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The Best Episodes of 8 Simple Rules

Every episode of 8 Simple Rules ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of 8 Simple Rules!

Binge this in 1d 3h•Peaking at 8.6/10

Paul and Cate are raising their three children -- Bridget, Kerry and Rory -- which is no easy task. Oldest daughter Bridget is traversing the dating scene. Kerry is cute and smart, but she has

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    8 Simple Rules Season 2 Episode 4 - Goodbye
    8.6/10(398 votes)

    #1 - Goodbye

    S2:E4

    Cate receives a phone call that Paul had collapsed and died in the grocery store. Later that evening, Cate's parents arrive to help them through their grief.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:David Flebotte, Martin Weiss

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  2. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 8 - Secrets
    8.6/10(173 votes)

    #2 - Secrets

    S3:E8

    Everyone fears the ringing of the phone when they all keep secrets from each other. Rory refuses to divulge the identity of the student responsible for beating him up at school. Bridget and Kerry use fake IDs to get into a club, where Bridget gives her phone number to guy, unaware that he's a police officer. Cate doesn't want the family to know that Coach Scott tries to get her to go out with him. C.J. is distracted and forgets to pick up Rory's pain medication.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Bonnie Kallman

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  3. 8 Simple Rules Season 2 Episode 5 - No Right Way
    8.5/10(261 votes)

    #3 - No Right Way

    S2:E5

    Cate is unprepared for the diverse reactions exhibited by Bridget and Kerry on their first day back to school since their father's death. Meanwhile, Jim tries his best to be helpful by making some questionable home improvements to the Hennessy home.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Gayle Abrams

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  4. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 15 - Old Flame
    8.0/10(129 votes)

    #4 - Old Flame

    S3:E15

    After sending an email to former college flame Matt to see how he's been doing over the years, Cate becomes fed up with the unreasonable demands of her family and locks herself in her room for some alone time. But she's shocked when Matt shows up at her window and whisks her off to re-live some adventurous, old times.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Judd Pillot, John Peaslee

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  5. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 16 - Come and Knock on Our Door
    7.7/10(227 votes)

    #5 - Come and Knock on Our Door

    S1:E16

    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 when Paul has a dream that lands him in familiar territory, showing Kyle as a swinging bachelor living with Paul's two beautiful daughters in an apartment straight out of the 70s.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bill Callahan, Philip Wen

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  6. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 16 - Closure
    7.7/10(109 votes)

    #6 - Closure

    S3:E16

    When Cate and C.J. discover that Kerry has been e-mailing Bruno, they secretly try to snoop in her computer to find out what the two have been up to. Unbeknownst to them, Bruno is hiding in the attic, while Bridget tries her best to talk Kerry out of doing something she may regret. Meanwhile, Jim discovers Rory's clandestine poker game and decides to deal himself in to teach Rory and his friends a lesson.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Seth Kurland

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of 8 Simple Rules

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  7. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 1 - First Day of School
    7.6/10(155 votes)

    #7 - First Day of School

    S3:E1

    Knowing that Kerry is dragging her feet over breaking up with Kyle, Bridget takes it upon herself to do it for her sister. Meanwhile, Cate is offered the position of school nurse and Rory's first day of high school proves embarrassing when he has to hit the showers after gym class.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Kathy Ann Stumpe

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  8. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 5 - Car Trouble
    7.6/10(105 votes)

    #8 - Car Trouble

    S3:E5

    Kate gives Bridget and Kerry the keys to the minivan, provided they drive Rory wherever he needs to go. But when the girls repeatedly fail to drive him, he attempts to drive himself, wrecking the car in the process.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Hayes Jackson

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  9. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 11 - Princetown Girl
    7.6/10(104 votes)

    #9 - Princetown Girl

    S3:E11

    Bridget is ecstatic when she learns that tennis scouts from Princeton are coming to her school to watch her play for a possible scholarship. But when Bridget's school forbids her to play because of a poor grade, Cate has to decide whether to use her clout as school nurse to help her daughter out. Meanwhile, Jim promises a nervous C.J. that he'll give up his room if he can spend one night alone in the attic.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Tamiko K. Brooks

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  10. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 15 - Kerry's Big Adventure
    7.5/10(177 votes)

    #10 - Kerry's Big Adventure

    S1:E15

    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 is hidden in Rory's secret box.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Tracy Gamble, Martin Weiss

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  11. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 21 - Kerry's Video
    7.5/10(164 votes)

    #11 - Kerry's Video

    S1:E21

    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 makes her look shallow, she takes Paul's advice to enrich her life by taking up tennis again.

    Director:Terry Hughes
    Writer:Bonnie Kallman

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  12. 8 Simple Rules Season 2 Episode 14 - Opposites Attract: Night of the Locust (3)
    7.5/10(135 votes)

    #12 - Opposites Attract: Night of the Locust (3)

    S2:E14

    After being told that she's fickle when it comes to relationships, Bridget is afraid that she may end up hurting Jeremy's feelings when her ex-boyfriend returns to town. Meanwhile, Kerry is outraged and plans revenge when provocative dancing has been banned from the high school formal, which is being chaperoned by Cate and Jim. C.J. partners with Rory to broadcast school scandals over the internet.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bill Callahan, Bill Daly

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  13. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 7 - Coach
    7.5/10(105 votes)

