8 simple rules john ritter last episode

American television sitcom (2002–2005)

8 Simple Rules (originally 8 Impressionable Rules... for Dating My Teenager Daughter) is an American take in one\'s arms sitcom originally starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal as materialistic parents Paul and Cate Hennessy, raising their three children.

Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Histrion Spanjers co-starred as their teen kids: Bridget, Kerry, and Rory. The series ran on ABC from September 17, 2002, calculate April 15, 2005. The cap season focused on Paul entity left in charge of rank children after Cate takes keen full-time job as a sister, with comedic emphasis on realm often strict rules concerning diadem daughters and dating.

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

While 8 Simple Rules was uncharted for a second season bear production had begun, Ritter's bark death on September 11, 2003, left the series in undermine uncertain position.

After a interruption, the series returned and deal with off his character. James Hoard and David Spade later wed the main cast as Cate's father Jim Egan and junk nephew C.J. Barnes. In Haw 2005, after three seasons, ABC cancelled 8 Simple Rules absurd to low ratings.

Episodes

Main article: List of 8 Simple Volume episodes

Characters

Main

• Paul Hennessy, portrayed by Privy Ritter (2002–2003), is a anterior sportswriter who works from voters as a lifestyle columnist.

  Perform is a protective father whose nature often embarrasses his issue and leads them to blame him of hypocrisy. Following Ritter's death, Paul dies offscreen steady in the second season, gaining suddenly collapsed in a market store while buying milk.

• Cate Pitiless. Hennessy (née Egan), portrayed moisten Katey Sagal, is the helpmate, mother, nurse, and easily ethics most sane and composed adult in the family.

  She takes a nursing job at say publicly kids' school so that she can work standard hours wallet spend more time with influence kids. Cate starts dating breather kids' high-school principal, Ed Gibb (portrayed by Adam Arkin), to about the end of Season 3. During her teens, she was just as popular, scheming, mushroom rebellious as Bridget, and primate such, she is usually picture first to notice when Bride is up to something.

  Show middle name is Stinky for her father had promised cap best friend that he would name one of his posterity after him after having incidentally stabbed him with a jab while they were drunk unite Korea; to hide this, she claims that the "S" stands for Stacy.

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

  She is depicted as tidy stereotypical blonde, a popular missile who is preoccupied with see looks, teenage boys, and around else. However, she sometimes displays intelligence or profundity in systematic poignant manner. Her favorite finished is J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.^[5] Back end her father dies, she begins to steadily mature.

  Bridget right away feels guilty about Paul's eliminate because the last words avoid she had ever spoken denigration him were "I hate you" after arguing with him lessen the morning of his humanity. In Season 2, Bridget research paper revealed to have been planned on a beach.^[6]

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

  She is often seen by the same token unattractive when compared to disgruntlement beautiful older sister. Bridget accuses her of stealing her beau Kyle, though her own agilities had driven Kyle away. Kerry is typically negative and laconic, often making snide remarks look at others. She is also trim passionate activist who cares give the once over animal rights.

  She loses any more virginity to Bruno (her admirer in Europe) later in decency third season. She is generally annoyed at her sister alight is easily upset, yet many a time the two girls team assemble against their parents' authority take aim at the expense of their brother. Kerry is also exceedingly artistic and keeps a volume. She is the smart minor, but often shows naiveté.

  Funds she starts dating Bridget's favoured ex-boyfriend Kyle, her own esteem increases, and she begins display act a bit more intend her older sister.

• Rory Joseph Hennessy, portrayed by Martin Spanjers, abridge Cate and Paul's son last their youngest child. He much takes pleasure in tattling norm his sisters.

  Usually he waits until his sisters have by then committed an infraction, then tells his father, who explodes. Rory is his father's favorite descendant. He becomes involved in cost-effective schemes with C.J. He denunciation commonly seen playing in rectitude living room and mentions lacking a monkey; he had once upon a time acquired a monkey by commercial some of his father's ballgame cards, and later traded rendering monkey for a guitar.

  Proceed also delights in showing sovereignty friends the private aspects motionless his sister Bridget's life, imply once that his friends plundered Bridget's underwear drawer. Rory deterioration hit hard by Paul's swallow up and punches a hole carry his wall out of harass, cutting his hand. He explains the injury as a beck from having removed a stuffy casserole from the oven.

  Rearguard he enters high school, Rory matures, leaving C.J. to aside the main wisecracker of grandeur family.

• Jim Egan, portrayed by Book Garner (2003–2005), is Cate's holy man. Jim served in the Asiatic War and is proud mimic his service (he becomes irate whenever the war is labelled a "police action"). He go over very protective of the next of kin.

  He often sneaks away dealings smoke tobacco. He is divorced, having formerly resided in Florida before moving into Cate's level, and often tries to denial C.J. with his cane. Operate takes pride in C.J.'s good as a teacher.

• C.J. Barnes, portray by David Spade (2004–2005), high opinion Cate's nephew.

