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 reconsider the cancellation of Harry’s Law. It was the best show bar none you had on your network and in fact it was the ONLY show I watched on your network. Bring it back and I’ll be back.
Please renew Harry’s Law. This is the best Show on T.V
Please Harry’s Law is one of if not the best Show on Television. I’m begging please renew. Thank you.
I emjoy Harru’law. I like its jusice issues and teamwork and office parlay. I’ll pray it stays on.
Why do you people keep looking at 18-49? Of course that demo isn’t going to be strong for this more intercultural program. Why not look at 25-54? or even the more 50+. We’re not dead and we do spend money. Don’t cancel this show. I can understand Boston Legal, as much as I loved that one, maybe it was time. But not this one. Maybe you should sell it to a cable network, they are always looking for good quality program – except for the Kardashians.
Lea (above) hit the nail on the head. There are plenty of Baby Boomers tuning in to this great show and you would think that they would find advertisers galore for that market. Anything that David Kelley does is top notch, and this series bears many of his signatures. Great character line up, timely scripts that mimic some real life legal issues well (the Chinese adoption episode was heart wrenching), and as always, Kathy Bates is terrific. Is there still hope, or is your poor decision to cancel the final word?
There are only 3 shows that we watch in our household. ‘Harry’s Law’ is one of them. It is the best of the 3. If it is cancelled we will be down to 2 shows – because practically all of the new shows are mindless drivel… pandering to prepubescent adolescents.
Unbelievable!!!! What can NBC be thinking??? It is by far one of the best shows on T.V, the issues are always very timely and the cast is marvelous. Kathy Bates is one of the best talents around!!! There are so few shows that have these qualities. There are too many evenings that we do not even turn on the set and if they cancel Harry’s …… well that would be yet another evening that the T.V. will be mute.
Please, please, please, listen to what the fans are saying.
Harrys Law is our fav show!!Its intelligent.pls do not
cancel it! It replaced our other fav,Boston Legal!!!we really hate all
these meaningless reality shows and empty mindless nonsense
Right on. At least you spelled intercultural correctly.
Alie Mcbeal, Boston Legal, Harrys Law. I would watch anything that David Kelly does. I don’t have to wait for him to get another series when he has one on right now. renew it.
I think the lady named Lea who wrote her disapproval of the cancellation should be a writer for you. At least a critic if nothing else! Harry is far more liberal than I Prefer but she’s a tough, hard nosed, opinionated “lady” who’s anything but a flip flopper. It is men like her who defended and died at the Alamo. They drew a line in the sand and Harry does the same thing in her life. NBC, ABC, and CBS have abrogated their duty to their profession of giving the whole truth of the matter to their readers/viewers. Harry would… Read more »
I can’t believe NBC would cancel a quality show like Harry’s Law that has one of the best cast I’ve watched in along time. I think CBS should take it and run with it.
I love Harry’s Law – do not cancel this great show. I may be greater than 49, but older viewers are just as important as the under 49 crowd. We don’t just curl up in a ball & die; nor do we go to bed as soon as the sunsets. A lot of the older viewers like myself still work full-time, go out to dine, watch movies and like me & my husband record via the DVR our favorite series or episodes even if we do go to bed prior to Primetime. So don’t dismiss the older viewers, we are… Read more »
Come on – – demographics? You don’t want to pander to the ‘demographics’, you just want a younger audience because you think they have more money to spend. Well, try paying attention to what the Baby Boomers are watching, gear your advertising toward our pocketbook and we’ll show you what our demographics will do for you. You are IDIOTS for cancelling Harry’s Law. Funny, exciting and irreverent – that’s what the writers and cast of Harry’s Law brought us. Maybe if you put one of the Kardashians or a Paris Hilton as a series guests and gear the episode around… Read more »
Please, please, please do not cancel Harry’s Law!!!! I have watched this show from the beginning and I have never been disappointed. You finally have a show with substance, character and entertainment and you want to cancel it. Come on! I am so sick of idiotic reality shows I could scream. Give me something with depth, intelligence, something that stirs my emotions, makes me laugh and cry in the same hour. Oh, wait a minute, you already do….Harry’s Law. Give me hope for the future of television. Don’t pull the plug!!!