8 Simple Rules

8 Simple Rules (formerly known as 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter) is a United States television situation comedy that airs on ABC in the US and ABC1 in the UK.

It is about a married couple with three children. The father, Paul Hennessy, played by John Ritter, is a sportswriter who is prompted by his wife's (Katey Sagal) return to nursing to take a more active role in raising their two teenage daughters and young son. The show derives its name and much of its concept from W. Bruce Cameron's book 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (ISBN 0761123148).

On September 11, 2003, Ritter suffered an aortic dissection during filming of an episode and died hours later. ABC later 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 Paul Hennessy's death. Subsequent episodes dealt with the family's reaction to his death and their moving on; they were taped without a live audience so as to add to the dramatic atmosphere in respect to Ritter's passing. Suzanne Pleshette and James Garner guest starred as Cate's parents. David Spade later guest starred as Cate's wayward nephew. Both Garner and Spade eventually received starring roles.

As of May 2005, rumors have been circulating that 8 Simple Rules is going to get canceled. 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 PM it had fallen to 94th in the Nielsen standings. Some observers feel that the show should be put out of its misery since there really isn't much a point now given the tragic absence of John Ritter.

The third season finale (in which Katey Sagal's character tells her family that she's been dating the school principal played by Adam Arkin) wasn't 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 happens to star John Ritter's son Jason.

8 Simple Rules currently airs its first and second seasons in the UK on ABC1 and on Disney Channel UK.

Characters

• John Ritter as Paul Hennessy (2002 – 2003)
• Katey Sagal as Cate Egan Hennessy
• Martin Spanjers as Rory Joseph Hennessy
• Kaley Cuoco as Bridget Erin Hennessy
• Amy Davidson as Kerry Hennessy
• James Garner as Jim Egan (2003-)
• David Spade as C.J. Barnes (2003-)
• Billy Aaron Brown as Kyle
• Amanda MacDonald as Danielle
• Nikki Danielle Moore as Jenna Sharpe

External links

• An online version of the original article at the author's web site
• Official ABC Web Site
• 8 Simple Rules at TV Tome
• 8 Simple Rules Fan Site