Rules of Engagement (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Rules of Engage
Rules of Engagement title card.png
Format Sitcom
Created by Tom Hertz
Starring Patrick Warburton
Megyn Price
Oliver Hudson
Bianca Kajlich
David Spade
Adhir Kalyan
Opening theme "How Many Ways" by Señor Happy
Composer(s) Bert Selen
George Ritter
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 99 (List of episodes)
Production
Camera setup Multiple-camera setup
Running time 21 minutes
Production company(s) Game Six Productions
Happy Madison Productions
CBS Television Studios
Sony Pictures Television
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Picture format 1080i 16:9 (HDTV)
Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1
Original run February 5, 2007 (2007-02-05) – present
External links
Website

Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007 as a midseason replacement. The series is produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions in association with CBS Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television (SPT controls North American rights; CBS controls international rights).

On May 21, 2012, CBS renewed Rules of Engagement for a seventh season of 13 episodes to air midseason, bringing the total number of produced episodes to 100.[1] Season 7 began airing on Mondays at 8:30, starting February 4, 2013.[2]

Contents

Premise [edit]

Two couples and their single friend deal with the complications of dating, commitment and marriage. It looks at different relationships in various stages, starring Patrick Warburton and Megyn Price as a long-married couple, Oliver Hudson and Bianca Kajlich as newly engaged sweethearts, and David Spade and Adhir Kalyan (the latter added in season 3) as their still-single friends. They often gather to enjoy a meal at "The Island Diner". The show features writers from the Emmy Award–winning Everybody Loves Raymond.

History [edit]

The show was heavily promoted by CBS during Super Bowl XLI [3] and launched the following night, the first of seven episodes in its first season. The pilot episode remains the highest rated episode of the show. The series was renewed for a second season which began as a midseason replacement for The New Adventures of Old Christine on Monday, September 24, 2007, with production halted after nine episodes on November 6, 2007, in the wake of a writers' strike. After the strike ended, CBS announced that the show would return April 14, 2008, with a further six episodes.[4]

Seasons three and four were both mid-season entries launched in March 2009 and March 2010.[5][6] On May 18, 2010, it was announced that CBS had renewed Rules of Engagement for a 5th season.[7] It was later announced that this season would start in September, in contrast to its usual midseason start, and received an expanded 24-episode order. (The fifth season was the first and only season to have a full-season order.) The first 15 episodes aired on Monday nights, usually in the 8:30 pm Eastern/7:30 pm Central time slot following How I Met Your Mother. Then on February 24, 2011, the series moved to Thursdays at 8:30 pm Eastern/7:30 pm Central, following The Big Bang Theory, after the cancellation of $h*! My Dad Says.

On May 17, 2011, the series was renewed for a sixth season to begin airing in fall 2011. One day later, CBS announced that Rules of Engagement would move to Saturday nights at 8:00 pm Eastern/7:00 pm Central as part of the network's new Comedytime Saturday block; the first time in six years that an original CBS program would air on that night. It also marked the fourth night that the series would air on, with it previously airing on Mondays, Wednesdays (two airings), and Thursdays.[8] On October 7, 2011, however, it was announced that Rules of Engagement would move back to its 8:30PM EST Thursday timeslot following The Big Bang Theory, replacing new sitcom How to Be a Gentleman which was moved to the new Saturday time slot.[9]

Effective January 12, 2012, CBS removed Rules of Engagement from its Thursday lineup, replacing it with the new sitcom Rob starring Rob Schneider. CBS later announced that Rules would return to its Thursday 8:30 PM time slot on March 29, after Rob had finished airing its 8-episode order,[10] resulting in a total of 15 season 6 episodes.

The series was officially renewed for a seventh season of 13 episodes on May 21, 2012. It returned on February 4, 2013 airing in the Monday night 8:30 pm Eastern/7:30 pm Central timeslot, where it aired for one and a half seasons.

Cast [edit]

Main characters [edit]

  • Patrick Warburton as Jeff Bingham, a financial manager and the overly-macho husband of Audrey since August 12, 1995.[11] He loves sports (NY Giants, NY Mets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), shuns anything that might resemble sensitivity and often views his marriage as a competition, refusing to let Audrey "win" the upper hand at anything. He is also very frugal and extremely careful with his money – to the extent where he will buy socks in New Jersey to avoid paying additional tax on them – and tries to discourage Audrey from overspending while planning for their future. He has also been known to use coupons from the Entertainment coupon book, as mentioned in an episode. But he had no hesitation in buying on impulse an expensive 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS. He often reminisces about his college days at Syracuse.
  • Megyn Price as Audrey Bingham (née Curtis), an editor at Indoor Living magazine and the assertive, modern wife of Jeff. She likes to do things on spur of the moment, such as when she buys furniture on the Internet or makes Jeff's shirts into a quilt. She tolerates her husband's insensitivities because she knows he is not malicious and will do whatever it takes to make the situation right once he realizes his mistake. Audrey does not make fun of her friends as much as her friends make fun of each other, but she will frequently save her most-biting criticisms for Russell. She often insists that she is a "people person", but her attempts to prove it usually result in embarrassment, such as having a co-worker lodge a sexual harassment complaint against her.
  • Oliver Hudson as Adam Shannon Rhodes, a sensitive and well-intentioned – but extremely naive – co-worker of Russell and Timmy, and Jennifer's fiancee. He is a neighbor of Jeff and Audrey, looks up to Jeff, and often acts on Jeff's relationship advice (which is hardened by years of marriage) to try to get more sex out of his relationship with Jennifer. This usually results in making the situation worse for himself. As an example, he once revealed to Jennifer his strategies for avoiding her bad moods, because he was proud that Jeff considered them to be a good idea. Sometimes because of his childlike naivete, people find it hard to explain things to him. He cannot keep secrets, and he never thinks before he speaks. He once stated that Timmy was part of an al-Qaeda group, instead of an a capella group (Season 5, Episode 15). Adam also frequently exhibits feminine or flamboyant behavior and characteristics, which make him the target of many barbs from Jeff and Russell regarding his homosexual tendencies. For example, in Season 5, Episode 13, Adam reveals he was a cheerleader in high school, leading to several "gay" jokes from Jeff and Russell.
  • Bianca Kajlich as Jennifer Morgan, the charismatic live-in fiancee of Adam, who endures his faults because of his good looks and underlying good nature. She is very self-conscious of his naivete, and will often try to spare him from embarrassment. She also has a need for thrills and can easily manipulate Adam into doing whatever she wants, but often feels guilty about it afterwards.
  • David Spade as Russell Dunbar, a shallow, womanizing single friend of the main characters and co-worker of Adam and Timmy. Russell is an eternal optimist when it comes to women, often ignoring multiple sexual harassment lawsuits leveled against him in the pursuit of sex. He is also an inept manager in his father's real estate business, and if left to his own devices and forced to fend for himself without assistance (e.g., from Timmy), he would completely destroy his offices in minutes. He is often mocked because of his height (especially by Jeff), choice of wardrobe, and his penchant for prostitutes and young women with "daddy" issues. He is also very wealthy, as a result of his father's success, and frequently acknowledges this to lure women and do whatever he wants.
  • Adhir Kalyan as Timir "Timmy" Patel (recurring Season 3; regular cast from Season 4), a mild-mannered immigrant of Indian heritage from South Africa (although constantly mistaken for being British) who quickly becomes jaded and sardonic once he is hired as Russell's assistant. Although he is fluent in seven languages and holds an MBA, he is often forced to do menial work or to solve Russell's trivial problems. While many of Russell's schemes disgust him, Timmy will often see them through so that he can enjoy Russell's come-uppance. Throughout the series, Russell, and occasionally others, will often relate him to something involving Native Americans and their heritage, leaving him to exclaim, "I'm not that kind of Indian."

