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.
Why not cancel “Rules”? They’ve been showing so many reruns lately of all the good shows on CBS that I’ve switched to Phineas and Ferb and Spongbob Squarepants. They beat what passes for comedy on the other networks and the CBS rerun thing is so out of hand I thought it was summer and I was Rip Van Winkle. “Rob” just bite big time. To be fair I’ve only seen one episode so it may get better then again I said the same thing about How to be a Gentleman. It never did and I suspect Rob won’t either. Yea… Read more »
idiots!!!
Good show, good cast, good storyline, good ratings… let’s cancel it!!!!
I absolutely love Rules of Engagement; it’s about the only show on TV that makes me laugh out loud. It seemed to pair very well with Big Bang Theory; it held a very respectable amount of the audience from the Big Bang Theory lead-in. I have nothing personally against Mr. Schneider but to me that show is a pastiche of past shows and past humor (the humor feels kinda dated). I didn’t laugh and there were some times I felt kind of sorry for some of the actors. I understand that there are those who feel a number of latino… Read more »
What more must we go through? Rules of Engagement, a show spoken in English by English-speaking persons replaced by a show, Rob, starring non-Englishing speaking persons attempting to communicate in English! If I wanted more of that, I would just spend a half hour on the phone with a tech-support person or go to McDonalds! The world is going to H##L in a handbasket!
Dear CBS,
Please rename the Thursday 8:30 time slot to “ROBBED”, as that is what you did to us viewers of the best comedic ensemble on TV.
Thank you!
You are kidding me!! I love Rules of Engagement!! CBS always seems to cancel the good comedies and put the lame ones on in their place!! I’m not watching Rob so Ill just switch to another network during that time slot. Please put Rules back on!!!
This is a great comedy and it should not be cancelled!!! I have’nt seen “Rob” – but from the promo clips – it looks really stupid. Can’t imagine what CBS “brains” are thinking. It’s no wonder that the public gets fed up with regular network TV and watches the great cable shows!!
The best show on television and again the idiot management at CBS can’t figure it out. These are the same brain surgeons that reconfigured Two and a half men. Look at that show now. The network continues to lose viewership and can’t figure out why.
Rules, RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been waiting for a new episode for FAR too long! Why does CBS continue to push Rules of Engagement around … they have a great 1-2 punch with Big Bang Theory and Rules … “How to be a gentlemen” sucked … “Rob” seems to suck as well … give “Rob” the Saturday night snuff and LEAVE RULES ALONE!
Order another decade of shows!!!!!
Put the show back on.It was my favorite comedy.Can’t understand why CBS would cancel it when the ratings were high.
I agree. One of my favorite shows. Great cast and so funny I could not stop laughing. Do not get it? These television big shots just do not know good comedy when they see it. It will be missed.
CBS did it again! Rules was about the only show my husband REALLY liked! And CBS decided to pull it………with good ratings!! What a real dissapointment…………….
Rob over Rules of Engagement…yea that makes sense…NOT! Watching Rob and realized it is pathetic…predictable…poorly written. In short it sucks! My God watching this is painful….the canned laughter doesnt even correlate to the lines…
NO!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!! This is my favorite show. Why? Why god? Finally find a great show after they killed Monday night line up and CBS cancels it. If they don’t bring this show back, I will never watch CBS again. How about Big Bang Theory, Rule of Engagement,2.5 Men & Mike and Molly. Now that would be a great line up. Are you reading this CBS? ROB sucks! Two Broke Girls sucks!
CRAZY…network execs NEVER learn. The writing and cast of “Rules” are a great combo. One of our favorite shows. I agree that “Rob” looks like a totally lame collection of ethnic “humor”. You can’t beat a great cast and great writing…”Rules” has both. Sad to say the Monday line up has gone into the crapper! “How I Met Your Mother” has become too much of a tear jerker, “Two and a Half Men” sucks with Ashton Dumbass. “Two Broke Girls” is about 50/50. “Mike and Molly” rule Monday night. Keep “Rules” on Thursday and stick the destined-to-fail “Rob” on Saturday… Read more »
This is my favorite comedy. I don’t get it, you have a show with good ratings, a great cast, and good writting.What does CBS want?