8 Simple Rules
Overview
Paul and Cate navigate the challenges of parenting their three kids: teenage Bridget, who is diving into the complexities of dating; intelligent and adorable Kerry, who struggles with self-esteem and expressing her emotions; and young Rory, the only son, who is just starting to unravel the enigmatic world of girls. Each episode highlights the humorous and heartfelt moments of family life as they tackle the ups and downs of adolescence, showcasing the trials and triumphs of raising a lively household.
Episodes
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1
Pilot
Cate makes the choice to return to her nursing job, prompting Paul to step up and take care of the children during her shifts.
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2
Wall of Shame
While Cate attends a seminar, Paul finds himself at home with the kids on the day of the highly anticipated Michigan/Ohio State football game. Unfortu...
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3
Bridget's First Job
When Paul notices the substantial amount Bridget spends on trendy clothing, he advises her to get a job to understand financial responsibility. Howeve...
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4
Wings
Bridget decides to take matters into her own hands when Paul, ever the overprotective dad, constantly finds reasons to postpone her driver’s test. A...
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5
Son-In-Law
Paul, captivated by sports, gives Bridget free rein when she begins her relationship with Travis, the star basketball player and son of baseball icon ...
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6
Cheerleader
Bridget is thrilled to learn that there’s a spot available on the cheerleading team. However, she’s taken aback when her sister Kerry, who had pre...
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7
Trick or Treehouse
Paul is the only one excited about celebrating Halloween with the family, while Bridget, Kerry, and Rory have their own plans to celebrate the spooky ...
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8
By the Book
In a bid to regain the affection and admiration of his daughters from their younger days, Paul seeks guidance from a parenting book for some quick tip...
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9
Two Boys for Every Girl
After Paul persuades Bridget to come clean to Kyle about her date with someone else, Kyle decides to end their relationship. At the same time, Kerry e...
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10
Give It Up
With the Hennessey family unable to settle on a destination for their vacation, Paul issues a challenge: whoever can break their bad habits for a week...
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11
Paul Meets His Match
Paul forms a fast friendship with his new editor, Nick, after realizing they share the common experience of being married dads to teenage daughters. H...
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12
All I Want for Christmas
Paul is on a mission to pick out the ideal presents for the family, hoping to redeem last year's Christmas disaster. Meanwhile, Kerry discovers a home...
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13
Rory's Got a Girlfriend
Paul beams with pride as he permits thirteen-year-old Rory to go on his first date, but Bridget and Kerry quickly call him out for bending the rules, ...
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14
Career Choices
Paul and Cate are taken aback when they receive a summons to the principal's office, where they learn that Bridget has decided to forgo her college pr...
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15
Kerry's Big Adventure
Following Kerry's breakup with her boyfriend, Paul makes an effort to lift her spirits by asking Bridget to bring her younger sister along to a party....
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16
Come and Knock on Our Door
When Bridget learns that her boyfriend Kyle shared a kiss with Kerry at a party, she decides to ignore her sister, leaving Paul caught in the middle o...
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17
Drummer Boy (1)
Bridget rebels against household rules when Paul prohibits her from going on a date with Ben, her college-aged drum teacher. At the same time, Kerry i...
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18
Drummer Boy (2)
Bridget hops in the car and trails her older boyfriend, Ben, who teaches drums, to his college dorm.
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19
Cool Parent
Following a police intervention that shuts down a party at Tommy's place, Paul scolds his friend and inadvertently offers to host the next gathering. ...
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20
Every Picture Tells A Story
Paul is approached by race car driver Carter Tibbits (Jason Priestley, "Beverly Hills 90210") with a request to write his biography. Eager to capitali...
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21
Kerry's Video
Kerry focuses her school video project on her sister Bridget to highlight the unfairness of how life favors those who are considered beautiful. Howeve...
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22
Good Moms Gone Wild
During their stay in Florida at Cate's parents' house, Paul and Cate stumble upon Bridget and Kerry on the news, reveling with a bunch of Spring Break...
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23
Career Woman
Paul takes on a more demanding role as a parental guardian when Cate pursues a promotion, requiring her to dedicate extra hours at the hospital. Meanw...
