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 don’t cancel Harry’s Law. It is one of the best shows on T.V. and it will continue to draw many more watchers with a little bit of publicity!! We all need a lawyer like Harry!!
We need well written stories that hit home not just reality shows.
GET SHOW ! Don’t let the advertisers influence you. People over 49 have & spend money.
Kathy is great. I wouldn’t change a thing.
DO NOT cancel Harry’s Law!!! I watch it every week and learn something from this program each time. Kathy Bates is a great character as are the rest of the cast. I do miss Jenna though. Maybe bring her back since the ratings were better in the beginning. It is a very informative program. NBC is crazy to cancel this show.
Harry ‘s Law
The BEst show, Kathy Bates is a WONDER in action,a Great
Actress — the story line of Law is educational and WELL done
KEEP IN ON!
In a world of “UCK” T.V. This program is soooooo needed for
Those people who want something to look forward to! Save us!
I love this show! It’s well written and up with the best of them. We get our viewing from the Orlando affiliate and I’d like to say this. I don’t know why but we only get to see 2 or 3 new segments followed by a lot of re-runs and changing to different time slots. It’s been a mess. I’d like to see some of those others I didn’t see at all. There are very few interesting programs on TV any more. I’m an antenna TV watcher. It’s too bad NBC doesn’t put some of their better programs on where… Read more »
There are so few quality TV shows, as far as I’m concerned. Harry’s Law is one of the rare few well-written, well-acted shows to come along. Kathy Bates is so good and the rest of the cast are too. David Kelly writes poignant, sad, happy, thought-provoking, wonderful shows. Please don’t take this show off the air
You can’t cancell Harry’s Law!!! One of the best shows on tv! I adore Kathy Bates and the entire cast of Harry’s Law. Please, please renew it.
Sincerely,
Linda Boonstra
NBC is not with the viewer community. Harry’s Law is one of the best shows on TV – I usually watch it live instead of DVR-ing it. Bring back Harry’s Law – even if the producers take it to another network – NBC has their head in the sand!
LOVE Harry’s Law and wouldn’t change any of it – sure hope it gets renewed by some network. I think it’s well written and that’s appealing.
Are they nuts……one of the few show we wait and watch every week…..just stay with good stories…….leave out the sex……..One of two shows we watch…
Harry’s Law Should continue with a least another ten series it its as good as law and order with the same saying power to suggest it shouldn’t be continued is madness
My husband and I love Harry’s Law. It is so different from other shows with humor and excitement. The court trials have you on edge wondering about the outcome of every trial. The entire cast is wonderful. Please don’t cancel this show
Never miss the show, well written, well acted. Love the way both sides of an issue are equally and well argued, many a good conversation and debate with family and friends over “cases” on this show. Supposedly being canceled because it appeals to an older audience? Well I’m part of that older audience, I’m part of that group who has worked their whole life and has the money to spend for the products the sponsors advertise. I didn’t realize being over fifty means I don’t count anymore. Let me tell Unce Sam at tax time that according to NBC I… Read more »
Please don’t cancel “Harry’s Law”. It is the best show on t.v. It is extremely well written, creative, with wonderful characters and actors in a unique setting. We haven’t been seeing shows like this in a very long time. Mary Tyler Moore and I Love Lucy are shows that had well written and acted scripts. Now it seems like they are all the same and involve no thought processes: The Voice, America’s Got Talent, American Idol, the Bachelor, The Apprentice, the Dancers all the same, no creativity, no writing of stories anymore. So I beg of you, many of my… Read more »
Please do not cancel Harry’s Law TV show. I have been a faithful viewer and the characters are wonderful. One of the interesting things about this show, I believe, is the final outcome of each case. Sometimes the attorneys do not win.