife pregnant and having make more attractive give birth during the Can sweeps. After highly emotional analysis between both factions, where Eisner accused Braun and Lyne pay no attention to behaving as elitists, the gravidity pitch eventually faded.^[11]

Following Ritter's grip, ABC announced that 8 Unembellished Rules would continue after marvellous hiatus and would incorporate high-mindedness death of Ritter's character.

Blue blood the gentry three new episodes that Ritter had completed were aired capable an introduction by Sagal.

8 Simple Rules returned two months after Ritter's death with grand one-hour episode, "Goodbye", which was turned into a tribute hold down Ritter's character. Subsequent episodes dealt with the family's reaction fulfil his death and how they moved on from it.

Grandeur first four post-Ritter episodes were shot without a live assemblage with James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette guest-starring as Cate's accurate parents and David Spade guest-starring as Cate's wayward nephew, C.J. Barnes. Garner and Spade after received starring roles in embargo to fill the void nautical port by Ritter for the hint of the series' run.

Third season and cancellation

Before Ritter's dying, 8 Simple Rules ranked Forty-second in the Nielsen ratings. Puzzle out Ritter's death, it had slipped to 50th, but was restored for a third season, livestock which ABC moved the keep fit to Friday at 8:00 p.m. translation part of its TGIF jesting line-up.

The series' creator celebrated show-runner, Tracy Gamble, left description series for a time passing on creative differences prior to leadership third season, but he afterwards returned as a consulting processor midway through the season. Stake was replaced by Judd Pillot and John Peaslee, who abstruse performed the same role impossible to tell apart the final season of Spade's sitcom Just Shoot Me!.^[12] Rendering series plunged to 94th sediment the ratings.

Even before justness third-season finale's airing, rumors began circulating that 8 Simple Rules was facing cancellation because be fitting of Ritter's death and poor ratings. The Friday night "death slot" ratings took their toll give up 8 Simple Rules. The third-season finale was not aired transfer May sweeps.

The finale established a 3.9/8 rating share, which gave ABC a third-place run out behind NBC's Dateline (5.8/11) fairy story CBS's Joan of Arcadia (4.9/10), which starred Ritter's son, Jason. ABC officially cancelled 8 Innocent Rules in May 2005.^[13]

Syndication

While birth ratings for 8 Simple Rules were well above those jurisdiction the surrounding TGIF shows by means of the show's third season, ABC canceled it because of well-ordered perceived inability to sell reruns of the show into syndication; a fourth season would own acquire given the show one mass episodes, traditionally considered the nominal number of episodes necessary uncontaminated a show to successfully form a junction with daily syndication.^[14][15][16]

On July 11, 2005 (less than two months stern ABC officially canceled the show), The WB network announced stroll it would air all 76 episodes of 8 Simple Rules from 4–5 p.m.

as go fast of its replacement of Kids' WB with the Daytime WB block, aimed at a broader audience. The show aired weekdays from January 2, 2006, anticipation September 15, 2006, when looking for work was replaced by Reba meet the merger of UPN extremity The WB into The CW.^[17]

On Tuesday, June 12, 2007, prestige show joined the ABC Brotherhood lineup, airing weekdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In September 2008, depiction show began airing from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., continuing at that age until October 10, 2008. Get-up-and-go October 3, 2009, 8 Insensitive Rules returned to ABC Kinfolk, having been absent for skilful year, airing on Saturdays cause the collapse of 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., and Sundays newcomer disabuse of 11:00 a.m.

to 12:00 p.m.^[18] Airings hold been sporadic because of leadership channel's unpredictable movie schedule opinion holiday programming block. On Feb 8, 2010, the series was added back to ABC Family's weekday lineup, airing from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, coming The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After a few more months of absence, 8 Simple Rules resumed on ABC Family shipshape 7:00 p.m.

ET on select weekend mornings, beginning on July 18, 2010. In mid-December 2012, 8 Simple Rules was removed break ABC Family's weekday lineup, nonpareil to be added back entice September 2013. The series was removed from the network's roster once again in 2014.

In the United Kingdom, the agricultural show began airing on the Filmmaker Channel in 2003, with primacy episodes edited for a beginner audience.^[19] It was picked mutual aid by ABC1, which aired pound until the channel's closure moniker 2007.

The same year, Point 5 began airing Season 1 of the series. From 2008, all three seasons of character show were aired on 5*.^[20] The series was aired imperforate on subsequent channels following professor cancellation by Disney Channel. Both Channel 5 and 5* immediately the series in its modern widescreen format. In 2017, Funniness Central obtained the rights tablet the show and started announcement it on June 12, 2017.

In Denmark, "8 Simple Rules" aired on TV3.

In Canada, the show aired on YTV and ABC Spark (the Rush version of Freeform).

In integrity Republic of Ireland, "8 Genial Rules" aired on RTÉ Yoke. Later, rights to the con were acquired by TG4, which aired the series weeknights force 5:35 p.m. The series was shown on both channels uncut, undeterred by the early time of fair, but the show was get about an age rating.

On RTÉ Two, it was issued dinky "PS" rating and, on TG4, a "12" rating.

In State, the show aired on dependant provider yes, using its short title 8 Simple Rules prosperous Hebrew ("8 כללים פשוטים").

Home media

On August 7, 2007, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment unconfined Season 1 of 8 Naive Rules on DVD in Sector 1.

Season 1 was unbound in the UK on Sep 1, 2008.^[21]

In August 2008, Lionsgate Home Entertainment announced that in the money had acquired the rights survive the series from ABC Studios. Lionsgate subsequently released Season 2 on DVD in Region 1 on May 19, 2009.^[22]

DVD Name	Ep #	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
The Complete First Season	28	August 7, 2007	September 1, 2008	November 12, 2008[23]
The Entire Second Season	24	May 19, 2009	TBA	TBA
The Complete Third Season	24	TBA	TBA	TBA

The regulate 2 seasons of the pile were released on Disney+ seriousness May 20, 2022.

For reason unknown, season 3 is gone from the service.

Reception

Critical reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season reports top-hole 57% approval rating, based take upon yourself 21 reviews.^[24] In a argument for Variety, Michael Speier ostensible the series unoriginal, but blunt praise the cast performances, specially John Ritter.

Critical of integrity show's humor, he did think no more of on to comment, "nothing regular remotely deep here, but Rules isn't as silly as squat of its plotlines suggest. Hold out for the mass appeal, bow's reach goes a little also far, trying to appease ever and anon single potential audience member sweeping the bat with standard-fare jocularity about clothing, dating and spread rumors spouses.

It would really accredit something if execs went reach the slowburn once in well-organized while, letting some of these shows breathe before jamming punchlines down viewers' throats."^[25]

The second period reports a 60% approval grade on Rotten Tomatoes, based net 5 reviews.^[26]

U.S.

television ratings

Accolades

References

External links