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24
Queen Bees and King Bees
Bridget and Paul are taken aback when they realize they’re both experiencing isolation within their friend groups. Determined to regain control, the...
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25
Bake Sale
As part of their health class project, Bridget and Kyle are tasked with caring for a sack of flour as if it were an infant. Meanwhile, Kerry and Rory ...
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26
The Doyle Wedding
Paul and Cate hesitate but eventually agree to host dinner for their awkward neighbors, Fred and Mary Ellen Doyle, along with their children. To their...
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27
Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (1)
Cate is less than excited when Paul suggests that her sister Maggie, who is facing difficulties in her marriage, move in with them. On a brighter note...
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28
Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (2)
Cate and Maggie's feud escalates dramatically after Maggie undergoes a bold makeover and surprises Bridget with a water bra. Meanwhile, the tension be...
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1
Premiere
Bridget's social life takes a hit due to her long-distance romance with Donny, while Kerry’s status soars thanks to her relationship with Kyle. Howe...
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2
Sex Ed
Bridget is appalled when Cate is called to substitute as the sex education teacher for her daughter’s class. Things take an unexpected turn for Cate...
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3
Donny Goes AWOL
Donny's parents enlist Bridget to record a video message for him, but they are taken aback when she reveals on camera that she has ended their relatio...
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4
Goodbye
Cate gets the devastating news that Paul has collapsed and passed away at the grocery store. Later that night, her parents come over to offer their su...
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5
No Right Way
Cate finds herself caught off guard by the varying responses of Bridget and Kerry as they return to school for the first time after their father's pas...
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6
What Dad Would Want
Cate encourages Rory to audition for the basketball team, believing it would have made his father proud.
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7
The First Thanksgiving
As Cate sets out to lift everyone's mood with a heartfelt Thanksgiving feast, Rory steps up to assume the role of caretaker for Bridget and Kerry, det...
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8
The Story of Anne Frank and Skeevy
Cate motivates Bridget to get involved in extracurriculars to enhance her college applications, leading to a surprising turn of events when Bridget se...
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9
YMCA
Cate insists that Kerry, Rory, and Jim sign up for the YMCA, where Bridget is employed.
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10
Get Real
The Hennessy family and Jim are taken by surprise when Cate's rebellious nephew, C.J., drops in to honor Paul and provide some company for everyone.
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11
Consequences
Inspired by CJ's tales of his past mischief with their school mascot, Rory impulsively takes a police dog. However, Cate is taken aback when the dog d...
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12
Opposites Attract (1)
Desperate to improve her grades, Bridget enlists Jeremy as her tutor, aiming to enhance her chances of getting accepted into a prestigious college. At...
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13
Opposites Attract (2)
Bridget resolves to pursue her tutor, only to find out that he might be interested in her rival from the debate team. In a separate storyline, Jim fac...
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14
Opposites Attract: Night of the Locust (3)
Bridget worries about her tendency to be indecisive in relationships, especially with Jeremy, as her ex-boyfriend reappears in town. At the same time,...
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15
Daddy's Girl
Following the family therapist's suggestion, Cate decides to chase her passion for singing. Meanwhile, C.J. and Jim attempt to connect over drinks aft...
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16
Mall in the Family
Kerry receives a promotion to assistant manager at a mall fast food joint, and Jim gets brought on to work the register. Meanwhile, C.J., now working ...
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17
Let's Keep Going (1)
Cate decides to send Bridget and Kerry to their grandmother's house after the Hennessys opt out of a trip to the family cabin. However, during their d...
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18
Let's Keep Going (2)
After finding Cate wrapped up with Artie, Bridget and Kerry choose to skip their trip to their grandmother’s and hit the road instead to navigate th...
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19
C.J.'s Party
Cate punishes C.J. by kicking him out of the house and grounds Bridget for attending C.J.'s college keg party. Meanwhile, Jim finds himself needing to...
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20
Mother's Day
Cate becomes suspicious of Bridget and Kerry's odd actions and decides to investigate what they’re hiding. At the same time, C.J. and Rory are skept...
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21
The Principal
Bridget finds herself in trouble for breaking the school's dress code, prompting Cate to attend a meeting with the new principal. To her surprise, she...
