• Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 17, 2002
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 27
  2. Negative: 5 out of 27

Critic Reviews

  1. Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Jul 3, 2014
    60
    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.
  2. Reviewed by: Michael Speier
    Jul 3, 2014
    60
    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.
  3. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Bill Goodykoontz
    Jul 3, 2014
    60
    Not the best comedy you've ever seen, but the best chance for a new hit. [17 Sep 2002]
  4. Reviewed by: Howard Rosenberg
    Jul 3, 2014
    60
    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.
  5. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Jul 3, 2014
    50
    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]
  6. Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Jul 3, 2014
    50
    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.
  7. Deseret News
    Reviewed by: Scott D. Pierce
    Jul 3, 2014
    50
    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]
  8. Reviewed by: Ron Wertheimer
    Jul 3, 2014
    40
    The two episodes of 8 Simple Rules that were available for review contained tantalizing hints of a better show that might have been (or might yet be).
  9. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Jul 3, 2014
    40
    Moments of sweetness, but too few laughs - and way too many sexual references. [8 Sep 2002]
  10. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    Jul 3, 2014
    40
    Fairly likable in a bland sort of way - a very, very bland sort of way. [17 Sep 2002]
  11. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Jul 3, 2014
    40
    The most banal family-sitcom setup possible. [17 Sep 2002]
User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Dec 3, 2011
    8
    It is very funny and charming despite the of course extremely annoying Dad character. But this is a very good edition to television. And ofIt is very funny and charming despite the of course extremely annoying Dad character. But this is a very good edition to television. And of course it won't be remembered. Full Review »
  2. Dec 3, 2011
    10
    It is very funny and charming despite the of course extremely annoying Dad character. But this is a very good edition to television. And ofIt is very funny and charming despite the of course extremely annoying Dad character. But this is a very good edition to television. And of course it won't be remembered. Full Review »