Rules of Engagement (TV series)

Rules of Engagement
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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	100 (list of episodes)
Production
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	21 minutes
Production company(s)	Game Six Productions Happy Madison Productions CBS Paramount Television (2007–09) CBS Television Studios (2009–13) Sony Pictures Television
Distributor	CBS Television Distribution (non-USA) Sony Pictures Television (USA)
Release
Original network	CBS
Picture format	1080i 16:9 (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	February 5, 2007 (2007-02-05) – May 20, 2013 (2013-05-20)
External links
Website

Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that ran on CBS from February 5, 2007, to May 20, 2013, originally airing as a mid-season replacement. The series was produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions in association with CBS Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television (SPT controls the North American rights while CBS controls the international rights).

The show received negative reviews throughout its run. Despite this, it always earned reasonably good ratings, helping the show last for 100 episodes over seven seasons.

Premise

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".

History

The show was heavily promoted by CBS during Super Bowl XLI 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 mid-season 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.

Seasons three and four were both mid-season entries launched in March 2009 and March 2010. On May 18, 2010, it was announced that CBS had renewed Rules of Engagement for a 5th season. 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 on which the series would air, with it previously airing on Mondays, Wednesdays (two airings), and Thursdays. 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.

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

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

On May 10, 2013, Rules of Engagement was cancelled by CBS after seven seasons and 100 episodes. The series finale episode aired on May 20, 2013.

Cast and characters

Main characters

• Patrick Warburton as Jeff Bingham, a financial manager and husband of Audrey since August 12, 1995. He has a rather dark, dour and sardonic personality and sense of self, particularly when dealing with Russell and Adam, but he is not mean-spirited or cruel, thereby rendering these traits as merely ironic and biting humor. 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 often reminisces about his college days at Syracuse.
• Megyn Price as Audrey Bingham (née Curtis), formerly from Lincoln, Nebraska, 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. She and Jeff had a baby via a surrogate, Brenda, after Audrey assumed she could never get pregnant, only to discover in the series finale that she is in fact pregnant with Jeff's child.
• Oliver Hudson as Adam Rhodes, a sensitive and well-intentioned – but extremely naive – co-worker of Russell and Timmy, and Jennifer's fiancée throughout the series until they are married in the series finale. 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 attempt to receive more frequent sexual relations 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 never thinks before he speaks. Adam frequently exhibits feminine or flamboyant behavior and characteristics, which make him the target of many barbs from Jeff and Russell regarding his homosexual tendencies.
• Bianca Kajlich as Jennifer Rhodes (née Morgan), the charismatic live-in fiancée and eventual wife 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 afterward.
• David Spade as Russell Dunbar-Patel, a shallow, womanizing single friend of the main characters and boss of Adam and Timmy. Russell has a quick wit, and 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 at his father's real estate and development business, Dunbar Industries. If left to his own devices and forced to fend for himself without assistance (e.g., from Timmy) he would completely destroy his office 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 uses this to lure women and do whatever he wants. His favorite expression, after incredulous questions about his doing something outrageous, is: "I kinda did". In the series finale, Russell proposes to Timmy and marries him in order to help Timmy avoid deportation.
• Adhir Kalyan as Timir "Timmy" Dunbar-Patel (recurring Season 3; regular cast from Seasons 4–7), whom Russell hires as his assistant. He is a mild-mannered man with a quick wit, often matching Russell's jabs in their verbal sparring. Although he is fluent in seven languages and holds an MBA from Oxford University, Timmy 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. He plays cricket and is also an avid fan of the Boston Bruins. In the series finale, Timmy's work visa expires and he faces deportation. In an uncharacteristic act of selflessness, Russell sets aside his womanizing ways to marry Timmy so he can stay in the country.

Major recurring characters

• 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 later separated. 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 away 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

Main article: List of Rules of Engagement episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	7	February 5, 2007 (2007-02-05)	March 19, 2007 (2007-03-19)
	2	15	September 24, 2007 (2007-09-24)	May 19, 2008 (2008-05-19)
	3	13	March 2, 2009 (2009-03-02)	May 18, 2009 (2009-05-18)
	4	13	March 1, 2010 (2010-03-01)	May 24, 2010 (2010-05-24)
	5	24	September 20, 2010 (2010-09-20)	May 19, 2011 (2011-05-19)
	6	15	October 20, 2011 (2011-10-20)	May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)
	7	13	February 4, 2013 (2013-02-04)	May 20, 2013 (2013-05-20)