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22
Final Parts Un & Deux
Kerry is accepted into a summer art program in Europe, but Cate realizes she missed the deadline to submit her medical records. They decide to approac...
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1
First Day of School
Bridget realizes that Kerry is hesitating to end things with Kyle, so she decides to step in and handle the breakup herself. At the same time, Cate re...
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2
Changes
Upon returning from their summer vacations, the kids begin to doubt Cate’s intentions after noticing her new hairstyle and a recently purchased bed....
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3
School Nurse
When Cate takes the job as the school nurse, Bridget and Kerry quickly suspect that her main motive is to keep an eye on them. Meanwhile, Rory is thri...
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4
Out of the Box
Kerry is furious when Bridget inadvertently ridicules her art project at the mall. However, her anger fades when a fellow artist asks her out. Meanwhi...
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5
Car Trouble
Kate hands over the minivan keys to Bridget and Kerry, asking them to take Rory wherever he needs to go. However, after the girls keep neglecting thei...
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6
Halloween
Kerry is skeptical about Bridget's capability to organize the Halloween party for the school as part of her responsibilities as Student Body President...
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7
Coach
Bridget is thrilled to become a part of the high school tennis team, especially after developing feelings for Coach Scott. However, her excitement qui...
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8
Secrets
Tension rises as the phone rings, each character holding tight to their secrets. Rory stands firm, unwilling to reveal who attacked him at school. Mea...
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9
Thanksgiving
As the family gets ready for Thanksgiving dinner to give Cate a well-deserved break, she finds herself with free time until she unexpectedly brings ho...
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10
Vanity Unfair
After Bridget gets rejected for a part in a sports car ad, Jim realizes that the head of the modeling agency who turned her down is someone he used to...
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11
Princetown Girl
Bridget is thrilled to find out that tennis scouts from Princeton will be observing her at school for a potential scholarship. However, her excitement...
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12
A Very C.J. Christmas
In an effort to prevent C.J. from spending Christmas by himself in Las Vegas, the Hennessy family goes to great lengths to recreate one of Cate's cher...
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13
The Sub
Cate is taken aback when Principal Gibb brings C.J. on board as a substitute teacher. When C.J. catches Rory trying to cheat on an exam, he finds hims...
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14
C.J.'s Temptation
Cate starts to feel envious of Principal Ed Gibb's new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Ed recruits C.J. to assist Cheryl with her GED preparation, but C.J. soo...
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15
Old Flame
Cate reaches out to her old college sweetheart, Matt, hoping to catch up on how life has treated him. Frustrated by her family's incessant demands, sh...
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16
Closure
Cate and C.J. stumble upon Kerry’s emails to Bruno and decide to investigate her computer to uncover their secret communications. However, they are ...
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17
Volleybrawl
Cate's rumored behavior at Kerry's volleyball match puts her team’s chances of winning in jeopardy. At the same time, C.J. finds himself smitten wit...
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18
Freaky Friday
Cate dozes off during a viewing of Freaky Friday, only to wake up and discover that she and Bridget have swapped bodies. Meanwhile, C.J. and Jim have ...
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19
Torn Between Two Lovers
On Valentine's Day, C.J. finds himself in a tight spot after agreeing to two separate dates. At the same time, Bridget's thrill at being chosen for th...
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20
C.J.'s Real Dad
C.J. is both surprised and overjoyed to finally meet his biological father. However, Jim is skeptical and feels uneasy about the encounter, suspecting...
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21
The After Party
When Bridget asks to host an after-prom party in a hotel room, Cate declines her request and instead opts for a school-approved gathering at their hou...
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22
The Teachers Lounge
C.J. is thrilled to officially become a full-time teacher and gain entry to the teachers' lounge. However, his excitement is short-lived as he faces b...
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23
The Sleepover
While Principal Gibb and Cate doze off at home during a movie, the kids stumble upon them and mistakenly believe they're involved romantically. To bon...
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24
Ditch Day
When C.J. learns that Cate might be getting involved with Principal Gibb, he can't help but share the news with Bridget. Upset by C.J.'s gossip, Cate ...
