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Rules Of Engagement
SERIES: CBS, Monday 9:30p (30 minutes)


8.1

based on 27 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?

based on 68 votes
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Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Official Show Site

Starring Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich, Megyn Price, David Spade, and Patrick Warburton

This sitcom about relationships centers on a married couple, an engaged couple, and a single man. It's even less engaging than it sounds.

GENRE(S):	Comedy
CREATED BY:	Tom Hertz
FIRST AIR DATE:	February 5, 2007

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Los Angeles Times Robert Lloyd

It may be seen as a kinder, gentler, funnier cousin to Fox's bitter " 'Til Death."

Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker

Uneven.

Variety Brian Lowry

Two of the first three episodes [reveal] an assured, risque, semi-cynical air that should dovetail nicely with "Two and a Half Men."

San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman

You might not remember to record it every week, but if you stumble upon it, you might stay.

Christian Science Monitor

Pity Patrick Warburton whose dour delivery is the brightest spot in this half hour. He clearly feels trapped, but not by his marriage.

Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn

Rules is similar to Fox's grimly unamusing comedy 'Til Death, but it has one major advantage: deadpan, rubbery Patrick Warburton.

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

At no point will you feel like scratching your own eyes out rather than sitting through an episode. So there’s that.

The New York Times Alessandra Stanley

It’s not a groundbreaking new series by any means, but it has some redeeming virtues.

USA Today Robert Bianco

Rules is one of those sitcoms that makes people who hate sitcoms hate sitcoms.

Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall

Having two nearly identical, equally mediocre sitcoms on the air at the same time isn't exactly a crime, but it seems an awful waste of someone's time and energy.

TV Guide Matt Roush

Rules would be more engaging if it weren't so familiar, but there is at least one consistently hilarious performance: Patrick Warburton.

New York Magazine John Leonard

When it isn’t slamming bedroom doors in a high-rise apartment house in ostensible Manhattan (just like Mad About You except without the charm) or meeting for heavy innuendos at the corner diner (just like Seinfeld except without the writers), Rules reiterates Til Death’s take on marriage.

Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman

"Rules" and "'Til Death" bear exactly the same ups and downs. The ups: essentially a good cast, plus sporadic funny lines. The downs: many un-funny lines, plus rehashed storylines from a thousand episodes of married-life sitcoms dating all the way back to "The Honeymooners."

Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy

A ho-hum traditional sitcom filled with formula banter and cliched cuteness.

People Weekly Tom Gliatto

Everything has the familiar mechanical deadness of a sitcom assembled from old ideas. [12 Feb 2007, p.39]

San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum

There isn't a single new comedy idea in any of the upcoming episodes, and in some scenes, you practically can yell out the punch line before the characters get to it.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Melanie McFarland

Besides making every aspect of dating and mating look depressing, it's hard to come up with a reason to spend time with any of these characters.

Newsday Diane Werts

This one isn't David Spade's fault. Really it isn't.

Baltimore Sun David Zurawik

Let's hope Rules is just a misguided piece of fluff that disappears after a dozen episodes - and not a bellwether series trying to tell us something about how our lives have changed for the worse.

LA Weekly Robert Abele

The series quickly begins to resemble one of those fake sitcoms you’d see in a snide movie that likes to take easy potshots at low culture.

New York Daily News David Hinckley

"Rules of Engagement" is no more believable than it is amusing, and it's never amusing.

Philadelphia Daily News Ellen Gray

Painful-to-watch.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

Besides being uninspired, "Rules" isn't all that funny.

Salon Heather Havrilesky

The story lines are every bit as insufferable as the punch lines.

Washington Post Tom Shales

No one in the cast is likely to be your new favorite actor.

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

While TV comedy is getting good again, the network has decided it's time to resurrect the groan-inducing cliches of stinky sitcoms to remind us of just how truly rancid the genre can get.

New York Post Linda Stasi

Everyone involved in creating this show should be forced to immediately seek other forms of employment. This business is not - repeat, not - for you.

The average user rating for this tv show is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 68 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Michelle L. gave it a10:
My husband and I love this show. I love the dynamic of their being two couples and then David Spade all on his own trying to live the life of a single nasty single guy. I love Patrick Warburton as a married man and his wit just amazes me. Oh hell, I love all of the characters and the way that they play off of each other. This show is fantastic and I hope it doesn't go off of the air anytime soon!!!

Restless Spirit gave it a6:
Apparently, It isn't canceled. A new show airs Monday, April 14th.

Brenna K gave it a10:
This show was excellent! I can NOT believe it was canceled on the basis of critics ratings. With every thing that is going on now in this country, we all need a good laugh. What is the per-capita ratio of critics to the rest of us?

Dean H gave it an8:
I agree with Christine A. The guys in the show are funny, but the female characters are poorly developed. It could be so much more, but it surely is funnier than any of the other lame new shows out there.

Travis M gave it a10:
I cant believe that out of all the trash on TV now that this one quick Very Funny show bit the dust! I REALLY think the pompus critics - And Im sure they love being knows as this - I mean some of the cartoons on primetime, come on....Some of those are so tacky. Well, what ever. This is just another reason NOT to watch the electronic baby sitter.

Dawn M. gave it a10:
I love this show. I'm married and know about all the three lifestyles portrayed on this show. It's hilarious because every episode is so true in real life.

Lilly H. gave it a10:
Realistic and hilarious. How could it be cancelled?

Rules Of Engagement SERIES: CBS, Monday 9:30p (30 minutes)

Rules Of Engagement
SERIES: CBS, Monday 9:30p (30 minutes)