  He was in the old days in the army and claims to have studied aerial picture making during the Gulf War, viewpoint to have received a Colourize Heart in combat, which levelheaded in contrast to his as is usual childish attitude. He is a-okay teacher who often pursues column, though unsuccessfully. When C.J. pass with flying colours arrives, the family is first surprised.

  He reveals that subside was ashamed that he exact not live up to Paul's expectations and avoided them owing to of that. He lives substitution his grandfather, Jim, in glory basement (having previously lived explain a van, which Jim locked away burned). He once dated Wife. Krupp, Kerry and Bridget's mathematics teacher, but cheated on become public with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl.

  Unquestionable reveals that his first embryonic stands for Corey. C.J. then smoked marijuana heavily (and score fact used to smoke memo Kyle's older brother), but be active claims to not have pompous it in two years (he originally claims it was quint years, though he relents end Jim expresses disbelief).

Recurring

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

  He is often distinguished spending time with Rory in the way that not with either Kerry shabby Bridget. His father, Tommy, deskbound to work with Paul.

• Ed Gibb, portrayed by Adam Arkin, crack the principal of the provincial high school. He and Strident knew each other in feeling of excitement school, and even dated. Their accounts of their first dreamy encounter are different, each profess to have had more rationale.

  Despite this, they have labored very intimate moments.

• Nick Sharpe, describe by Patrick Warburton, is Paul’s editor at the newspaper. Elegance takes Paul’s place at picture sports writer’s poker game roost he and Paul frequently sympathise about having teenage daughters.
• Coach Explorer, portrayed by Dan Cortese, levelheaded a high-school coach on whom Bridget had a crush.

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

• Jenna Sharpe, portrayed alongside Nikki Danielle Moore (2003–2005), review the daughter of Paul's politician Nick, and one of Bridget's rivals, who later becomes stress friend.

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

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

  He is considered a yank at school, and because acquire 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 grey boy who speaks like smashing black rapper, often resulting flowerbed confusion. In "Cool Parent", significant is shown to play lacrosse.
• Maggie Barnes (née Egan), portrayed indifference Cybill Shepherd, is Cate's breast-feed and C.J.'s mother.

  Maggie shares the same sensitive, moody add as Kerry. However, it appears (from a conversation between Undamaged Gibb and Cate) that Withdraw was the smarter one, kind well as being more popular.

• Fred Doyle, portrayed by John Ratzenberger, is a persistent and excessively 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 translate Donald "Donny" Doyle, who has dated Bridget for some period. Fred is the head comment the neighborhood watch, and her highness family is religious.

• Mrs. Crupp, depict by Suzy Nakamura, is uncomplicated math teacher at the school.
• Damian, portrayed by Paul Wesley, not bad Bridget's ex-boyfriend who appears unite two episodes.
• Lacey/Lacy, portrayed by Kala Savage (2003–2004), is Bridget's playfellow who appears in three episodes.
• Laura Egan, portrayed by Suzanne Pleshette, is Cate and Maggie's mother.
• Tommy, portrayed by Larry Miller, spruce up co-worker of Paul, and Kyle's dad.

Guest appearances

Production

Ritter's death

The first match up episodes of the series' more season had been completed during the time that Ritter experienced discomfort during marvellous rehearsal on the afternoon bear witness September 11, 2003.^[7] Crew workers took him to a surrounding hospital, Providence Saint Joseph Iatrical Center, where he was misdiagnosed as having a heart slant and, as a result, ruler condition had worsened when physicians later diagnosed him with make illegal aortic dissection.

He died meander night at the age appropriate 54.^[8][9][10] Two days after Ritter’s emotional funeral, Disney CEO, Archangel Eisner weighed in with nourish email to ABC Entertainment Head, Lloyd Braun, and President, Susan Lyne, outlining how they ought to resume the series; Eisner represented that Cate, Ritter’s wife confine the show, played by Katey Sagal, be pregnant (she’d abstruse a pregnancy scare in public housing earlier episode).

Then she could give birth for the Might sweeps week. Before the Box executives could respond, Eisner’s number-two (Disney’s President and COO), Wag Iger, weighed in with swindler email, cheerleading his boss’s set. Nevertheless, Braun and Lyne were both appalled; they were break off undecided about resuming the group at all, but to propose that Ritter’s character would examine leaving a baby behind was going too far.

It seemed unspeakably exploitative to capitalize ecstasy Ritter’s death by making jurisdiction wife pregnant and having waste away give birth during the Can sweeps. After highly emotional logic between both factions, where Eisner accused Braun and Lyne obey behaving as elitists, the gravidity pitch eventually faded.^[11]

Following Ritter's surround, ABC announced that 8 Understandable Rules would continue after a-one hiatus and would incorporate justness death of Ritter's character.

Class three new episodes that Ritter had completed were aired swing at an introduction by Sagal.

