NBC has cancelled the Thursday airings of their low-rated legal series, The Firm, and sent it packing to Saturday nights at 9pm beginning February 11th.
The Firm follows attorney Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas), his wife Abby (Molly Parker), and their daughter Claire (Natasha Calis), as they emerge from the witness protection program after 10 years. They relocate to Washington, DC to restart their lives but problems from the past quickly resurface. The show’s cast also includes Callum Keith Rennie, Juliette Lewis, Tricia Helfer, and Shaun Majumder.
NBC had high hopes for the legal drama but it stumbled in the ratings right from the start. The two-hour premiere of The Firm registered just a 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.32 million viewers. The numbers got even worse once the show moved to Thursday nights and, for the past two weeks, has only mustered a 0.8 rating with fewer than three million total viewers.
It’s no surprise that NBC is banishing The Firm to Saturday nights with ratings like these. Grimm repeats will fill the Thursdays at 10pm timeslot for the immediate future. Starting March 1st, the peacock network’s new drama Awake will take over.
While it looks highly unlikely that NBC will purchase a second season of The Firm, it seems certain that viewers will get to see all 22 episodes of season one.
If The Firm had been a typical network show, the episode order probably would have been cut down to 13 installments because of the low ratings. However, NBC’s deal for The Firm is unique and a bit more like the one the network had for Merlin, the supernatural drama produced by the BBC.
Sony and Entertainment One partnered to produce The Firm, primarily for the overseas market. Thanks to pre-sales and Canadian production tax credits, the cost of producing the series was already paid for and NBC was able to pick up the show for a greatly reduced licensing fee, just like any other secondary buyer.
If The Firm had been a big success, NBC would have made quite a profit on the series. As things worked out, the network may still be making some money on the deal or at least hasn’t lost much.
Will there be a second season? That depends on Sony and Entertainment One, not NBC.
What do you think? Do you like The Firm? Do you think it should continue?
Image courtesy NBC.
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I really like this show. But, then, I must have no taste in TV shows since I detest, Dance Moms, Mob Wives, Swamp People, I’m a Baby Making Machine – or whateverthehell that show about having a bunch of kids is . Shoulda known, they would cancel a show that has, at least a little class – more than Toddlers and Tiaras – which should have been named Pedophile Magnet.
My husband and I look forward to the show I can’t believe your thinking of canceling it
Beats all the garbage shows you keep on!
The Firm is a really excellent show. When a network commits to a show they should
think about the initial time slot more carefully. Instead of moving it around so much, they need to allow it to develop an audience. I missed it or part of it several times b/c I relied on my memory of when it was on , only to find out it had been moved.
I hope it gets renewed.
I love this show and can’t understand why the ratings are low. I never miss a episode ! Keep The Firm and cancell some of those so called comedys. If nbc decides not to renew this great show, I hope another network will see the talent and get it on their line up.
Why do networks always target the 18-49 age group. Other age groups watch TV …
I love this show and I am very unhappy when I see that it has been cancelled again! I can’t understand why we can’t have real entertainment instead of the trash comedy. I agree with the above veiwer Vonnie. I hope that nbc will keep The Firm, and let it be seen on at its Sat time.
Please keep it. Just keep it. You’ve cancelled so many good shows. Don’t cancel this one too.
I love this show, its the best show we have had on a network since Fox had 24 with Keifer Sutherland. I will be so update with NBC if they cancel my favorite show The Firm, excellent cast also. I Love It!!!
I love this show and can’t wait for the next week to see what is going to happen. Every week, I am literally sitting on the edge of my seat watching and worring about what is going to happen.. I have not been excited about a new series in such a long. I love this show and would be very dissapointed if The Firm was not renewed.
I absolutely LOVE this show. I almost cuss my tv out when the show is over because I don’t want it to end. This show could be two hours long every night and I still couldn’t get enough of it, It has been a very long time since I have been so engrossed with a new television show but The Firm had me from day one. I am wanting to reread the book. I will be very disappointed if this show is not renewed.
The Firm is awesome! How can it be that it is not going to be renewed??? What is wrong here? This is one of our favorite shows and I do not understand why the ratings are bad…. Please tell us I’m wrong and that it will be renewed for season 2! I can’t wait for tonights next episode.
PLEASE do not cancel The Firm. It’s wonderful. It’s my new “24″!!!!!! Love it.
I think the show is great
Please do not cancel The Firm!!!! Fantastic show, great ensemble and a story that flows!
We love this show. We never miss an episode and would love to have a second season to watch. Please!!!
This show is quite good compared to all the other trash that is on TV these days. I don’t understand the poor ratings. Please keep it going and don’t cancel it.
It seems that if the show isn’t a stupid so called comedy, than the networks don’t want to renew it. Let’s keep some good entertainment on television.
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