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 renew Harry’s Law…love the show. A little less office romance, a little more of Harry in the courtroom, she is fantastic! Need to advertise it more and need to NOT move it around so it can’t be found…one of the problems I have heard several of my friends say and I agree.
Love the show…!!! on a little late, I usually catch up on Hulu.com.
Bring back Harry’s Law please! It has something for everyone. It’s funny, hard, sad at times, full of morals and all sorts of surprises. Kathy Bates is wonderful has Harriet Korn, and the team she has with her, well they bring out all the wonderful aspects a really good show should have. We have loved this show since viewing it from the very beginning. We would hate to see it go, when there are so many other shows that could be and should be axed. Please bring Harry’s Law back, after all we are the consumers, we should be able… Read more »
Bring back Harry’s Law just as it is!!!
Please bring Harry’s Law back . Not everything has to so called reality tv nor does it need to be all sex ,blood and gore . 9 pm would be great not Wednesday nights though that Youth Group nights and more Teens need to see shows like this.
Teens need to see a quiet lesson some morals would be a good thing for all of us to view .
Fighting for Justice the right way is also a good thought .
I love this show… it should go on… do not cancel the show….
My husband & I LOVE Harry’s Law. Please bring it back, we will find it no matter what night or time it comes back, we always record it to enjoy later, that way no commercials to deal with. It has a wonderful cast, great shows – what more can I say?!!
I LOVE the show!!! I think Kathy Bates is SUPER!! If you listen and pay attention to her closing arguments or ending of her show, you will hear, there are good moral and thought provoking ending lessons to consider. Please bring it back!!
I’ve only seen the previews, and I am not impressed. “Harry’s Law” reeks of the formulaic feminist finesse cranked out by Hollywood’s PC writer’s guild. They can’t go half way on their anti-male hubris, they have to field this latent lesbian chopping men off at the knees with her acerbic wit, and superior knowledge. Personally, I am surprised there are no laws being pushed through congress to force men to watch this tripe. Upon my word, I can see absolutely no redeeming value of this show that would compel men to view it. If you don’t agree with this assessment,… Read more »
Harry’s Law is one of the best shows on TV. NBC should definetly bring it back.
Harry’s Law had the 60-somethings laughing and talking about it over dinner. We miss it! If we are supposed to be powerful consumers, then sell this show to the advertisers and everybodty can make money while we laugh. Oh….put it on before we get sleepy, 9:00 pm at the latest.
Me and my family love this show . bring it back.
Harry’s Law should be back but at 9PM not 10. It is a great show – you never know what to expect.
I agree with Paul’s comment, the time slot is the problem. Move it to Wednesday night against all those bad comedy sitcoms.
First, the show is good as it is in terms of quality of writing and or quality of acting. Where it suffers is the moving of the time slot, placing it opposite a powerful program, or ignoring the demographics of who is watching the show.
NBC was fortunate to get such a great crew and group of actors together… don’t mess with a good thing.
Cancell this garbage,this show is a disgrace.