It's always heartbreaking when a critically-acclaimed show struggles to find an audience, and subsequently the network gives them a hard time about finding air dates or generating publicity.  Occasionally series stars will speak out against that treatment, but is it still biting the hand that feeds with another hand lined up?  Could 'Cougar Town' be counting chickens before they hatch?  Perhaps a third metaphor?

Struggling ABC sitcom 'Cougar Town' star Busy Philipps spoke to E! recently not only about the show's perceived slighting by its own network, but the benefits of the rumored move to TBS.  Criticizing the manner in which ABC has given 'Cougar Town' the short end of the stick, Philipps says "It has not been fun to feel like the ugly stepsister of the network."

"They moved us around, they took us off the air for months," she continued. "I do feel a little disappointed in how they've treated the show."  Not only had ABC shifted the Bill Lawrence-created sitcom from numerous time slots, but also elected to pull the series from the fall schedule, eventually dumping it without much fanfare to mid-season.

TBS on the other hand has recently entertained the idea of taking on the show for two additional seasons of 15 episodes each, which Philipps sees as an ideal move:

If TBS is willing to launch the show in a real great way and we would actually have like billboards and commercials, that would be really cool.

I feel like if it really happens it's kind of going to be like best case scenario for all of us.

Much like their acknowledgement of the  series itself, ABC has declined to comment.

What say you?  Is Busy justified in criticizing ABC for their handling of the show, or was the network right to pull it from the fall lineup?  Does 'Cougar Town' deserve another shot on TBS?  Tell us your thoughts on the show in the comments!

More From ScreenCrush