Not every show can get the love and support of its network. But Patrick Warburton is at a loss as to why CBS has no problem tossing around "Rules of Engagement" as if it were a piece of trash.

Warburton, whose show was not included in CBS' immediate midseason plans, feels that if the network just left the show alone, it could thrive. Instead, he's looking at a 15-episode season, and big question marks on whether the comedy will return next year.

"If they're going to pull one show for midseason, they're going to pull us," Warburton told TVGuide.com after "Rules" was pulled to make room for "Rob," a new comedy starring "Saturday Night Live" alum Rob Schneider. "They're not going to pull a Chuck Lorre show. They haven't supported us from the very beginning. Whenever we end up in a decent time slot, we always do well. But they've never given us any support."

"Rules" was almost relegated to Saturdays, but at the last minute was moved to Thursdays following the crash and burn of "How to be a Gentleman." Through Nov. 10, "Rules" is averaging a 6.8 rating/11 share, according to Fast National overnight ratings from The Nielsen Co., compared to the 5.2/9 "Gentleman" garnered after just two episodes.

At least through the end of October, that was a 26 percent improvement over the year before, one of television's top gainers. It was ranked No. 19 overall, and No. 14 on CBS ahead of "CSI: Miami," "The Amazing Race," "CSI: New York" and even "The Good Wife."

Yet, CBS has higher expectations for the show. While a 6.8/11 would be considered gold on any other network, for CBS -- which so far is averaging television's best 7.6/11 -- it's not quite making it. "Rules" is the lead-out show for "Big Bang Theory," a program averaging an 8.7/14. That's a 22 percent audience loss between the two shows, and forces lead-outs "Person of Interest" and "The Mentalist" to have to build on that audience.

Yet, not even those shows are doing much better. "Person of Interest" is averaging a 7.5/12, and has settled into its current audience well before "Rules" premiered on Oct. 20. It's more than 7 percent behind its timeslot year over year.

"The Mentalist" has not been as stable, and is averaging an 8.1/13, down 9 percent in its timeslot, and 10 percent from its audience the year before. Yet, "The Mentalist" has not changed much since "Rules" was re-introduced.

"One has to wonder if this was a show that they had nurtured and kept in the same spot, promoted it, then maybe we could be doing even better now and be a much better show for it," Warburton said. "The show's good, but there's a to of elements to success."

Who knows, maybe CBS will listen.

In the meantime, "Rules of Engagement" can be found Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS.