CBS has pulled rookie comedy How to Be a Gentleman from its Thursday time slot and has slotted Rules of Engagement, originally scheduled to air Saturdays, in its place.
Next Thursday (Oct. 13), CBS will air a repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 8:30 p.m., Gentleman‘s original home. Starting Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., Gentleman will debut in its new time period.
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Rules of Engagement will premiere its sixth season in Gentleman‘s old slot on Thursday, Oct. 20. Rules of Engagement was previously set to debut Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., which will be replaced by Two and a Half Men repeats followed by new episodes of Gentleman.
After airing two episodes following Big Bang Theory, consistently Thursday’s highest-rated program, Gentleman failed to capitalize on its lead-in, averaging just 8.4 million total viewers and a 2.6 rating among adults 18-49. Its debut two weeks ago plunged 33 percent in the demo compared to the series launch of high-profile sitcom $#*! My Dad Says with William Shatner. ($#*! was given the boot after one season.)
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Starring David Hornsby, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Kevin Dillon, Gentleman chronicles the friendship between a columnist (Hornsby) and his trainer (Dillon).
Rules of Engagement, led by David Spade, Patrick Warburton and Oliver Hudson, has been bounced around the network’s schedule several times during its run and the move marks a vote of confidence by CBS.
Lesley Goldberg contributed to this report.
