See below for update. Despite the fact that the sitcom has been a winner for CBS in the Thursdays at 8:30pm timeslot, it looks like Rules of Engagement has been cancelled.
An inside source has told us that CBS has decided not to order the back nine episodes for the current sixth season. The cast and crew have two episodes left to shoot and believe that those will be the last episodes of the series.
Our source tells us that calls went out on Friday night to those who work on the show to give them the bad news. Especially given the current ratings, many were understandably shocked and upset as they head into the holiday season.
Starring David Spade, Patrick Warburton, Bianca Kajlich, Megyn Price and Oliver Hudson, Rules of Engagement launched in early 2007 and has been a reliable pinch hitter for CBS for years. It started in the post-Two and a Half Men timeslot but has been moved to a couple different timeslots.
Last May, the series was renewed for a sixth season with the aim of a Saturday night run. Word was that the studio gave CBS a great deal so they’d have additional episodes for the syndication package. When How to Be a Gentleman tanked, the network brought Rules back to Thursdays where it’s doing far better than it did last year — and better than any other sitcom that CBS has had in that coveted slot.
Our source says, “The reality is it’s got to be politics. The network has always had it out for Tom [Hertz, Rules’ creator] and the show, which is why it’s weird that they just set up a put pilot with him for next season… It really does seem to be a desperation move on their part to find something that hits it out of the ballpark in that Thurs 8:30 slot. Doubles and triples apparently aren’t good enough for them. They’d rather risk a few more fouls and strike outs than go with a solid player.”
What do you think? Are you a fan of the TV series? Should it get a seventh season?
UPDATE: A network source has told us that Rules has not been cancelled — not yet anyway. Apparently the sitcom was picked up for 18 episodes for season six, to be combined with two leftover episodes from season five. CBS has now cut the episode order down to 13 episodes (or 15 total). (Deadline is now reporting the same thing.) While the door is still open for season seven, we’re told that many involved with the production believe this is truly the end of the show.
Image courtesy CBS.
I loved it.
Best sitcom ever, please bring it back
Rules of Engagement is a show I look forward to watching. I am almost exclusively a CBS evening program fan. Love NCIS Don’t cancel Rules of Egagement keep it going.
You do need to do something about Two and a Half men. It is really getting bad to a point I may quit watching it. The vomiting scenes from last Monday’s show were pretty pathetic.
Kaley on Big Bang is awsome… Love her facial expressions during the show…..
Please do not cancel Rules of Engagement! This is my favorite show! Rob is horrible,
it does not even come close to Rules of Engagement! I will stop watching CBS if you cancel it!
what is wrong with CBS?? i mean come on now (rules) is definately one of the funniest and best sitcoms with the likes of ,friends ,seinfeld,frasier, and the cast is awesome!!!! there is noone as funny as patrick warburton especially when its like he doesnt even have to try and oliver hudson! they should have been grateful to have an actor like him, i belive he is actually better then his more popular sister kate! and do i have to say even a word about david spade? even the women are so good in playing their parts. and lets not… Read more »
Rules of Engagement is One of the BEST shows on TV. Bad move CBS
Please don’t cancel this show, this is one of my favorites, funny, witty. Big mistake to cancel this fabulous show.
Why are you canceling one of the best shows on tv? Makes no sense!
Why CBS? Really, in this time of satellite, pod casts, cable, pvr’s, TiVo, Internet, and so on why would you cancel a perfectly good show that anyone and everyone can watch. Disappointed viewer!
Rules of Engagement is a fun, entertaining show. Please don’t cancel it!!
Love this show, don’t cancel it!
another good show cancelled. how stupid of cbs. i for one will not watch its replacement as i did when “all my children” was cancelled on abc. of course i’m only one fan but here’s hoping many others feel the same as i and “rob” bites the dust. better yet, let’s hope some other network has the good sense to pick up this very funny “rules of engagement”!!
Bring the show back its my fav. this is stupid of CBS.
I think Rob is a good show, but so is Rules. It is much better than most of the other comedies out there, and had good ratings. All involved in this show deserve better treatment than this. It has to be CBS’s doing. If it were on another network(maybe ABC?), it would probably be the best comedy they have.
It seems as time goes by so do the good show’s go bye! I wish there was a reason for the stupid moves that the producers make by cancelling a great show without any rhyme or reason.
Must of somehow stepped on King Zebra tail. This was too good of a show and Rob SUCKS!!!!!! What is next? The Big Bang Theory. We need more intellectual shows. If CBS does not bring them back maybe a “Real” network will pick them up.