‘Rules of Engagement’ season 7 premiere, ‘CSI: NY’ finale dates announced

CBS announced a good chunk of their midseason schedule on Thursday, but unlike the messy one recently handed down by ABC featuring the premiere of new series “Red Widow,” this one is relatively simple. You have a few minor changes, but everything else is more or less part for the course.

Let’s start with the return of a show that is beloved by its diehard audience, who has literally followed it to just about every timeslot on television over the course of the past several years: “Rules of Engagement.” The show featuring Patrick Warburton and David Spade will launch its seventh season on Monday, February 4, where it will air following “How I Met Your Mother” in the 8:30 p.m. Eastern timeslot. It is not as great of a time as it had following “Two and a Half Men” last season, but the show should still do a decent job here of pulling in ratings that far exceed the canceled “Partners.” We’re just happy at this point it is still on the air despite nearly being canceled at least three times.

In other interesting news, “CSI: NY” is actually going to be wrapping up its season on February 22, which you could read as some not-so-great news for this edition of the franchise. The ratings have been weak in the 18-49 demographic, and it is possible that the network could decide to send it out to pasture like it did with “CSI: Miami.” If this does happen, we do at least hope that they are given a little bit more fitting of an ending.

Finally, CBS will launch its new series golden boy following “NCIS: Los Angeles” beginning on Tuesday, February 25, and it will air there for two weeks before taking the “CSI: NY” timeslot on March 8.

Photo: CBS