While the mid-season replacement typically is reserved as a shorthand TV punchline, there are the rare birds that actually survive being dumped part-way through a TV season and catch on (wave hi, Grey's Anatomy, Malcolm in the Middle and Medium!). Rules of Engagement, a half-hour sitcom which features writers from Everybody Loves Raymond, explores the lives of long-time marrieds Jeff and Audrey (Patrick Warburton and Megyn Price), newly engaged couple Adam and Jennifer (Oliver Hudson and Bianca Kajlich) and their snarky single pal Russell (David Spade).

There's nothing groundbreaking to be seen here and it's likely due to the sharp comedic talents of Warburton, Price and Spade that you feel as engaged as you do by the conclusion of this very brief first season. The laughs aren't consistent, but plenty of humor is mined from the deadpan interaction between Warburton and Spade, as well as the acerbic interplay between Price and Warburton; Hudson and Kajlich are appealing, but just don't have quite the comedic chemistry of the rest of the cast. Put it this way: I'll probably TiVo the upcoming season, but I'm not sure I'll rush to watch any of the episodes -- it's a good rainy day-type show, one meant for lazy afternoons when not much else is on.

The show returns for its second season on Sept. 24. All seven episodes of the first season -- the pilot, "The Birthday Deal," "The Young and the Restless," "Game On," "Kids," "Hard Day's Night" and "Jeff's Wooby" -- are included. The first season of Rules of Engagement is packaging in your standard snap-case.

The Video:

As originally broadcast on CBS (in hi-def), Rules of Engagement is presented in a spotless 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that's virtually flawless. There are a few fleeting instances of artifacts, but overall, a very solid visual representation of recently filmed material.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 track doesn't get any chances, really, to shine, as Rules of Engagement keeps to the standard sitcom mix of dialogue, laugh-track and applause. That said, everything's crisp, clean and clear, with no glaring audio defects to be heard.

It's slim pickins in the supplements department -- the 12 minute, 23 second "From Table Reading to Taping" featurette follows the progression of several scenes from "The Birthday Deal" from the first run-through to the final product; four minutes, 42 seconds of bloopers (presented in anamorphic widescreen); a two minute, six second set tour with Hudson and trailers for The King of Queens, Meatballs, Guess Who and "Great TV Families" is all she wrote.

There's nothing groundbreaking to be seen here and it's likely due to the sharp comedic talents of Warburton, Price and Spade that you feel as engaged as you do by the conclusion of this very brief first season of Rules of Engagement. The laughs aren't consistent, but plenty of humor is mined from the deadpan interaction between Patrick Warburton and David Spade, as well as the acerbic interplay between Megyn Price and Warburton. Recommended.