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.
My husband and I LOVE this show – hope to see it renewed for Season 2. Kathy Bates is excellent and all the other cast members work great together. Refreshing, witty and usually a good moral to the story. We’ve never missed an episode.
Loved it! Set alarm reminder for it every week. With all the social issues it played around, it could be another “All in the Family” in a different setting. So much of TV is junk any more. I mainly watch sports. I hate all the reality shows, they are so phoney and so many people on them are ” phoney balonies”. I don’t understand all the rating systems, but everyone that I have told to watch it also became hooked. Please NBC keep it going. I am not interested in any “Wonder Woman” and probably won’t watch a single episode.… Read more »
keep show
“Harry’s Law” should definitely be renewed. In my opinion, it’s the best new show on television. David E. Kelley has shown us once again how talented he is. We are being inundated with so many stupid reality shows, when a show like “Harry’s Law” comes along, it renews my faith in good programming.
This is one of the best shows, I really like it for being to the left
but it shows that in this country everyone has a chance to a fair trail
Keep Harry’s Law! Love it! Its a legal drama with a twist. Thank Goodness. Kathy Bates is amazing. The whole cast is great. We look forward to it every week.
Please keep the series going. I have really enjoyed watching it and have gotten more and more into the characters and their quirkyness. I will miss it.
Keep Harry’s Law – It’s one of my favorites, and Monday’s would have been a nothing-night without Kathy Bates and her crew!
Keep Harrys Law, it is nice to see a crime show that is a coutin story line and it is a nice heart felt good feeling show that does deal with real life along with being funy when it is need along with showing how people can make a differnce in life.
off all the new shows this year this is one of the best, Kathy Bates is brilliant as Harriet Korn and her fellow cast members gel well together which you dont really see on tv a the moment.
Hey, one of the better shows on TV these days. Would be a real shame not to bring it back. I’m hoping we get a chance to enjoy another season of this enjoyable and thoughtful program.
Bring Harry’s Law back for another season. Kathy Bates is outstanding and David Kelly’ writing is great and the quirky parts are outstanding.
Please keep Harry’s Law on for many seasons. It is a refreshing change from all the nudity and foul language on the reality shows!
Harrys Law is the most entertaining, unique, and well-acted series to debut since Boston Legal left the airways. Please, NBC, renew and allow the following to grow.
I like the show but can do without Jenna. She was better in American Dreams.
Keep Harry’s Law. We don’t need any more sitcoms, superhero, or vampire and werewolf movies. Harry’s Law deals with everyday type problems, shows compassion, and makes us think. I, for one, am tired of watching shows where the characters deliver one liners and put each other down the whole time. Harry’s Law gives us some food for thought.
I have enjoyed this show and hope it returns.
Please keep this series. It’s smart, funny and good TV!