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Podcast: The S1E1 Podcast
Episode: S1E1: Rules of Engagement
Description: "Rules of Engagement" is a sitcom that ran from 2007-2013 on CBS. Built around the different stages of a relationship, through two couples and their single friend. The series plays heavily on the contrast between cynicism and idealism, long-term comfort and honeymoon-phase cluelessness. Warburton’s deadpan delivery and Spade’s chaotic energy became the anchors of the series, helping it survive multiple schedule moves and inconsistent marketing.
Though critics never fully embraced the show—often calling it formulaic or old-fashioned—it quietly developed a dedicated fanbase. The series become one of those sturdy, middle-of-the-road sitcoms that never topped t...