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8 Simple Rules: Season 1

28 episodes Premiered Sep 17, 2002 Updated Jul 30, 2026

The first season of 8 Simple Rules aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to May 20, 2003. The season consists of 28 episodes. The show is a comedy and drama series that follows the lives of Paul and Cate as they raise their three children, Bridget, Kerry, and Rory.

Season overview

The first season of 8 Simple Rules aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to May 20, 2003. The season consists of 28 episodes. The show is a comedy and drama series that follows the lives of Paul and Cate as they raise their three children, Bridget, Kerry, and Rory.

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Episodes

S1·E1

Pilot

Sep 17, 2002 · 22 min

As Cate decides to go back to work as a nurse, Paul undertakes the responsibility of watching the kids.

S1·E2

Wall of Shame

Sep 24, 2002 · 22 min

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

S1·E3

Bridget's First Job

Oct 1, 2002 · 22 min

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 lan

S1·E4

Wings

Oct 8, 2002 · 22 min

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-confiden

S1·E5

Son-In-Law

Oct 15, 2002 · 22 min

A sports-struck Paul lets Bridget do whatever she wants when she starts dating Travis, star basketball player and son of baseball legend Steve Smith. Meanwhile Kerry resents the fa

S1·E6

Cheerleader

Oct 22, 2002 · 22 min

Bridget is ecstatic when the cheerleading 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 dumbfoun

S1·E7

Trick or Treehouse

Oct 29, 2002 · 22 min

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 Pa

S1·E8

By the Book

Nov 5, 2002 · 22 min

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 K

S1·E9

Two Boys for Every Girl

Nov 12, 2002 · 22 min

After Paul convinces 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 deva

S1·E10

Give It Up

Nov 19, 2002 · 22 min

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 va

S1·E11

Paul Meets His Match

Nov 26, 2002 · 22 min

Paul becomes quick friends with his new editor Nick when he discovers they both are married fathers of teenage girls. But Paul soon learns that they both have the reputation of bei

S1·E12

All I Want for Christmas

Dec 10, 2002 · 22 min

Paul tries to find perfect gifts for the family to make up for last year's Christmas fiasco. Kerry finds a stray dog during the holidays. Cate is overjoyed when she is asked to sin

S1·E13

Rory's Got a Girlfriend

Dec 17, 2002 · 22 min

When a proud Paul lets thirteen-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

S1·E14

Career Choices

Jan 7, 2003 · 22 min

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. Meanw

S1·E15

Kerry's Big Adventure

Jan 21, 2003 · 22 min

After Kerry and her boyfriend break up, Paul tries to cheer her up by getting Bridget to take her little sister with her to a party. Meanwhile, Paul and Cate try to discover what i

S1·E16

Come and Knock on Our Door

Jan 28, 2003 · 22 min

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

S1·E17

Drummer Boy (1)

Feb 4, 2003 · 22 min

Bridget defies the rules of the house after Paul forbids her from going out on a date with Ben, her college-age drum instructor. Meanwhile, Kerry is mad at Cate when her ex-boyfrie

S1·E18

Drummer Boy (2)

Feb 11, 2003 · 22 min

Bridget takes the car and follows her older boyfriend, drum instructor Ben, to his college dorm.

S1·E19

Cool Parent

Feb 18, 2003 · 22 min

After a party at Tommy's house is broken up by the police, Paul chastises his friend and unwittingly volunteers to host the next one. But when the party gets out of control too, th

S1·E20

Every Picture Tells A Story

Feb 25, 2003 · 22 min

When Paul is asked by race car driver Carter Tibbits (Jason Priestley, "Beverly Hills 90210") to write a book about him, Paul brings the family to Tibbits' mansion to meet the driv

S1·E21

Kerry's Video

Mar 11, 2003 · 22 min

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 ma

S1·E22

Good Moms Gone Wild

Mar 25, 2003 · 22 min

While vacationing in Florida at Cate's parents' home, Paul and Cate catch Bridget and Kerry on the news partying with a group of Spring Breakers. But the news runs archival footage

S1·E23

Career Woman

Mar 28, 2003 · 22 min

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. After Paul introduces Rory to baseb

S1·E24

Queen Bees and King Bees

Apr 8, 2003 · 22 min

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 Pa

S1·E25

Bake Sale

Apr 29, 2003 · 22 min

For a health class assignment, Bridget and Kyle have to take care of a sack of flour as if it were a baby. Kerry and Rory bake cookies for the Great American Bake Sale to help put

S1·E26

The Doyle Wedding

May 6, 2003 · 22 min

After reluctantly inviting socially inept neighbors Fred and Mary Ellen Doyle and their kids over for dinner, Paul and Cate are shocked when the entire Hennessy clan is asked to ta

S1·E27

Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (1)

May 13, 2003 · 22 min

Having learned that her sister Maggie is having marital problems, Cate is nevertheless not too thrilled when Paul invites Maggie to stay at the house. Meanwhile, Paul and Cate are

S1·E28

Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (2)

May 20, 2003 · 22 min

The rivalry between Cate and Maggie comes to a boiling point when Maggie gets a sexy, new makeover and gives Bridget a water bra as a gift. Tensions between the Hennessy sisters mo