8 Simple Rules (originally known as 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter) is an American television sitcom created by Tracy Gamble and based on the book "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter: And other tips from a beleaguered father (not that any of them work)" by W. Bruce Cameron about a loving father coming to terms with his growing daughters.
Originally starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal, the show had to deal with the death of Ritter early in Season 2, which was written into the show's plot.
The series aired in the USA on ABC from 17 September, 2002 to 15 April, 2005. There are 76 half-hour episodes in three seasons.
8 Simple Rules originally aired in South Africa on SABC3 from 28 March, 2005 to 13 August, 2007. It later aired on DStv's Comedy Central channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on Comedy Central on Tuesday 28 August 2012, at 17h55. New episodes broadcast daily, on weekdays. There are 24 episodes in the third and final season.
Season 1
John Ritter and Katey Sagal return to series television in this charming family comedy about a loving, rational dad who suddenly discovers that his two darling daughters have unexpectedly morphed into hormonally-charged, incomprehensible teenagers.
Paul Hennessy (Ritter) has grown accustomed to his stay-at-home wife Cate (Sagal) taking care of their son and two daughters. His job as a sports writer kept him on the road a lot during the kids' formative years.
But when Cate decides to return to work as a hospital nurse, Paul takes a job as a columnist and agrees to make the duties of raising the kids a shared experience.
Paul fondly remembers the days when his daughters would sit on his lap singing silly songs, and he was their hero for scaring away monsters from under the bed. But those days are long gone.
Although not new to fatherhood, Paul is just a bit rusty on day-to-day interaction and discovers that he's grown a little out of touch with his kids - especially his daughters. His value has been reduced to a wallet and a ride to the mall.
Sixteen-year-old Bridget (Kaley Cuoco) has matured into a beautiful and popular teenager with a different boyfriend each week and a taste for fashion that tends to be a little too revealing for her father's taste.
By contrast, 15-year-old Kerry (Amy Davidson) is intelligent and cute, but her lack of self-confidence has led her to hide behind a mask of sarcasm.
Thank goodness for 13-year-old son Rory (Martin Spanjers), fondly referred to as "The Boy" by Paul and Cate, who remains on the sane track... at least for the time being.
Though Bridget and Kerry still love their father, Paul has to come to grips with the fact that he is no longer the most important man in their lives at the moment. Dating boys and fitting in with their peers are the girls' top priorities.
No matter what they do, Paul has one major rule that will never change - "If you make my daughters cry, I'll make you cry."
8 Simple Rules, based on W. Bruce Cameron's best-selling book, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, stars John Ritter as Paul Hennessy, Katey Sagal as Cate Hennessy, Kaley Cuoco as Bridget Hennessy, Amy Davidson as Kerry Hennessy and Martin Spanjers as Rory Hennessy.
Season 2
It's a time for healing and learning to deal with life without family patriarch Paul, as the Hennessys discover the frailties of life and the strength of the family unit, on the second season of 8 Simple Rules.
The series was awarded the 2003 People's Choice Award for Best New Comedy, as well as two 2003 Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Comedy and Choice TV Breakout Actress for Kaley Cuoco, and two Family Television Awards for Best Comedy and Favorite Siblings.
Cate (Katey Sagal) now finds herself in the precarious position of raising three teenagers on her own while holding down a full time job as a hospital nurse near their Detroit-area home.
She does, however, get a little relief, thanks to her father, Jim (James Garner), who's been staying at the house since Paul's death.
Retired and separated from his wife, Jim mostly spends his days making home improvements to the house — with arguably mixed results — and, in his own inimitable way, gives comfort and guidance to his daughter and grandchildren during their time of need.
But the family is thrown for a loop when Cate's wayward nephew, C.J. (David Spade), moves in and finds it hard to resist getting himself into trouble or offering questionable advice to the kids.
Now more than ever, Cate needs to be there for her kids — particularly her daughters. Oldest daughter Bridget (Kaley Cuoco) has matured into a beautiful and popular teenager — especially with the boys. But since her father's death, she has begun to question the importance of running with the "in crowd" at school.
By contrast, middle child Kerry (Amy Davidson) is intelligent and cute, but her continued lack of self-confidence has led her to hide behind a mask of sarcasm — which makes it difficult for her to get in touch with her true feelings.
And youngest child Rory (Martin Spanjers), fondly referred to as "The Boy," is trying to fill his father's shoes by becoming the man of the family, while at the same time entering the world of puberty and discovering one of life's true mysteries — girls.
Dating boys and fitting in with their peers will once again become a top priority for the girls. But no matter what, Cate will continue to enforce Paul's number one rule — "If you make my daughters cry, I'll make you cry."
Season 3
8 Simple Rules returns for the third season. The comedy is based on Hennessy family who lost a family patriarch Paul and now have to deal with life without him.
The series was awarded the 2003 People's Choice Award for Best New Comedy, as well as two 2003 Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Comedy and Choice TV Breakout Actress for Kaley Cuoco, and two Family Television Awards for Best Comedy and Favorite Siblings.
In the first episode of the third season, "The first Day at school", knowing that Kerry is dragging her feet over breaking up with Kyle, Bridget takes it upon herself to do it for her sister - which only makes matters worse for Kerry.
Meanwhile, Cate is offered the position of school nurse by Principal Ed Gibb, and Rory's first day of high school proves embarrassing when he has to hit the showers after gym class.
Tracy Gamble, who created the series, also serves as executive producer along with Tom Shadyac, Flody Suarez and Michael Bostick. 8 Simple Rules, which was filmed before an audience, is from Touchstone Television.
The Rules
The 8 Simple Rules mentioned in the series title represent a collection of beliefs that overprotective Paul is keen to enforce on any of his daughters' potential boyfriends. The rules, as stated in the Bruce Cameron book 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 makeup, 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.
Seasons
Season 1 (28 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 28 Mar 2005 | Finale: 3 Oct 2005 | Mondays, 20h00
Channel: Comedy Central | Premiere: 14 Jun 2012 | Finale: 24 Jul 2012 | Weekdays, 18h20
Season 2 (24 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 20 Feb 2006 | Finale: 31 Jul 2006 | Mondays, 19h30
Channel: Comedy Central | Premiere: 25 Jul 2012 | Finale: 27 Aug 2012 | Weekdays, 17h00
Season 3 (24 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 26 Feb 2007 | Finale: 13 Aug 2007 | Mondays, 19h30
Channel: Comedy Central | Premiere: 28 Aug 2012 | Finale: 28 Sep 2012 | Weekdays, 17h55