Last May, fans of Harry’s Law were overjoyed when NBC decided to renew the David E. Kelley series for another season. Unfortunately, the ratings have been terrible this season and it will surely be cancelled soon. What happened?
Starring Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law revolves around a sarcastic attorney named Harriet Korn who opens a small law firm in a rundown shoe store in Cincinnati. She’s initially aided by a young attorney named Adam (Nate Corddry), a quirky assistant named Jenna (Brittany Snow), and a paralegal, Malcolm (Aml Ameen).
The show debuted last January to a 2.2 in the 18-49 demographic with 11.07 million viewers. The demo number’s not great but it was certainly a lot better than what the network had previously been getting in the Mondays at 10pm timeslot. The show’s total viewership was impressive however and, when you have poor numbers like NBC, older-skewing viewership is better than nothing. The ratings for Harry’s Law began to dwindle down pretty quickly and the show ended the season with a 1.4 demo rating and 7.75 million.
The show was on the bubble for renewal and, on one of the other big networks, the law drama surely would have been cancelled. But NBC had few truly successful shows to renew so they brought Harry’s Law back for a second season.
A few months later, it was announced that the show’s cast was undergoing some big changes. Snow and Ameen were replaced by Mark Valley and Karen Olivo, Christopher McDonald became a regular, and the shoe store was abandoned in lieu of a more standard office.
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Many fans liked the old characters and quirky setting and expressed their displeasure with the changes before season two even began airing. When the show returned, it was to a new series low; a 1.2 in the demo and 7.5 million viewers. The most recent episode fell to an even more pitiful 1.1 rating with 7.3 million.
So, was NBC trying to sabotage Harry’s Law? No, of course not but they had to do something. Last season’s ratings weren’t good enough to keep the show on the air so producers and the network took a chance on making changes (not uncommon for a Kelley show) to hopefully attract more viewers. The gamble didn’t pay off and they ended up alienating some of the few viewers that they had.
Harry’s Law is currently averaging a 1.2 rating in the coveted demo and 7.85 million viewers. It’s the second-lowest scripted series on the network, performing just a bit better than Chuck on Friday nights. That show is ending it’s run after a 13 episode season and it looks certain that Harry’s Law will be cancelled after this season.
A few weeks back, NBC ordered a half dozen more scripts for Harry’s Law but, with these kinds of ratings, it’s very hard to imagine that they’ll ever be produced. If NBC’s mid-season replacement series tank, NBC could conceivably put some more episodes into production but that seems like a remote possibility at best.
Either way, Harry’s law firm is surely going to be closing its doors for good sometime this season.
What do you think? Did the season two changes ruin the show? Should NBC make more changes or should it just be cancelled already?
Image courtesy NBC.
I love Kathy Bates! I hope they don’t cancel the show but put it back to its roots in the first season. I miss the protector of the neighborhood as well. I can’t remember his name though. The original cast was great. They should have stuck with it. It’s light hearted show about lawyers and set in my home state of Ohio. Keep it!
The neighborhood protector was named ‘Damien Winslow.’ It would be nice if he were back on the show.
I agree with most above. Kathy Bates is an incredible actress, a delight to watch. David Kelly’s intelligent, perceptive writing is a breath of brilliant fresh air in the stagnant mediocrity of prime time. I find myself saying, “YES!” after so many lines…Why dumb the show down to make it like everything else? And for God’s sake, give it a chance in another time slot—NOT opposite the highest rated comedy (Modern Family)! It’s also difficult to record a program if we never know when it will air. Saving quality takes a bit of effort. Step up NBC!
Tina nailed it. The first season was different and interesting. The changes made were insane. The first year premise was gutted from a quirky, interesting show to a bland, look-alike. Even the cool theme music was ripped out. Keeping it in one time slot would have been helpful. Oh well. Loved the entire ensemble from year one. so sad, too bad. Harry, you’ll be missed. Oops, you already are. 🙁
I agree with Tina; last year, the concept of the show was different and made it interesting. I liked the characters. Harry was a little more ‘snarky’ and amusing last year. The ‘update’ of the new office and larger staff took away from all that was different and interesting. I tried to watch it a few times this season, but it was like watching an entirely different, and bland, show. Started out promising – ended up sabotaged.
I tend to agree with the above comments for the most part. Last season it was a kind of fresh start with lawyer shows. Harry herself was sick of law, Adam, was sick of “all those dead eyes of lawyers” and wanted to work in Harry’s down-trodden firm. Jenna kept saying “we were all put here for some reason,” and Malcom, “I fell on you for a reason.” We as viewers who liked this new slant of law shows found a fresh meaning to defending those who didn’t ‘get’ defending. The ‘ghetto’ was just different slants on legal activities in… Read more »
They need to go back to the roots of Season 1. Being in a poor neighborhood with rats and gangs was great for the drama. I hate the changes they made this year. I don’t really like any of the additions, the 2 new lawyers, the private detective. The show worked because they didn’t have all those things. They were a small poor law firm that had to make due. Take it back to their roots. Anyone think of hiring the writers from another great show about lawyers “The Guardian.” That show was well written. Harry’s law has potential but… Read more »
I for one hated the two characters that were lost. Being 24 yrs old I’m at the end of the demo they go for, but alot of my friends are younger and they agree that Harry’s law was great until they tied Malcom and Jenna together. That ruined the show and we all quit watching. It was forced and stupid. Then they changed the show and I started watching again. The new office is crap. They should have simply replaced Jenna and stayed in the shoe store in the ghetto to keep the original theme going. And what’s up with… Read more »
I really became a big fan of “Harry’s Law” when it debuted last year, but I feel they have totally ruined the show this season. They have taken her from being a storefront lawyer defending the poor and middle class to moving into a high rise, shiny new office filled with high-priced lawyers defending the rich. The show this week was the last straw for me. Although I defend anyone’s right to purchase whatever vehicle or any other product they want, I myself am one of those diehard buy American products whenever possible and I really felt she (the character)… Read more »
I agree with Tina.
gr-r-r-r-r this is a GREAT SHOW! i really don’t want to lose it!!
so, the changes this season:
• inconsistant programing times, sometimes missing whole weeks without notice.
• this season harry is not on ‘on demand’ and it was last time
• losing the only black main character and all his storylines
• more tommy :^(
* this “new” white guy who is unpleasant and who looks like every other actor on tv
etc.
Tina hit the nail on the head with her comments.
The show was working and would have evolved but they made too many changes and made Harry too angry ALL the time. What a waste as I really enjoyed it last year and I was so excited for the new season.
I’d be sorry to see this go although it doesn’t have as much to offer as in the first season, but I think it should be given another chance.
Couldn’t agree with Tina more!!!!!!
I loved the first season and all it’s characters. This second season sucks. I don’t like that they left the shoe store. I don’t like that my two favorite characters are gone. I don’t like that Adam’s character is getting lost in the shuffle. I just don’t like this season at all. What happened?
We were turned off by the terrible writing of the first season… we expected there to be SOME legal accuracy in the saga of a lawyer! We were very disappointed, because who doesn’t like Kathy Bates?