As predictably as fall follows summer, once mid-season rolls around on the old network television schedule, new shows begin to appear like wild flowers across a sunny meadow (I’ve been drinking). Usually that means some brand new series, hyped for 18 months as the greatest thing to ever be scripted and cast, which invariably collapses in its second week (see Kings).
But over at CBS, things are a bit different. The network has so many good shows that the suits can’t figure out how to squeeze them all into one week. And one show caught in that quagmire is Rules of Engagement. Slated as a mid-season replacement in 2007, its full season pick-up in 2007-2008 was thwarted by the writers’ strike, and it was relegated to another mid-season premiere in 2009 (not that I’m complaining there — that’s how we got Worst Week). This season it was postponed to make room for Accidentally on Purpose … great decision!
Nevertheless, we’ve made it to mid-season, and we’ve made it through the Olympics. So hang on to your couches, because Rules of Engagement premieres its fourth season tonight!
If you’re crazy enough to have never watched the show, here’s a quick rundown: Audrey’s (Megyn Price) married to Jeff (Patrick Warburton), and they don’t have any kids. Their neighbors across the hall are Adam (Oliver Hudson) and Jennifer (Bianca Kajlich), an engaged couple who may or may not have made a single wedding plan in all these seasons. Adam’s friend and colleague is Russell (David Spade), a pervy, life-long swinging single who most certainly has a Peter Pan complex. And for those of you who are wondering, Timmy (Adhir Kalyan, fantastic in Aliens in America), Russell’s assistant, has been upgraded to a series regular.
Okay, so Audrey and Jennifer are good friends, although Audrey’s more conservative personality gets her into some uncomfortable situations with the more free-spirited Jennifer (see the naked hot tub incident). Jeff and Adam are close, and Jeff spends a good amount of his time trying to convince Adam that marriage is not the answer. Russell, meanwhile, is Barney to Adam’s Ted, is tolerated by Jennifer, was once hated, then loved, then hated again by Audrey, and is a really funny verbal sparring partner for Jeff. Their one-liners can keep you very entertained. And Timmy has started to settle in well with Russell, if you consider the clash of their extreme opposite personalities settling in well (which I do). He needs time to grow, but Kalyan’s a really funny guy.
Amidst all the nonsense, there are some continuing story lines. Jeff and Audrey decided to try and get pregnant back in season two, but other than a plot here or there, nothing much has happened on that front. Jennifer and Adam have been (not proactively) working towards finally getting married. And I think a major direction of the show will eventually be to get Russell to see the importance of finding someone to love. While I haven’t previewed any of this season, I do have information on some of the upcoming plots, so WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW.
It looks like this season will see a lot of action on the Audrey/Jeff pregnancy front. Alan Ruck (Spin City) is set to guest as a therapist helping them to work through their conception troubles, and rumor has it that Jaime Pressly will do an arc as a potential surrogate mother for the couple. It may sound very Friends final season, but just imagine Jeff around a woman who’s carrying his baby but isn’t someone he can sleep with. I’m not sure his David Puddy mind has evolved enough to grasp that concept.
Russell, meanwhile, will continue his lothario ways until something trips him up. And Adam and Jennifer? Expect to see them having a lot of conversations about having conversations about planning their wedding. And maybe some one step forward, two steps back moments. Those are always fun.
And so is this show. If you’re a fan, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, check out Rules of Engagement when it premieres tonight at 8:30PM on CBS, right after How I Met Your Mother. You do like to laugh, don’t you?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 01, 2010 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
