8 Simple Rules

ABC | Release Date: September 17, 2002

CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION

53	METASCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Critic score Publication By date

Hal BoedekerJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: Ritter remains in top comic form ... But his show ... is a mediocre effort that falls short of such ABC milestones as Roseanne and Home Improvement. Read full review

Michael SpeierJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: Unoriginal but brisk and occasionally poignant, its biggest selling point is Ritter himself, who can still turn minor problems into charm points via stammers and double takes. Read full review

Bill GoodykoontzJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: Not the best comedy you've ever seen, but the best chance for a new hit. [17 Sep 2002]

Howard RosenbergJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: This is one of those broadly played comedies that needs reining in and writing sharper than having Ritter play super dad in what, essentially, is a single-parent comedy. Read full review

Alan SepinwallJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: Fortunately, Ritter is such a seasoned pro at this sitcom thing that he makes "8 Simple Rules" vaguely watchable, and at times actually funny, when in lesser hands it would be thoroughly unpleasant. [17 Sep 2002]

Tim GoodmanJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: There are bits of "8 Simple Rules..." that are genuinely funny and hint at better things to come. But the full 22 minutes doesn't stick together well and ends up feeling like a comedy that's been overdone. Read full review

Scott D. PierceJul 3, 2014

Season 1 Review: Ritter and Segal are better than their material, but this is the sort of show (like "Home Improvement" or "Full House") that ABC used to do so well. [13 Sep 2002]