8 Simple Rules (originally 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter for the first season) is an American sitcom television series originally starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal as middle-class parents Paul and Cate Hennessy raising their three children. Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers co-starred as their teenage kids; Bridget, Kerry, and Rory Hennessy. While 8 Simple Rules was renewed for a second season and production had begun, Ritter's sudden death in September 2003 left the series in an uncertain position. After a hiatus, the series returned and continued without Ritter, choosing to kill off his character. James Garner and David Spade later joined the main cast as, respectively, Cate's father Jim Egan and her nephew C.J. Barnes The series ran on ABC from September 17, 2002 to April 15, 2005.
Paul Hennessy- John Ritter
Cate S. Hennessy - Katey Sagal
Bridget Erin "Beach"Hennessy -Kaley Cuoco
Kerry "Care Bear" Hennessy -Amy Davidson
Rory Joseph Hennessy -Martin Spanjers,
Jim Egan -James Garner
C.J. Barnes -David Spade
Kyle -Billy Aaron Brown
Ed Gibb -Adam Arkin
Coach Scott -Dan Cortese
Jenna Sharpe -Nikki Danielle Moore
Missy Kleinfeld -Daniella Monet
Jeremy -Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Anthony W -Cole Williams
Maggie Barnes -Cybill Shepherd,
Fred Doyle -John Ratzenberger
Mrs. Crupp -Suzy Nakamura,
Damian -Paul Wesley
Lacey/Lacy, -Kala Savage
Laura -Suzanne Pleshette
Cheryl- Pamela Anderson
Patrick Warburton as Nick Sharpe
Nicole Mansour as Rachel Sharpe
Larry Miller as Tommy
Cole Williams as Anthony
Brian Sites as Jason
Shelley Long as Mary Ellen Doyle
Thad Luckinbill as Donny Doyle
Terry Bradshaw as Steve "Canned Heat" Smith
Matt Funke as Travis "The Rainman" Smith
Jason Priestley as Carter Tibbits
Nick Carter as Ben
Don Knotts as himself
The rules are:
Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.
You make her cry, I make you cry.
Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.
Bring her home late, there's no next date.
If you pull into my driveway and honk, you better be dropping off a package because you're sure not picking anything up (Alternative rule #5: Only delivery men honk. Dates ring the doorbell. Once.)
No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.
If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.
Dates must be in crowded public places. You want romance? Read a book.
The third season (after Ritter's death) took a creative turn, revolving more around cousin C.J. (David Spade) and grandfather Jim (James Garner), than the immediate Hennessy family, more specifically not revolving around the raising of the Hennessy children. After the novelty of newly added ensemble characters wore off, the series returned to its original format.