Major recurring characters [edit]

  • Diane Sellers as Doreen, waitress at The Island Diner.
  • Wendi McLendon-Covey as Liz, an unlikeable, annoying, unattractive neighbor and friend of Audrey's who lives directly upstairs from the Binghams; for a brief story arc in Season 6 she was married to Russell, but they are now separated (although not yet divorced). In Season 7, Episode 7, she admitted to Russell that she is a sex addict and that she cheated on him multiple times (with multiple partners) during their brief marriage.
  • Sara Rue as Brenda, Jeff’s lesbian softball teammate who agrees to be a surrogate mother for Audrey and Jeff.
  • Nazneen Contractor as Suneetha, Timmy’s fiancée in an arranged marriage, who becomes an object of Russell’s affections.
  • Susan Yeagley as Tracy, a man-hungry co-worker of Audrey’s.
  • Taryn Southern as Allison, the object of Timmy's affections, which blossoms into an intra-office romance then ends when she moves and breaks up with Timmy.
  • Geoff Pierson as Franklin Dunbar, Russell's wealthy, lecherous father.
  • Orlando Jones as Brad, Jeff's gay friend from his gym who eventually makes friends with the rest of the gang.

Episodes [edit]

Main article: List of Rules of Engagement episodes

U.S. ratings [edit]

Seasonal ratings [edit]

Season Timeslot (ET) # Ep. Premiered Ended TV Season Rank Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions)		 Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
1
Monday 9:30PM
 7
February 5, 2007
 14.83[12]
March 19, 2007
 9.26[13] 2007 #36[14] 12.38[14]
2 15
September 24, 2007
 12.23[15]
May 19, 2008
 12.29[16] 2007-2008 #33[14] 10.89[14]
3 13
March 2, 2009
 11.82[17]
May 18, 2009
 12.87[18] 2009 #23[14] 11.37[14]
4
Monday 8:30PM
 13
March 1, 2010
 9.73[19]
May 24, 2010
 8.23[20] 2010 #50[21] 7.91[21]
5
Monday 8:30PM (2010–2011)
Thursday 8:30PM (2011)
 24
September 20, 2010
 8.35[22]
May 19, 2011
 8.80[23] 2010-2011 #49[24] 8.77[25]
6
Thursday 8:30PM
 15
October 20, 2011
 11.45[26]
May 17, 2012
 7.17[27] 2011-2012 #42[21] 10.10[21]
7
Monday 8:30PM
 13
February 4, 2013
 9.40[28]
TBA
 TBA 2012-2013 TBA TBA

Syndication [edit]

In June 2011, the series was picked up for syndication by local affiliates, The CW Plus, and WGN America, making its debut on September 10, 2012.[29]

On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, the series began airing weekdays on TBS at 2/1c, but moved to 11/10c beginning on Monday, January 28, 2013.

DVD releases [edit]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment owns the rights to release DVDs in Region 1 – so far, the first five seasons are available. The fifth season of the series was made available beginning February 7, 2012, exclusively as a made-on-demand release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, in conjunction with amazon.com.[30] Similarly, the sixth season received a MOD release from online retailers, on October 2, 2012.[31]

Paramount Pictures, in conjunction with CBS Home Entertainment, will start releasing the series on DVD internationally in 2011. Season One was released in the UK (Region 2 DVD) on April 4, 2011.[32]

DVD name Release date Ep #
The Complete First Season September 4, 2007 7
The Complete Second Season October 14, 2008 15
The Complete Third Season September 14, 2010 13
The Complete Fourth Season January 11, 2011 13
The Complete Fifth Season* February 7, 2012 26
The Complete Sixth Season* October 2, 2012 13

Note: Following the events of Charlie Sheen’s departure from Two and a Half Men, CBS ordered an additional two episodes for Rules of Engagement’s fifth season, bringing the total number of episodes to 26 from the initial 24 ordered. Despite the episodes, “Scavenger Hunt” and “Cheating,” airing during the sixth season, they were originally produced for the fifth season, and are included in the fifth season collection. Therefore, the sixth season’s DVD release features the 13 episodes produced over that time period, versus the 15 that were broadcast by CBS.

