Creator:
Tracy Gamble
Cast:
John Ritter ………. Paul Hennessy
Katey Sagal ………. Cate Hennessy
Kaley Cuoco ………. Bridget Hennessy
Amy Davidson ………. Kerry Hennessy
Martin Spanjers ………. Rory Hennessy
Billy Aaron Brown ………. Kyle
Larry Miller ………. Tommy
The Show
There are a handful of shows that have become infamous for having major changes in the cast that have had a lasting impact, forcing complete changes from one season to the next. Whether it is one of the mainstays leaving the show, or actors dying unexpectedly, these shows usually have a tough time moving on with those changes. One of the most recent shows to endure the latter event was 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter.
This TV comedy is about a married couple with three children, set in a Detroit, Michigan suburb. Not to be confused with Home Improvement, 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). He is soon overwhelmed by the responsibility of being the father of teenage daughters and misses writing about sports. Paul begins writing a column from home about his struggles with his children and offers advice to people who are in his same position.
John Ritter was no doubt the golden jewel of this show, and especially this first season. He was the heart and soul of the show; he didn’t try and act like a “cool parent” or another kid like you see on other “family shows”. He was definitely uneasy about his new transition into raising his kids more closely. John was not the only bright spot in this cast, though. Katey Sagal was the perfect compliment to John Ritter. It’s amazing to see her as the over-the-top mother on Married with Children and then see her in this role. Pairing her up with Ritter, though, is a match made in heaven. The kids are solid as well. Kaley Cuoco is great as the blonde bombshell. Amy Davidson is equally good as the awkward brunette younger sister. However, the young star that really steals most of the spotlight is the younger brother played by Martin Spanjers. He is sarcastic and plays off very well with John Ritter.
The storylines in this first season are pretty standard and formulaic for typical family-oriented shows. It is definitely a comedy, but there are poignant moments scattered throughout as well. They are not so sugary sweet that this show comes off looking like Full House. 8 Simple Rules is a far cry from that show. This is a real comedy about a real family.
Despite the series’ premise being about John Ritter’s character dealing with his daughters dating and the eight rules that all dates must follow, that premise quickly goes out the window and gets overshadowed by the great interaction between the characters. The undertones of the premise are still there, but most of the comedy on this show doesn’t stem from Paul Hennessy wanting to inflict bodily harm on his daughters’ dates. The debate on whether this show should have carried on after John Ritter’s untimely death is saved for another day. For now, though, this first season of 8 Simple Rules is an unexpected surprise and a delightful comedy about a real family.
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – Pilot
Paul had grown accustomed to Cate taking care of their son and two daughters. His job as a sportswriter 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 undertakes the responsibility of helping out with the kids. 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.
Episode 2 – Wall of Shame
Paul is left home alone with the kids while Cate is at a seminar on the day of the big Michigan/Ohio State football game. But much to Paul’s dismay, the game soon takes a backseat when Bridget is accused of shoplifting and Kerry gets upset over her latest cause.
Episode 3 – Bridget’s First Job
After seeing how much money Bridget spends on keeping up with the latest fashions, Paul tells her to go out and get a job to learn how to be fiscally responsible. But when she lands a job at a trendy mall clothing store that offers its workers a 40% discount, Paul and Cate begin to worry that she may not be learning the true value of a dollar.
Episode 4 – Wings
Bridget takes drastic measures when an overprotective Paul keeps coming up with excuses to delay her from taking her driver’s test. Meanwhile, after convincing a less-than-confident Kerry that she has the talent to enter an art competition, Paul is shocked and Kerry is devastated when her submission is rejected, on “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.”
Episode 5 – Son-in-Law
A sports-struck Paul lets Bridget do whatever she wants when she breaks up with Kyle and begins dating high school basketball wonder Travis “The Rainman” Smith whose father just happens to be Michigan baseball legend Steve “Canned Heat” Smith (Terry Bradshaw). Meanwhile Kerry resents the fact that Paul still thinks of her as a little girl and not as a budding teenager ready to take on the dating world.
Episode 6 – Cheerleader
Bridget is ecstatic when the cheer-leading squad has an opening for a new member. But after telling Kerry that she is not cut out to be a cheerleader, Bridget is completely dumbfounded when her sister tries out and is chosen for the team. Meanwhile, Paul tries in vain to wean Rory off video games and introduce him to the world of books.
Episode 7 – Trick or Treehouse
Paul seems to be the only one looking forward to a family Halloween, as Bridget, Kerry and Rory make plans to spend the spooky evening away from home and with their friends. But Paul’s wish to relive the past by having the family get together for one last Halloween campout in the old treehouse may turn out to be the biggest nightmare of the evening.
