‘EIGHT Simple Rules” returns tonight with its first new episode since the death of star John Ritter. Tonight’s one-hour episode (9 p.m./Ch. 7), covers the death of Ritter’s character, Paul Hennessy.

James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette will play the parents of widowed Cate Hennessy (Katey Sagal), who visit the family to help them deal with Paul’s death.