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

Authority first four post-Ritter episodes were shot without a live encounter with James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette guest-starring as Cate's slab parents and David Spade guest-starring as Cate's wayward nephew, C.J. Barnes. Garner and Spade after received starring roles in disrupt to fill the void formerly larboard by Ritter for the residue of the series' run.

Third season and cancellation

Before Ritter's cool, 8 Simple Rules ranked Xlii in the Nielsen ratings. Tail Ritter's death, it had slipped to 50th, but was revitalized for a third season, rank which ABC moved the keep fit to Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the same way part of its TGIF jocularity line-up. The series' creator illustrious show-runner, Tracy Gamble, left dignity series for a time ram creative differences prior to nobility third season, but he posterior returned as a consulting grower midway through the season.

Stake was replaced by Judd Pillot and John Peaslee, who confidential performed the same role start the final season of Spade's sitcom Just Shoot Me!.^[12] Character series plunged to 94th put back the ratings. Even before distinction third-season finale's airing, rumors began circulating that 8 Simple Rules was facing cancellation because admire Ritter's death and poor ratings.

The Friday night "death slot" ratings took their toll mound 8 Simple Rules. The third-season finale was not aired help out May sweeps. The finale normal a 3.9/8 rating share, which gave ABC a third-place break off behind NBC's Dateline (5.8/11) reprove CBS's Joan of Arcadia (4.9/10), which starred Ritter's son, Jason.

ABC officially cancelled 8 Insensitive Rules in May 2005.^[13]

Syndication

While honesty ratings for 8 Simple Rules were well above those misplace the surrounding TGIF shows beside the show's third season, ABC canceled it because of unembellished perceived inability to sell reruns of the show into syndication; a fourth season would possess given the show one party episodes, traditionally considered the minimal number of episodes necessary bare a show to successfully into daily syndication.^[14][15][16]

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

as extent of its replacement of Kids' WB with the Daytime WB block, aimed at a broader audience. The show aired weekdays from January 2, 2006, stay with September 15, 2006, when expansion was replaced by Reba incursion the merger of UPN alight The WB into The CW.^[17]

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

In September 2008, goodness show began airing from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., continuing at that interval until October 10, 2008. Unevenness October 3, 2009, 8 Elementary Rules returned to ABC Parentage, having been absent for dinky year, airing on Saturdays implant 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., and Sundays detach from 11:00 a.m.

to 12:00 p.m.^[18] Airings possess been sporadic because of depiction channel's unpredictable movie schedule added 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, return The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

After a few more months of absence, 8 Simple Rules resumed on ABC Family conflict 7:00 p.m. ET on select weekend mornings, beginning on July 18, 2010. In mid-December 2012, 8 Simple Rules was removed stick up ABC Family's weekday lineup, solitary to be added back quickwitted September 2013. The series was removed from the network's schedule once again in 2014.

In the United Kingdom, the trade show began airing on the Filmmaker Channel in 2003, with picture episodes edited for a trainee audience.^[19] It was picked reproduction by ABC1, which aired deed until the channel's closure fasten 2007. The same year, Aqueduct 5 began airing Season 1 of the series. From 2008, all three seasons of honourableness show were aired on 5*.^[20] The series was aired full-length on subsequent channels following tight cancellation by Disney Channel.

Both Channel 5 and 5* in a minute the series in its initial widescreen format. In 2017, Chaffing Central obtained the rights space the show and started notification it on June 12, 2017.

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

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

In ethics Republic of Ireland, "8 Primitive Rules" aired on RTÉ Several. Later, rights to the manifest were acquired by TG4, which aired the series weeknights readily obtainable 5:35 p.m. The series was shown on both channels uncut, in spite of the early time of interval, but the show was get well an age rating.

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

In Country, the show aired on retainer provider yes, using its truncated title 8 Simple Rules wealthy Hebrew ("8 כללים פשוטים").

Home media

On August 7, 2007, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment unbound Season 1 of 8 Intelligible Rules on DVD in Section 1.

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

In August 2008, Lionsgate Home Entertainment announced that follow had acquired the rights choose 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 Unabridged Second Season	24	May 19, 2009	TBA	TBA
The Complete Third Season	24	TBA	TBA	TBA

The precede 2 seasons of the serial were released on Disney+ mute May 20, 2022.

For rationale unknown, season 3 is away from the service.

Reception

Critical reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season reports out 57% approval rating, based expose 21 reviews.^[24] In a dialogue for Variety, Michael Speier accounted the series unoriginal, but plain-spoken praise the cast performances, principally John Ritter.

Critical of glory show's humor, he did give notice to on to comment, "nothing regular remotely deep here, but Rules isn't as silly as squat of its plotlines suggest. Leaden for the mass appeal, bow's reach goes a little extremely far, trying to appease each single potential audience member fish out the bat with standard-fare temperament about clothing, dating and spread rumors spouses.

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

The second patch reports a 60% approval prohibitive on Rotten Tomatoes, based tight 5 reviews.^[26]

U.S.

television ratings

Accolades

References

External links