Episode 8 – By the Book
In an effort to win back the love and respect that his daughters used to show him when they were young, Paul turns to a parenting book for some quick advice. But when Bridget and Kerry discover Paul’s teaching tool, they try to use it to their advantage to get their father to let them go to a rock festival.
Episode 9 – Two Boys for Every Girl
Paul’s plan backfires when–after telling Bridget to tell Kyle the truth about her date with another boy — Kyle breaks up with her. Meanwhile, Kerry’s first date turns out to be a dream, but she is devastated when the boy doesn’t call her back.
Disc Two:
Episode 10 – Give It Up
When no one can agree on where the family vacation should take place, Paul challenges the Hennessey clan to give up their bad habits for a week and the winner gets to choose the vacation spot. But the family’s vices soon get the better of them, and secret collaborations and clandestine alliances threaten to foil the contest.
Episode 11 – Paul Meets His Match
After meeting his new editor Nick, Paul becomes quick friends with the man when he discovers they both have a common bond—being married fathers of teenage girls. But Paul soon learns that he may have something else in common with Nick—having the reputation of being an overprotective “psycho dad.” Meanwhile, Paul wants to make Thanksgiving a family affair, and forbids Bridget and Kerry from inviting their boyfriends to the festive feast.
Episode 12 – All I Want for Christmas
Paul discovers that he has his work cut out for him for the holidays when he tries to find perfect gifts for the family to make up for last year’s Christmas fiasco. Kerry also finds a stray dog during the holidays. Meanwhile, Cate is overjoyed when she is asked to sing a solo at the church’s midnight service, but fears that seeing her family there will make her nervous.
Episode 13 – Rory’s Got a Girlfriend
When a proud Paul lets 13-year-old Rory go out on his first date, Bridget and Kerry accuse him of unfairly changing the rules because they were never allowed to date at that age. Meanwhile Kerry is shocked when Bridget receives a higher score then she did on a state aptitude test.
Episode 14 – Career Choices
Paul and Cate are shocked when they are called into the principal’s office and informed that Bridget wants to skip her college prep classes in order to become an esthetician. Meanwhile, Paul is so impressed with Kerry’s sketches of “The Incredible Boring Woman” that he gets the principal to print them in the school newspaper — not realizing that the principal is the boring woman in question.
Episode 15 – Kerry’s Big Adventure
After Kerry and her boyfriend break up, Paul tries to cheer up his blue daughter by getting Bridget to take her little sister with her to a party. But while talking to Kyle at the party, Kerry is shocked when a spark is ignited and the two share a romantic kiss. Meanwhile, Paul and Cate try to discover what is hidden in Rory’s secret box.
Episode 16 – Come and Knock on Our Door
After discovering that boyfriend Kyle kissed Kerry at a party, Bridget gives her sister the silent treatment which is anything but quiet for Paul. But real life merges with fantasy when Paul has a dream that lands him in familiar territory, showing Kyle as a swinging bachelor living with Paul’s two beautiful daughters in an apartment straight out of the ‘70s. The set of the classic comedy Three’s Company was recreated down to the last detail for this episode.
Episode 17 – Drummer Boy (Part 1)
Bridget defies the rules of the house after Paul forbids her from going out on a date with Ben (Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys) — her college-age drum instructor. Meanwhile, Kerry is mad at Cate when her ex-boyfriend confesses that he thinks her mother is pretty.
Episode 18 – Drummer Boy (Part 2)
Bridget takes the car and follows her older boyfriend, drum instructor Ben (Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys), to his college dorm. Conclusion of a two-part episode.
Episode 19 – Cool Parent
When Paul has to pick up Bridget and Kerry from a party that’s been broken up by the police — and “supervised” by co-worker Tommy (Larry Miller) — Paul chastises his friend and unwittingly volunteers to host the next one. But when Paul falls asleep during the party and it gets out of control too, the kids think of him as a “cool parent,” while the neighborhood parents think he’s just as unreliable as Tommy.
Disc Three:
Episode 20 – Every Picture Tells a Story
When Paul is asked by race car driver Carter Tibbits (Jason Priestley of Beverly Hills 90210) to write a book about him, Paul brings the family to Tibbits’ mansion to meet the driving legend and his sarcastically dry-witted butler, Cody (Robert Guillaume of Benson and Sports Night) — who used to be Carter’s crew chief. But a misunderstanding leads Rory to steal a photo from Carter’s room, and it’s Paul who’s under suspicion when a security camera catches him trying to return the item.
