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.
Please bring back Harry’s Law. This is a great show with a wonderful Cast. Kathy Bates is Fabulous!! With all the crapy reality shows you really want to cancel an actual GOOD SHOW!! REALLY???
Really? You want to cancel one of the most provocative and intelligent shows on your network? No wonder people do not want to watch NBC. Give those of us who want this type a show (no ridiculous sitcoms or disgusting reality angst) a chance.
you go girl
couldn’t have said it better. PLEASE keep it on. My favorite show !
PLEASE KEEP HARRY’S LAW. YOU WILL CANCEL A GREAT SHOW, AND BRING IN ANOTHER CRAPPY REALITY SHOW OR EVEN MORE STUPID SITCOM. WE ALL LOVE THE SHOW, PLEASE KEEP IT ON THE AIR
bring it back. I really enjoy the banter
I enjoy Harry’s Law and I am a faithful viewer. Great writing good actors. Here’s hoping you get enough ad dollars.
I love this show. Please don’t cancel it! I am from Canada.Our viewership never counts, does it? Maybe if it did have an impact perhaps more good shows would be saved!?
Please don’t drop this show. I have followed kathy bates for years. I love her in any thing she does. You would do all the viewers a big injustice.
Our favorite tv show so naturally they want to cancel it. Not enough sex and violence. What few good tv show are aired, they all get cancelled. TV is becoming more and more not worth watching at all. Better off listening to good music and reading good books!
Please renew Harry’s Law. I am not a teenager and do not like watching only programs whose cast is made up of teens and twenties. For the first time since cable came into being, I have actually watched cable programming during prime time. Not every night but enough that the networks should be concerned because I doubt very much that I’m alone. Kathy Bates and Harry’s Law gave me a reason to turn to NBC – you really shouldn’t lose that as I only watch two hours of your network .
I think Harry’s Law is a really good show. I would like to see it stay on the air.
We want “Harry’s Law” and Kathy Bates to return to another season. It is one of our favorite shows on TV, along with “Person of Interest” and “The Blue Bloods.”
They might want to consider moving it back to original night. It is a show for adults and 7 p.m. on Sundays is not a good time slot. I own all Boston Legal seasons on DVD and this is just as funny, another hit for David Kelley!
Please don’t take it off. It is the only show that makes me laugh out loud. I love and so do my colleagues
Kathy Bates is the best! She is hilarious. The actors on the show, compliment each other. It’s a great cast. It’s one of thoose rare shows, that doesn’t have violence and killings. Please keep it on! Sarah
Love it, love the music, love Kathy Bates, love the issues, love its similarity to Boston legal, love the variety of characters .