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.
You might know it. We get another decent show and they want to take it off. Move it to an earlier slot. The show the The Good Guys was very good too and it is gone. I suppose what we need is some more Survivor and reality shows( tongue in cheek )
Please keep Harry’s Law. I really like this show and all of it’s characters. Kathy Bates plays a great role. In todays world there are so few really good shows, please don’t cancel this one. Boston Legal was my favorite show of all time,,,,,and poof it was gone. Please don’t do this to Harry’s Law.
I love this show. Not too often can I say I love a show, but this one is right up there with Commander-in-Chief played by, Jeena Davis (another fine actress) also cancelled. I wish Harry’s Law doesn’t get cancelled. There are so many shows on TV now that have been on for awhile that are not worth watching, especially the dumb ass reality shows that make no sense unlike Harry’s Law which is inspirational and informative. The only scenes they need to shy away from is too much fraternizing going on. I want to hear more about the law and… Read more »
We LOVE Harry’s Law!!!! Please renew and please consider a different time slot that might make it more attractive to more people. We’ll be watching no matter when the time slot is….we really don’t need any more Law and Order shows where only the faces and places change.
I Love Harry’s Law! Please renew it.
I love Cathy Bates character. She is very witty and informitive and has a dyamic outgoing humble brave persona
Please do not cancel this show. There is so little to watch these days and I can’t stand reality shows. Wonder Woman is NOT anything I will watch.
Keep Harry’s Law, it is a very good show. I look forward to Monday nights.
Just tell Jenna to grow up, what a moody whiner. Tommy Jefferson is very entertaining.
Harry’s Law should stay !!
KEEP THE SHOW. LOVE IT.
STOP THE “KISSEY, KISSEY WITH THE OFFICE STAFF. DATING CO-WORKERS IS A NO-NO”
When Boston Legal left the airwaves I had withdrawal pains for a long time. Harry’s Law kind of fills the gap – anything with Kathy Bates in it would be good, but here she is absolutely delicious….that face, those expressions, those quips. Cancel it???? Are you nuts?
network thinking, cancel one of the better shows and leave us with another reality show? I think it is time to cancel T.V. altogether because there is not enough on worth watching and they want to cancel Harrys Law. Money…Its cheaper to show debased people throwing pies in each others faces than it is to produce a thought provoking piece. Sorry it has gotten to this level,T.V. gone the path of politics.
Please renew HARRY’S Law! There are no good shows on anymore. Everything keeps getting cancelled. My grandma and i watch harrys law religously and would be very upset to loose harry too. I was devistated when i lost crossing jordan which had a horrible finale, than cold case was gone, and shark. Harry is a great new show and i hope it comes back!
We look forward every week to watching Harry’s Law. We previously loved watching Boston Legal was so disappointed when it went off the air. Please renew Harry’s Law! We enjoy Kathy Bates and her closing arguments and points of view. It also has just enough humor to make it an added bonus. We vote YES on renewing Harry’s Law!
The characters Tommy Jefferson and Harry Korn click and they are GOOD together, so definitely keep that link going. It adds something to the show. I think the WEAK link is the character Jenna. The setting is in a rough neighborhood and she shows up dressed in a topless outfit…. no way, is she a professional, eh, what? Give her a title, office manager, executive assistant, but FGS, if you keep her character dress her better and don’t date the staff, that seldom works. Oh, and give her a backbone, so she doesn’t have to run off and slam the… Read more »
Please renew the show. With so FEW intelligent, fun, entertaining programs available it would be a shame to cancel one of them. Kathy Bates et al are great! It is time to revolt against trash TV.
HARRY”S LAW with Kathy Bates was down to earth and for us older citizens, well worth seeing every week. Please renew it or send it to CBS and let them show it.
We love this show, please renew it. There aren’t many TV shows we watch but we love Kathy Bates and anything David E Kelley does and we think Harry’s Law has the right punch and spice that today’s TV viewers need. Plus we are retired and can relate to it. Harry Korn reminds me of me! Save this show, please.
My favorite TV show, what is the network thinking? It’s smart, funny and had great social commentary.