Episode 21 – Kerry’s Video
Kerry devotes her school video project to sister, Bridget, to illustrate the hypocrisy that life is much easier for the ‘beautiful people.’ But when Bridget discovers that the video makes her look shallow, she takes Paul’s advice to enrich her life by taking up tennis again — and ends up with a broken nose.
Episode 22 – Good Moms Gone Wild
While vacationing in Florida at Cate’s parent’s home, Paul and Cate catch Bridget and Kerry on the evening news partying with a group of Spring Breakers. But before a punishment can be implemented, the news runs archival footage that features a young, wild Cate letting loose in a bar. Meanwhile, a jealous Paul meets Byron (Ed Marinaro of Hill Street Blues and Sisters) — the man that Cate went out with during her college sophomore year — and Rory befriends an elderly gentleman (Tom Poston of Newhart and Mork & Mindy) whose stories about World War II turn out to be more fiction than fact.
Episode 23 – Career Woman
Paul’s job as parental guardian becomes more of a full-time position when Cate is up for a promotion and has to spend more time at the hospital. Meanwhile, after Paul introduces the boy to the hobby of baseball card collecting, Rory trades the cards for something not exactly associated with the sport.
Episode 24 – Queen Bees and King Bees
Bridget and Paul are surprised to find themselves in similar situations when they are both alienated in their social circles. But they devise a plan to settle the score, leading Paul to crash a poker game with co-worker Tommy (Larry Miller) to get closer to boss Nick (Patrick Warburton), and Bridget trying to break up ex-boyfriend Kyle and her nemesis, Jenna.
Episode 25 – Bake Sale
Bridget begrudgingly becomes a mother when she is assigned to take care of a baby made out of a sack full of flour for school. When Kerry and Rory bake cookies for the Great American Bake Sale to help put an end to childhood hunger in America, Bridget begins to notice that her baby is developing a mysterious loss of weight.
Episode 26 – The Doyle Wedding
After reluctantly inviting socially inept neighbors Fred and Mary Ellen Doyle (John Ratzenberger & Shelley Long of Cheers) and their kids over for dinner, Paul and Cate are shocked when the entire Hennessy clan is asked to take part in the Doyles’ daughter’s wedding. Meanwhile Kerry neglects to inform Bridget that geeky Donny Doyle (Thad Luckinbill of The Young and the Restless) has grown up to be a hunk, and Rory takes a part in a play as a cross-dresser in order to meet girls. Cate sings the jazz classic, “At Last,” at the wedding reception.
Episode 27 – Sort of an Officer and a Gentlemen (Part 1)
Having learned that her sister, Maggie (Cybill Shepherd), is having marital problems, Cate is nevertheless not too thrilled when Paul invites Maggie to stay at the house — the sisters have a long history of sibling rivalry. Meanwhile, Paul and Cate are impressed with how mature Bridget has become after they agreed to let her go out with neighbor Donny Doyle (Thad Luckinbill), who is home from the Naval Academy; and Bridget and Kerry wonder if Kyle has ulterior motives when he befriends Rory.
Episode 28 – Sort of an Officer and a Gentlemen (Part 2)
The sibling rivalry between Cate and Maggie (Cybill Shepherd) comes to a boiling point when Maggie gets a sexy, new makeover and gives Bridget a water bra as a gift. Meanwhile tensions between the Hennessy sisters mount when Kerry and Kyle begin dating, while Bridget’s popularity takes a nosedive after she dissed her friends for Donny (Thad Luckinbill); and Paul becomes concerned when he finds an empty pregnancy test kit.
The Video:
The video is given in widescreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. It is enhanced for 16X9 TVs. Transfer is good with minimal distortion. There are no problems at all here, and it is actually a step above of other TV on DVD releases being in widescreen format. That was a surprise.
The Audio:
The audio included is available in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound. There are subtitles available in English, Spanish, and French as well. Again, it’s pretty standard quality for a TV show. The dialogue comes out crisp and clear.
The Extras:
Blooper Reel –
This is funny as you might expect. Really this is the rare case where the funny stuff that ends up on the show is just as funny as the mistakes that occurred while filming the show. Unfortunately, we are left wanting more than just this special feature.
While this show is probably more famous for having to deal with John Ritter’s death mid-way through the series’ run, it should be noted as a quality family comedy. If you haven’t seen the show before, you should definitely check it out. Any John Ritter fan would especially want to buy this set, though.
8 Simple Rules: The Complete First Season |
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