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‘Rules of Engagement’ breaks all the conventions

The sitcom “Rules of Engagement” has just returned for its third season. It hasn’t, however, been an easy path getting there.

The show premiered in 2007 as a midseason replacement. It was renewed for a second season, but then the writers’ strike halted production and the show was pulled from the lineup. It returned in 2008 for six shows, then got picked up for a third season of shows in March.

“Well, it’s a lot more stop-and-start than you normally get, that’s for sure,” says Patrick Warburton, who plays long-married Jeff in the show. “The first year went really well, then the strike threw a wrench into the gears, and now we’re finally coming back.”

But Warburton, who will forever be Puddy, Elaine’s Christian-music-loving boyfriend on “Seinfeld,” puts a positive spin on the program’s stuttered history.

“Even with all those bumps in the road, the show is getting better,” he says. “If you look at it with a positive perspective, it gave us time to see what worked and what didn’t. The show was always fun, but it’s a lot sharper now.”

The show easily fits into the CBS Monday lineup at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, teamed with the solidly popular “Two and a Half Men” at 9 p.m. Like that show, it is a classic 30-minute sitcom that is filmed in front of a studio audience.

“The traditional four-camera sitcom almost seems a bit antiquated now,” Warburton admits. “Night-time entertainment is sort of making a change from that, but for me, it’s fun to see shows that are shot in a front of a live audience.”

Jeff and his wife, Audrey (adorable Megyn Price from “Grounded For Life”), have been married for several years. Contrast that with pals Adam (Oliver Hudson) and Jennifer (Bianca Kajlich), who are newly engaged. Then throw into the mix a lecherous buddy, played to leering perfection by Valley guy David Spade.

“I love working with David,” Warburton says. “He makes me laugh. He always makes me laugh. He’s just funny.”

Warburton is equally funny as the perpetually sour Jeff. His best scenes with Audrey sometimes have a “Honeymooners”-like zing.

“Jeff can be a grumpy Gus and extremely opinionated, but so many women relate to that because that’s their husband up there,” Warburton says. “At the same time, you know this character loves and adores his wife. When you have a relationship like that, you’re able to mess with each other and say mean things to each other. But you know there’s love there, because otherwise it would just be all misery and gripes.”

Like his character, Warburton has been married for several years to the same woman. But he says that’s where the similarity ends.

“I’m in way deeper than Jeff,” he says. “I’ve been married for 18 years now and have four kids. Jeff’s been married for 14 years and doesn’t have kids. He could still disappear if he wanted to.”

He pauses.

“That’s not a fantasy of mine, by the way. I’m just saying.”