International broadcasters [edit]

Country Network Series Premiere Timeslot
 Australia Network Ten
Eleven
TV1		 February 13, 2008
May 15, 2012
2010		 Sunday 7:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 PM
Wednesdays 7:30 PM
 Austria ORF eins
Puls 4		 May 21, 2012
December 19, 2012		 Monday – Friday, 12:05 PM
Wednesday – Friday, 10:55 AM
 Belgium VIER Monday – Friday, 7:20 PM
 Bosnia and Herzegovina RTRS
 Brazil Sony
 Bulgaria Fox Life Wednesday 21:00 PM
 Canada City February 5, 2007 Thursday 8:30 PM
 Croatia Fox Life
 Cyprus FOX Greece October 12, 2012 Monday – Friday, 11:00 PM
 Denmark TV2 Fridays, 02:00 PM
 Estonia Fox Life Weekdays, 05:05 PM (replay) and 07.55 AM, 09.30 AM
 France M6 April 1, 2011 Monday – Friday 10:15 AM
 Germany kabel eins
Fox Channel
Comedy Central		 November 12, 2009
January 2, 2012
November 12, 2012		 between seasons
Monday – Friday, 11:00 PM
Monday – Friday, 11:05 PM
 Greece FOX Greece October 12, 2012 Monday – Friday, 11:00 PM
 Hungary Viasat3 12 May 2010 Weekdays, 07:25 (replay) and 07.55 PM
 India Big CBS Love Monday – Friday 9.00 PM
 Ireland RTE 2 Saturdays, 00:30
 Israel Xtra HOT
HOT family/yes stars Base		 2007
January 4, 2009		 Unknown
Sundays, 8:15 PM, 11:45 PM
 Italy Comedy Central, Italia 1 June 21, 2009 Saturdays & Sundays, 1:00 PM
Republic of Kosovo Kosovo Fox Life September 10, 2009 Monday – Friday 9.00 PM
Latin America (orthographic projection).svg Latin America Sony Entertainment Television1 Mondays, 10:30 PM
 Latvia SET Weekdays, 05.35 PM (replay) 07.30 PM, 03.00 AM and 06.15 AM
 Macedonia Fox Life
 Netherlands Veronica Monday – Friday, 7:30 PM
 New Zealand FOUR Tuesdays, 8:00 PM
 Norway TV 2 bliss Weekdays,
 Peru Sony Entertainment Television Mondays, 12.00 AM
 Poland Polsat, Comedy Central Polska January 6, 2008 Fridays, 9:00 PM
 Portugal AXN White Mondays, 10:25pm (Mainland and Madeira)/9:25pm (in Azores)
 Serbia Fox Life, Nacionalna July 7, 2009 Weekends
 Russia Sony Entertainment Television 2009 Weekdays
 Slovenia POP TV 2008 Weekends
 South Africa SABC 3 Mondays, 9:40 PM
 Spain Paramount Comedy, FDF Thursdays, 11:15 PM
 Montenegro VIJESTI TV, 2012 Monday – Friday
 Sweden Kanal 5 Tuesdays, 10:00 PM
 Switzerland SF zwei September 9, 2011 Tuesday – Friday, 7:30 PM
 Taiwan Star World Weekdays, 07:35 PM
 Thailand True Series Tuesdays, 9:00 PM
 Turkey ComedyMax Weekdays, 08:00 PM
 United Kingdom Comedy Central UK
E4		 Times and days vary (Re-runs)
Weekdays, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Re-runs)
 United States CBS (orig. network)
Broadcast syndication (reruns)
WGN America (reruns)
TBS		 February 5, 2007
September 10, 2012
September 10, 2012
January 2, 2013		 Mondays 8:30 PM
Various
Sunday-Friday 12:00 AM and Wednesdays 10:00 PM
Weekdays 11:00 AM
1 Rights in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Polish version [edit]

