For years now, Kaley Cuoco has been making viewers chuckle together with her diversified roles in tv and movie, The Massive Bang Concept being amongst her most well-known. In it, she performed Penny, the sarcastic however lovable neighbor of Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons). As standard as The Massive Bang Concept was – and the way it launched her into superstardom – it’s truly not the present that gave Cuoco her large break. That honor belongs to the sitcom 8 Easy Guidelines, during which Kaley Cuoco first acquired to check out her comedic chops.

What Is ‘8 Easy Guidelines’ About?

8 Easy Guidelines premiered in 2002, and it was a typical household sitcom, the precise kind you’d anticipate from that point interval. That’s not a foul factor although; in truth, it’s fairly charming. The present follows the Hennessy household: husband and spouse Paul (John Ritter) and Cate (Katey Sagal); and their three youngsters, Bridget (Cuoco), Kerry (Amy Davidson), and Rory (Martin Spanjers). 8 Easy Guidelines follows their day-to-day life and the humorous, typically heartfelt, moments that come up all through.

Kaley Cuoco portrays Bridget, the oldest of the Hennessy youngsters. She’s standard, just a little ditzy, and completely boy-crazy – one thing her father is just not thrilled about. In the meantime, her sister Kerry is far more fascinated by her research and artwork, which ends up in her and Bridget butting heads in typical sister vogue. Rory is the standard youthful brother; he’s all the time snooping on his sisters and being a ache, however he’s simply as lovable as the remainder of the clan.

When audiences first meet Bridget, she is extra involved with recognition, her seems to be, and courting, than she is with the rest. She’s just a little shallow, the stereotypical teenage character that you simply typically see in sitcoms of the early 2000s. However because the present went on, viewers slowly acquired to see new sides of Bridget which added lots of depth to her character. That is very true from Season 2 onwards, however that character improvement got here due to tragic circumstances.

Bridget’s Character Grew After Tragedy Struck

In 2003, star John Ritter instantly handed away on the age of 54, whereas 8 Easy Guidelines was within the midst of filming its second season. After a hiatus to mourn the loss, the present picked again up and was compelled to confront Ritter’s loss of life on the collection. The episode diverted from the present’s typical format of situational comedy, and had a way more somber tone. It begins like some other episode, with a busy morning within the Hennessy family. Then Cate receives a cellphone name and leaves in a tearful rush. We quickly be taught that Paul collapsed on the grocery retailer and has handed away.

The remainder of the season follows the household as they navigate the sudden lack of Paul, nevertheless it’s Bridget who has essentially the most troublesome journey, because the final phrases she stated to her father earlier than he died have been, “I hate you.” She’s wracked with guilt over the phrases that got here out throughout a petty argument, however she’ll by no means be capable to take them again – even when her father knew deep down that she didn’t imply them. However that’s not the tip of her struggles. She doesn’t fairly know tips on how to navigate a world during which her father is now not there. In a single explicit episode, she plans to go to a celebration sporting a elaborate new costume, solely to have a breakdown on the door as a result of her father would by no means have let her go away sporting it, and he or she misses his lectures. It’s a stunningly uncooked portrayal of grief, and it’s from this second on that we see an actual turning level in Bridget’s character.

As a lot as The Massive Bang Concept actually put Kaley Cuoco within the limelight, it was 8 Easy Guidelines that showcased her performing skills – particularly contemplating she was solely 16 years previous when she landed the position of Bridget. So, should you love Kaley Cuoco as Penny in The Massive Bang Concept, ensure you try 8 Easy Guidelines for her early years, and see why she’s turn out to be such a beloved tv star.

8 Easy Guidelines is accessible to stream on Disney+ within the U.S.

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