After Ritter's sudden death, Katey Sagal took over the show's starring position for the rest of the series' run. Bridget finds her popularity waning because of her exclusive, long distance relationship with Donny, while Kerry's social status skyrockets because of her relationship with Kyle.

Bruce Cameron's book 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.
The rules are: The third season took a creative turn, revolving more around cousin C. and Jim, the grandfather, than the immediate Hennessy family, more specifically not revolving around the raising of the Hennessy girls.
Katey Sagal took over the show's starring position for the rest of the series's run.
Veteran actor James Garner and David Spade also joined the show.
On what begins as just another morning in the Hennessy household, Cate receives a phone call.
Seconds later, she hangs up and runs out of the house in tears, leaving the kids to wonder what is going on.
However, Bridget breaks up with Donny on the video, which leads to a feud between the Hennessys and the Doyles.
Upset, Donny hitchhikes all the way to the Hennessys in the back of a pig truck to win Bridget back; however, Bridget has still not broken up with her other boyfriend, Damien.
Paul's teenage daughters are dating, which sparks the use of the "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter".
The show, created by veteran comedy writer Tracy Gamble, derives its name and some of its elements from W.
Meanwhile, there are reports of eggings and toilet-paperings all over the neighborhood.