Main article: Reguły Gry

Polish channel TVN started filming its own version of the show, called Reguły Gry (literally meaning Rules of the Game in Polish). It premiered on 16 February 2012 on TVN sister channel TVN 7 as its first original production.[33][34][35]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Rose, Lacey (May 21, 2012). "CBS Renews 'Rules of Engagement' for Midseason". The Hollywood Reporter. 
  2. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 6, 2012). "CBS Announces Mid-Season Lineup Including Premiere of 'Golden Boy' and Return of 'Rules of Engagement', 'Survivor' & 'The Amazing Race". Tv By the Numbers. Retrieved December 7, 2012. 
  3. ^ "TV Tonight". Buzzsugar.com. 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  4. ^ "CBS Sets Series Return Dates". Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
  5. ^ Hibberd, James. "CBS plans return of 'Rules of Engagement'". The Hollywood Reporter. 
  6. ^ "Breaking News – CBS to Keep "Case," "Rules"; Adds Two More Dramas". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  7. ^ "CBS: Renewed and Cancelled". Retrieved 2009-05-19. 
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "CBS Schedule: Why Are 'CSI' & 'Good Wife' Moving'? Original Series On Saturday?!". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  9. ^ "CBS: ‘Rules of Engagement’ Moving To Thursdays; ‘How to Be a Gentleman’ Banished to Saturdays, Effectively Canceled - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  10. ^ "Harnick, Chris. "CBS Announces 2012 Midseason Schedule."". Aoltv.com. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  11. ^ Mark Cendrowski (director) & Mike Haukom (writer) (2012-03-29). "Scavenger Hunt", Rules of Engagement. episode 8. season 6. CBS.
  12. ^ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  13. ^ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  14. ^ a b c d e f "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2009-05-19. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
  15. ^ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  16. ^ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  17. ^ "ABC Medianet". ABC Medianet. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  18. ^ "Top CBS Primetime Shows, May 18-24, 2009 - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  19. ^ "TV Ratings Top 25: Oscars, American Idol & The Big Bang Theory Top Weekly Broadcast Charts - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  20. ^ "Ratings - CBS Wins the Final Monday of the Season in Key Demos". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  21. ^ a b c d "Final 2009-10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership - Ratings". TVbytheNumbers. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
  22. ^ "Monday Finals: ‘Hawaii Five-0,’ ‘Two and a Half Men,’ ‘DWTS,’ ‘House’ Gain; ‘Chuck,’ ‘The Event’, Chase, Castle Drop - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  23. ^ "TV Ratings Thursday: ‘The Office’ Rises, ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Private Practice,’ ‘Big Bang Theory’ Rise, But American Idol Dominates - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  24. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Full 2010-2011 TV Season Series Rankings". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
  25. ^ "2010-11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2012-05-11. 
  26. ^ "Thursday Final Ratings: World Series + ‘Big Bang,’ ‘Grey’s,’ ‘Vampire Diaries’ Adjusted Up; ‘Rules,’ ‘Private Practice’ Adjusted Down - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  27. ^ "Thursday Final Ratings: ‘American Idol’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ’30 Rock’ Adjusted Up; ‘Touch’, ‘Scandal’ Adjusted Down - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  28. ^ Bibel, Sara (February 5, 2013). "Monday Final Ratings: 'The Biggest Loser', 'Bones', '2 Broke Girls', & 'Mike & Molly' Adjusted Up; 'Deception' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 5, 2013. 
  29. ^ "Sony Clears 'Rules of Engagement' in Nearly Half the Country - 2011-06-17 20:18:08 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  30. ^ "Rules of Engagement DVD news: Box Art and Date Change for Rules of Engagement - The Complete 5th Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  31. ^ "Rules of Engagement DVD news: Release Date for Rules of Engagement - The Complete 6th Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  32. ^ "Rules Of Engagement Season 1 (2011): DVD". hmv.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  33. ^ "Paweł Wilczak i Maciej Zakościelny w polskiej wersji "Sposobu użycia" - Filmweb" (in (Polish)). Filmweb.pl. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  34. ^ DODAJ OGŁOSZENIE Ogłoszenie już od 200zł! (2011-08-24). "TVN wyprodukuje polski sitcom dla TVN 7". Wirtualnemedia.pl. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 
  35. ^ ""Reguły gry": Pierwszy serial TVN7 - Galerie - Film w INTERIA.PL - premiery filmowe, repertuar kin, recenzje filmów (kino, dvd)". Film.interia.pl. Retrieved 2012-11-27. 

External links [edit]

CBS Network programming (current and upcoming)
Primetime
Daytime
Late night
News
Sports
Saturday morning
Upcoming
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rules_of_Engagement_(TV_series)&oldid=554154906"