A couple months ago, NBC premiered a new legal TV series from David E. Kelley called Harry’s Law. The series started out decently in the ratings but has fallen quite a bit since then. Tonight is the season finale. Will it be back for season two or end up cancelled?
Harry’s Law revolves around Harriet “Harry” Korn (Kathy Bates), a cranky former patent lawyer. She’s abruptly fired from a big firm, forcing Harry to search for a fresh start. She finds it when she meets Malcolm Davies (Aml Ameen), a college student who desperately needs her help and ends up working for her. A young legal hotshot named Adam Branch (Nate Corddry) accidentally hits Harry and gives up his corporate job to join the team. With the help of Harry’s footwear-obsessed assistant, Jenna (Brittany Snow), they open for business as Harriet’s Law and Fine Shoes.
The NBC series debuted in January with a 2.2 rating in the prized 18-49 demographic and 11.07 million viewers. That was an improvement of nearly 50% in the demo when compared to the last original episode of Chase, the previous timeslot occupant and NBC has had a hard time filling that spot for quite some time. The second episode only came down 5% to a 2.1 rating and 10.43 million. Week three held steady. It was looking like NBC had a hit — or as close as the network seems to get these days.
Then, the fourth installment took a big tumble, dropping 19% to a 1.7 demo rating and 9.22 million. It stayed at that level for a couple weeks, popped up to a 1.8 rating, and has most recently been holding steady at a 1.6 rating. That’s pretty close to what Chase had been doing and that’s all but cancelled.
Tonight marks the twelfth and final episode of the season and Harry’s Law is averaging a 1.8 rating and 9.54 million viewers. It’s the 10th highest rated scripted series on the network, tied with Chuck. On the other big networks, the series would certainly doomed but NBC has lots of ratings problems.
In truth, based on the demo numbers alone, NBC shouldn’t bring back this series for a second season. However, though it ranks towards the bottom of the demo rankings, it’s the most-watched TV show on the network. Though that doesn’t count for much, considering the state of NBC, it may be enough to get Harry’s Law a renewal.
On the other hand, with David E. Kelley likely having another series on NBC next season — the new Wonder Woman — network execs might prefer that he focus on that one and let Harry’s Law go. If they don’t like the Wonder Woman pilot, that may be enough to save Kathy Bates and company.
NBC probably won’t reveal the fate of Harry’s Law until the advertiser upfronts on May 16th. We’ll keep you posted.
What do you think? Should Harry’s Law be renewed or cancelled? If it does comes back, how would you suggest they change it to attract more viewers?
Image courtesy NBC.
Good riddance because this show sucked. It sucked worse than actually living in Cincinnati which is pretty damned bad. Kathy Bates deserved much better than a show that gave her a man’s name and was slightly racist to boot. Actually, that was the only part of the show that accurately reflected the city at all. It’s a bigoted, racist, hellhole here.
Liked the show a lot. Hope you bring it back.
Please renew, it’s a great show.
Please keep this show. How many other shows appeal to the older (not teeny bopper) tv viewers. Who could not like Kathy Bates?!
A great change from all the other shows sporting the same theme. I will look at this show no matter what night or time slot.
Harry’s Law SHOULD continue! It’s one of the best shows on TV that I have EVER seen! NOTHING should be changed about it.
Yes Yes Yes, keep Harry’s Law. One of the few shows worth watching…..with all the reality shows on now…..nothing with any talent or entertainment value. We love Harry’s law.
Please don’t cancel Harry’s Law. It is one of the few that I watch besides the news. If the news doesn’t get better, and you cancel Harry’s Law, I just may consider that it isn’t worth watching TV at all. At least I can choose what book I want to read. There isn’t must choice on TV. Thanks the six episodes of Harry’s Law. I enjoyed every one of them twice.
This is a excellent show! It’s programmed in the DVR to make sure we don’t miss a episode.
Bates is terrific and the characters also very good. NBC doesn’t have anything better. We enjoy the real world situations that the show deals with. The goofy ambulance chaser lawyer is hilarious, I am getting a good belly laugh just thinking about him. Please renew the show for 20-26 episodes.
Harry’s Law had such promise. Kathy Bates is always a winner, and the premise (law office in a shoe store?!) was interesting. But the vitriolic political pandering was too much for me after the first show. And we only watched the first one till the end because I hated to pull the plug on Ms. Bates. We immediately removed it from the DVR schedule. I used to like Boston Legal too…. until they began playing with the legal system. OMG, the courts having sympathy for a thrice convicted, yet wanting to change and get a college degree, young man? Just… Read more »
This is one show that I looked forward to each week. It seems if your not into the survivors shows or the weight shows telling and showing all your not left with much. This show was enterataining and Kathy played a normal women, not a size 2 model who can remember her lines, Please let this show “Survive.”
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Harry’s Law…please, please, please DO NOT CANCEL. My husband also loves it as well as some close friends. It is one of only three or four shows that we really look forward to watching.
Thanks for listening, Bobbi
Yes, lets keep Harry’s Law. I also tape it and rerun it because it is so good, Where else can you see aa actual story of a lawyer who is not TV beautiful and nderstand human nature. Lets put Harry in a t=different timeslot and I am sure you will see higher ratings.
I agree with Carol. Put it on another night. It is a great show with interesting characters. Give it another chance.
Thanks.
Pat
By ALL means Harry’s Law should come back. Put it on Friday or Wednesday night when there is nothing else on. Don’t put it up against two prime shows. There are spots where we can definately use a quality show. We would tape it every week and watch it later. This was a great show in a lousy time slot. Do it again but put it in it’s own time slot. This was a good show. Do you hear me, a good show and there aren’t that many on TV these days. PLEASE, bring it back. Kathy Bates was so… Read more »