U.S. ratings

Season	Time slot (EST)	Number of episodes	Premiere		Finale		TV season	Overall rank	Viewers (in millions)
			Date	Viewers (in millions)	Date	Viewers (in millions)
1	Monday 9:30 p.m.	7	February 5, 2007	14.83	March 19, 2007	9.26	2006–07	36th	12.38
2		15	September 24, 2007	12.23	May 19, 2008	12.29	2007–08	33rd	10.89
3		13	March 2, 2009	11.82	May 18, 2009	12.87	2008–09	23rd	11.37
4	Monday 8:30 p.m.	13	March 1, 2010	9.73	May 24, 2010	8.23	2009–10	50th	7.91
5	Monday 8:30 p.m. (2010–11) Thursday 8:30 p.m. (2011)	24	September 20, 2010	8.35	May 19, 2011	8.80	2010–11	49th	8.77
6	Thursday 8:30 p.m.	15	October 20, 2011	11.45	May 17, 2012	7.17	2011–12	42nd	10.10
7	Monday 8:30 p.m.	13	February 4, 2013	9.40	May 20, 2013	6.25	2012–13	52nd	7.69

Syndication

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. On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, the series began airing weekdays on TBS at 2/1c. It has since moved to the early morning hour of 6 A.M. throughout the week.

In Canada, the series is syndicated on CMT.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
2007	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series	Wayne Kennan	Nominated
	Teen Choice Award	Choice TV Actor: Comedy	David Spade	Nominated
2008	Art Directors Guild Award	Excellence in Production Design	Bernard Vyzga and Lynn Griffin	Nominated
	BMI Film and TV Award	Best TV Music	David Schwartz	Won
2009			Evan Frankfort, Bert Selen, and George Ritter	Won
	Art Directors Guild Award	Excellence in Production Design	Bernard Vyzga, Joe Pew, and Jerie Kelter	Nominated
	ASCAP Film and Television Music Award	Top Television Series	Steve Mazur, Tom Polce, and Derek Schanche	Won
2010	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series	Bernard Vyzga an Jerie Kelter	Nominated
2011				Nominated
		Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series	Wayne Kennan	Nominated
2012	BMI Film and TV Award	Best TV Music	Bert Selen and George Ritter	Won
	Image Award	Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series	Leonard R. Garner, Jr.	Won
2013	BMI Film and TV Award	Best TV Music	Bert Selen and George Ritter	Won

DVD releases

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment owns the rights to release DVDs in Region 1. 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. Similarly, the sixth season received a MOD release from online retailers, on October 2, 2012. The seventh and final season has not yet been released on DVD and it is unknown whether the series will see completion on DVD. However, the entire series is available to purchase and download from amazon.com and the iTunes Store.

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.

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	24
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

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	2BE		Monday – Friday
Bosnia and Herzegovina	RTRS, Comedy Central Extra
Brazil	Sony
Bulgaria	Fox Life		Wednesday 21:00 PM
Canada	City	February 5, 2007	Thursday 8:30 PM
Croatia	Fox Life, RTL 2. Comedy Central Extra		— Monday – Friday 11:30 PM, 2 Episodes —
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 Comedy Central		Monday – Thursday, 8.00 PM Monday – Thursday, 11:00 PM
Ireland	RTÉ Two		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
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
Montenegro	VIJESTI TV	2012	Monday – Friday
Netherlands	Veronica		Monday – Friday, 7:30 PM
New Zealand	FOUR		Sundays, 7:00PM
Norway	TV 2 bliss		Off,
Pakistan	Star World		Monday-Friday, 7:30 PM
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)
Romania	Comedy Central Extra		Monday – Friday, 7:40 PM
Russia	Sony Entertainment Television	2009	Weekdays
Serbia	Fox Life, Comedy Central Extra	July 7, 2009	Weekends
Slovenia	POP TV	2008	Weekends
South Africa	SABC 3		Mondays, 9:40 PM
Spain	Paramount Comedy, FDF		Thursdays, 11:15 PM
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
United Kingdom	Comedy Central E4		Weekdays, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM (Re-runs) Tuesdays 9:00 PM (Season 7), 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 6:00 AM, 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

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.

External links

• Rules of Engagement – Official Site
• Rules of Engagement at IMDb
• Rules of Engagement at TV.com
• Rules of Engagement – bridestelevision.com
• THRFeed
• Rules of Engagement on Comedy Central UK

• Mark Cendrowski (director) & Mike Haukom (writer) (2012-03-29). "Scavenger Hunt", Rules of Engagement. episode 8. season 6. CBS.