Product Details

• Actors: John Ritter, Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, Martin Spanjers
• Directors: James Widdoes
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
• DVD Release Date: August 7, 2007
• Run Time: 601 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000QFCDAO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,394 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "8 Simple Rules: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After gaining fame as ladies man Jack Tripper on the 1970s sitcom Three's Company, John Ritter steals the show as a father of three--including two nubile teenage girls--on 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter. The first season, which aired on ABC during 2002 and 2003, introduces viewers to Paul (Ritter) and Cate Hennessy (Katey Sagal) and their precocious children Bridget (Kaley Cuoco), Kerry (Amy Davidson), and Rory (Martin Spanjers). When former stay-at-home mom Cate returns to the work force as a nurse, it's up to Paul to write his newspaper column at home on occasion and mind the kids. The first season deals with that uneasy transition. It's actually refreshing to see a family depicted where the parents don't always like the kids. Paul often jokes with Cate that he's mad she ever suggested they start a family. He also notes, "What's it called if you're damned if you do and damned if you don't? Oh yes, fatherhood."

As for the children, we've seen similar stereotypical characters on other sitcoms. Bridget is the 16-year-old blonde bombshell. Kerry is her awkward, brunette younger sister, and Rory is their kid brother who has the creepy habit of hiding in their closets. Paul's relationship with Rory is even keeled. But it's his daughters that he is trying to win over. They love him, but they're also embarrassed and befuddled by him. Just when he thinks he's bonding with them, the girls will sarcastically point out his faults--such as his being at least 100 years old. As he succinctly points out to his wife, "They live in my house, but they don't even like me. They're not kids. They're cats!" Though the show is big on comic moments, it also is generous in sharing poignant memories. When Paul looks at his girls, he doesn't see young women that even his friends think of as hotties. Rather, he still views them as innocent toddlers who looked up to and adored him. Sagal, who was so over-the-top in both looks and mannerisms when she played the matriarch on Married with Children, is a wonderful foil for Ritter. Beautiful, smart, and funny, she's a tough act for him to follow when it comes to being a stay-at-home dad. --Jae-Ha Kim

Product Description

Legendary sitcom stars John Ritter and Katey Sagal team up in 8 Simple Rules, ABC’s hit family comedy that is laugh-out-loud funny. "If you make my daughters cry, I’ll make you cry." That is the rallying cry of Paul Hennessy. A little rusty in the parenting department, Paul is forced to meet fatherhood head-on when his wife Cate returns to work. Two teenage daughters and a wisecracking son make Paul’s new situation daunting but never dull. Cybill Shepherd, Jason Priestley and Terry Bradshaware just some of the guest stars joining the fun in Season One. Experience all 28 episodes, plus exclusive bonus features, including a hilarious bonus reel, in this sensational 3-disc set.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Show, Great Season and nice price... June 11, 2007

By Susan W. Sager

Format:DVD

I am so happy that 8 simple Rules is finally being released to DVD on 8/07/07 and season 1 is defintely one of my favorites out of all 3 hillarious seasons. I loved John Ritter in "Three's Company" and I think his roll in "8 Simple Rules is just as funny and a must own set. I was quite shocked at the low $17.99 price for this set and I would definitely pre-order it while the price is still good with all of the online market place sales that are going on right now temporarily.

Paul (John Ritter) died off of the show as well as in real life in the beggining of season 2 and I find some of the episodes very sad because I knew that he would no longer be in the following seasons. There was a special two part show entitled "Goodbye in season 2 for the loss of John Ritter. After that, there was a few following episodes that dealt with the family coping with their loss and the stress of the children losing there father. I thought that the show would never be the same after that but it quickly picked back up pace, in which the show survived until after the third season and then came to an end. I did miss John Ritter after he was no longer part of the cast but the show continued with great hillarious episodes and I think that the other seasons did remarkably well.

Buy and enjoy season 1 because John Ritter is on all of these shows and is so fun to watch. His memory through his comedic work is still with us and is here to be watched and enjoyed for all time. Here is a complete list of all 28 episodes that will be included with this set, including the rare pilot that started it all!

1. Pilot (Pilot)
2. Wall Of Shame
3. Bridget's First Job
4. Wings
5. Son-In-law
6. Cheerleader
7. Trick Or Treehouse
8. By The Book
9. Two Boys For Every Girl
10. Give It Up
11. Paul Meets His Match
12. All I Want for Christmas
13. Rory's Got a girlfriend
14. Carrer Choices
15. Kerry's Big Adventure
16. Come and Knock on Our Door
17. Drummer Boy Part(1)
18. Drummer Boy Part(2)
19. Cool Parent
20. Every Picture Tells a Story
21. Kerry's Video
22. Good Moms Gone Wild
23. Career Women
24. Queen Bees and King Bees
25. Bake Sale
26. The Doyle Wedding
27. Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman part(1)
28. Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman part(2)

Enjoy!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Laughter ensues the Rules September 7, 2007

By Bennet Pomerantz VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

The rules are:
1.Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.
2.You make her cry, I make you cry.
3.Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.
4.Bring her home late, there's no next date.
5.Only delivery men honk. Dates ring the doorbell. Once.
6.No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.
7.If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.
8.Dates must be in crowded public place. You want romance? Read a book.

Imagine Three's Company Jack Tripper all grown up, married and with three kids..You do not have to imagine this that much... 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter is it!

John Ritter;s last TV gig is pure sitcom. He does not do that many pratfalls like he did in Company, but the humor is there. In this show, he plays stay at home dad/newspaper columnist Paul Hennessy. You can still call him Jack Tripper, if you ask me

Katey Segal is his loving wife Cate. She is the only one in the annuals of TV history to play the trashist TV mom (peg Bundy) to the classist TV mom (this role). She plays the role of the well balanced mom to the dumb dad and in this sitcom it works well

The kids played by Kaley Cuoco (playing a character akin to Kelly Bundy), Amy Davidson (playing a character akin to Lisa Simpson) and Martin spanjer (a cross between Bart Simpson & a suck up to dad). They are the meat & potatoes of this sitcom. Their actions move this along to its funny best

The laughes in this show is never forced. Worth getting for any TV DVD library

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Season October 24, 2007

By Jrnyvoice

Format:DVD

I am not going to write a 'review' about this last John Ritter series. Needless to say this A-Class person is missed by all the entertainment world and his fans. Enjoy this DVD, anyone with a child can relate to the stresses, joys and triumphs that children brings to a family. Katey Sagal and the others in the ensemble bring a realness. Great acting, great writing. Buy, Enjoy.