# Watching "8 Simple Rules . . ." **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427 "2003-09-24T00:14:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/1 "2003-09-24T00:14:16Z")
Depressing. Never watched it before. Average sitcom–not terrible, not good. Competent cast giving competent performances; writing and direction . . . competent. John Ritter looks overweight and ill, though two weeks ago I’d have said he looked in blooming good health. He _is_ turning in his usual good performance, though. Shame. It’s like watching _Saratoga_ or _Hairspray_ or _Twilight Zone: The Movie_ . . . ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/2 "2003-09-24T00:19:05Z")
good heavens… cliffy married shirley!!! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/3 "2003-09-24T00:28:20Z")
I thought the same thing. You think The Big Ragoo ran off with Carla? ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/4 "2003-09-24T00:54:27Z")
Still laughing about the “giraffe.” Best show I’ve seen in a long time. Also the first episode of _8 Simple Rules_ I’ve seen. Loved it. Can’t wait for more. The memorial screen at the end was just enough to sober us up, too, without ruining the humour through the show. Everything was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/5 "2003-09-25T16:17:14Z")
It was reported that 8 Simple Rules was the most watched show of the night pulling in the likes of 17 million viewers. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/6 "2003-09-25T16:30:10Z")
I’m going to restrain myself from saying “Boy, there’s nothing like an untimely death to up the ratings.” Nope, not gonna say it. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/7 "2003-09-25T16:33:50Z")
I’ve never watched the show before, at least not that I can recall. However, it’s the title that interests me. Was there (in the pilot, maybe) an actual list of eight rules that the father had for dating his daughter? Or is the title just random? I suspect that it’s got to be an allusion to something. I could be wrong, though. Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/8 "2003-09-25T16:52:46Z")
Yes \*\* nineiron \*\* there are 8 Simple Rules. They were posted in another thread on the SDMB but the hamsters aren’t being helpful to me at this minute to link you up. check back later. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/9 "2003-09-25T17:24:38Z")
I always liked the show, and this episode was pretty good, but hard to watch. **rocking chair** - in the previous episode, Cliffy was married to Dianne. I wonder if they’re going through a sitcom actress series? It was pretty funny to see Shirley pop up in the same role this week. ---
**Author:** ![Photog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@Photog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Photog)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-8-simple-rules/203427/10 "2003-09-25T20:39:55Z")
Here you go: The [8 Simple Rules](http://www.wbrucecameron.com/pages/columns/8rules.htm) for Dating My Teenage Daughter. From the creator himself, no less.