"Rules" Takes On Relationships

New Sitcom Looks At Single, Engaged And Married Men

(CBS)  A new CBS sitcom takes a looks at various stages of relationships from the womanizing single male who runs from them, to the eager new fiancé, to the beaten down long-married man.

In "Rules of Engagement" Patrick Warburton plays a married man, Jeff. Oliver Hudson's character has just gotten engaged, and the David Spade plays a single guy on the prowl.

Spade's character, Russell, is reminiscent of Finch, his character on "Just Shoot Me," but, according to Spade, "a little more embarrassing."

"Finch was a little more kind of persnickety and more metro," he told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. His new character is "a little, like, older, acts younger than he is, and unbuttoned shirts and a little more on the prowl."

Even though Spade has been linked to Heather Locklear in the tabloids, he said that he's much more boring and subdued than Russell.

"I'm trying to make it the funniest version of this kind of guy that everyone knows," he said. "That's a little too flashy and trying too hard."

But Spade jokingly admits to feeling the pressure to settle down, or at least have a child. His brother just had a son and now he feels that he has to have a child by next year's Super Bowl.

"I'm single, and I'm out," he said. "I just got to have a kid by next Super Bowl."

In real life, Warburton, who played Elaine's boyfriend on "Seinfeld," is a married father of four. On the show he plays a man who is a little bit grumpy, a little frustrated, but committed to his wife.

"I'm just not fun to talk about," Warburton said.

Off-screen, Oliver Hudson — brother of Kate Hudson and son of Goldie Hawn — just got married seven months ago. He plays Adam, a man who just got engaged to his girlfriend of seven months and is optimistic about marital bliss. Spade plays his best friend.

Hudson, it seems, has comedy in his blood. He practically grew up on a set, but said he's flying by the seat of his pants, hoping to come close to what his mother and sister have achieved.

"These guys are the funny. I'm there to set them up," he said.

"It's a good mix of playing off each other," Spade said. "He is kind of the heart of the show because he is the engaged one."

"Rules of Engagement" airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. Central Time and 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.