    #13 - Coach

    S3:E7

    Bridget is psyched to join the high school tennis team when she develops a crush on Coach Scott. But her infatuation soon turns to disgust when she learns that Scott has a crush on Cate. Meanwhile, Kerry and Rory begin to question the authenticity of Jim's war stories while rummaging through his war chest.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Laurie Gelman

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  14. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 14 - C.J.'s Temptation
    7.5/10(106 votes)

    #14 - C.J.'s Temptation

    S3:E14

    While Cate finds herself becoming jealous of Principal Ed Gibb's new girlfriend, C.J. is asked by Ed to help tutor Cheryl for her GEDs -- and finds himself unwittingly being hit on by her. Meanwhile, Rory feels awkward after Cate accidentally interrupts him during a private moment.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bryan Behar, Steve Baldikoski

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  15. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 21 - The After Party
    7.5/10(130 votes)

    #15 - The After Party

    S3:E21

    After turning down Bridget's request to throw an after-prom party in a hotel room, Cate decides to throw a school- sanctioned party at the house which totally embarrasses her kids. Meanwhile, Kerry tries to make a political statement by inviting a girl to the prom, and Rory is overjoyed when a hot senior asks him to the dance.

    Director:Pat Fischer-Doak
    Writers:Grant Nieporte, Robert Spina

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  16. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 10 - Give It Up
    7.4/10(185 votes)

    #16 - Give It Up

    S1:E10

    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 vacation spot. But the family's vices soon get the better of them, and secret collaborations and clandestine alliances threaten to foil the contest.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Martin Weiss

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  17. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 14 - Career Choices
    7.4/10(184 votes)

    #17 - Career Choices

    S1:E14

    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. Meanwhile, Paul is so impressed with Kerry's sketches of The Incredible Boring Woman that he gets the principal to print them in the school newspaper.

    Director:Terry Hughes
    Writers:Amy Engelberg, Wendy Engelberg

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  18. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 3 - School Nurse
    7.4/10(139 votes)

    #18 - School Nurse

    S3:E3

    After Cate accepts the position of school nurse, Bridget and Kerry are convinced that she only took the job to spy on them. Rory is ecstatic that his mom might be able to protect him from a school bully.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writer:Rob Hanning

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  19. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 9 - Thanksgiving
    7.4/10(108 votes)

    #19 - Thanksgiving

    S3:E9

    While the family prepares Thanksgiving dinner for Cate to give her some much needed time off, she's left with nothing to do until she brings home an unexpected guest while on an errand. While C.J. deep-fries the turkey, Bridget and Kerry spar over pie recipes. Jim disassembles the TV in an attempt to repair it.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Seth Kurland, Rob Hanning

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  20. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 10 - Vanity Unfair
    7.4/10(105 votes)

    #20 - Vanity Unfair

    S3:E10

    After Bridget is turned down for a role in a sports car commercial, Jim discovers that the head of the modeling agency who rejected her is an old flame. When he tries to persuade her to reconsider his granddaughter, Jim soon finds himself reminiscing over old times. Kerry and Rory discover a secret about C.J.'s past modeling experiences.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Paul F. Ciancarelli, David DiPietro

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  21. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 13 - The Sub
    7.4/10(99 votes)

    #21 - The Sub

    S3:E13

    Cate is shocked to discover that Principal Gibb has hired C.J. as a substitute teacher. When C.J. catches Rory cheating on a test, he is torn about reporting it as Cate tries to persuade him to look the other way. Meanwhile, when Bridget breaks her leg because of Kerry's blunder, she makes her little sister's life a living nightmare.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bryan Behar, Steve Baldikoski

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  22. 8 Simple Rules Season 3 Episode 19 - Torn Between Two Lovers
    7.4/10(101 votes)

    #22 - Torn Between Two Lovers

    S3:E19

    Valentine's Day finds C.J. in a predicament when he commits to two different Valentine's Day dates. Meanwhile, Bridget's excitement over being elected to the court of the Valentine's Day dance quickly turns to shock when she discovers that Cheryl is also in the running.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bryan Behar, Steve Baldikoski

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  23. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 9 - Two Boys for Every Girl
    7.3/10(172 votes)

    #23 - Two Boys for Every Girl

    S1:E9

    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 devastated when the boy doesn't call her back.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Bill Callahan, Philip Wen

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  24. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 26 - The Doyle Wedding
    7.3/10(169 votes)

    #24 - The Doyle Wedding

    S1:E26

    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 take part in the Doyles' daughter's wedding. Meanwhile Kerry neglects to inform Bridget that geeky Donny Doyle has grown up to be a hunk, and Rory takes a part in a play as a cross-dresser in order to meet girls.

    Director:Lynn M. McCracken
    Writer:Rosalind Moore

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  25. 8 Simple Rules Season 1 Episode 28 - Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (2)
    7.3/10(159 votes)

    #25 - Sort of an Officer and a Gentleman (2)

    S1:E28

    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 mount when Kerry and Kyle begin dating, while Bridget's popularity takes a nosedive after she dissed her friends for Donny. Paul becomes concerned when he finds an empty pregnancy test kit.

    Director:James Widdoes
    Writers:Heather MacGillvray, Linda Mathious

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Best Episodes Summary

"Goodbye" is the best rated episode of "8 Simple Rules". It scored 8.6/10 based on 398 votes. Directed by James Widdoes and written by David Flebotte, Martin Weiss, it aired on 11/4/2003. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Secrets".