Bones has been a quiet hit for FOX but the same can’t be said for its spin-off, The Finder. FOX has now cancelled the low-rated series after one season.
The Finder is a procedural series that revolves around a man (Geoff Stults) with the extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable. Other castmembers include Maddie Hasson, Mercedes Masohn, and Michael Clarke Duncan.
The spin-off debuted on January 12th to a disappointing 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.50 million total viewers. It was fourth in its Thursday night timeslot right out of the gate and lost nearly 30% of the all-important demo from its compatible lead-in, Bones. This was not a good start.
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Things picked up a bit in the following weeks, thanks in large part to the show having FOX’s blockbuster American Idol as a lead-in. Still, the numbers weren’t as high as they should have been.
After seven weeks on the air, FOX put Finder on hiatus and then moved it to Friday nights, giving its Thursday timeslot to Touch. If The Finder could maintain a healthy percentage of its viewers after the switch, it would likely garner a renewal.
But that didn’t happen and Finder’s numbers dropped like a rock. In its first Friday airing, the freshman series attracted a 1.1 demo rating — an episode-to-episode loss of 53% — with just 4.03 million viewers. The numbers for future episodes fluctuated a bit but didn’t really get any more encouraging. The network could do just as well or better by running cheaper reality programming.
The season finale of The Finder is set to air this Friday night and there won’t be any episodes after that. Hopefully the producers saw the writing on the wall early enough and won’t leave viewers hanging with any major unresolved storylines.
What do you think? What went wrong with this show? Why do you think The Finder failed to attract a bigger audience? Was cancelling the series the right decision? How would you have fixed it?
Who is the idiot at fox that brainstormed the cancellation of the finder, when they had soooo many other reality shows to pick from. Give it a decent time slot, not Friday nite where shows go to die. One of the best shows to come along in a long time. To end the way it did is the dumbest thing fox execs have ever come up with……..
I am livid over the fact that Fox has cancelled yet another show with engaging characters, an intelligent story line, humor, and real potential for a long-term series. I looked forward to this show ever since the tie-in episode of Bones and I was not disappointed by the show in the least but obviously the execs at the studio are morons. Others have pointed out the lack of publicity and the move to Friday nights and I agree with them that these were both nails in the coffin of The Finder. Someone else suggested that perhaps USA should pick up… Read more »
I AM SO UPSET!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW. They ended it in such a bad place too. The Friday night at 8 was so perfect too. I don’t usually watch these kinds of shows but the chemistry worked well with all the actors and it was humorous which is what drew me and my family in. THEY can’t cancel this show!!! Take one of the lame reality shows off or better yet one of the animation domination crap they show… I cannot believe this show that usually has a positive outcome, hardly any swearing, a show I will let my… Read more »
I agree 100%. We are in our late 60’s and we LOVE THIS SHOW. There is nothing good on Friday night television for those of us who are home. We literally plan our evening around this show. Dinner is always complete prior to the beginning of the program and I really cannot imagine the night without the show. WE love the characters and their interaction with each other. WE WOULD NOT CHANGE A THING! After this show we change to another channel to watch Grimm. These shows provide all the entertainment we love on the beginning of the weekend. So… Read more »
really, fox?! the finder with its cast and quirkiness is orginal and great. if ya a move a show and do not advertise it, it will fail. when ya moved it to friday, i had to start dvr’ing it. we do not need another reality show. how about something orginal like the finder. get smart and bring it back.
I’m extremely disappointed, I love The Finder. The show is witty, the writing good, the plot lines catchy, and the actors can actually act. The Finder and Bones are the only reason I ever turn on Fox. Now I have one less reason to.
First Terra nova now the finder fox are idiots to let go
Cancelled? Really? I was watching the new series “Common Law” and noticed that the forensic / lab examiner in the new show is Isabel the US Marshal (Mercedes Masohn) from The Finder. That’s never a good sign — to see a regular actress or character from an ongoing series pop up on a new or other show. So, I googled it — you guys are absolutely right! The Finder has been cancelled. Hope they find a good show for Leo (Michael Clark Duncan) from The Finder. He’s absolutely one of my favorites!! So, what’s the deal with Fox? Either their… Read more »
You cancelled Wonder Falls, The Lone Gunman and Harsh Realm, now The Finder, one of the best, most original shows to come along in ages. No publicity. Bad scheduling. No wonder it had low ratings. Worst of all, the last episode left viewers completely hanging. Give it a chance, bring it back, or at least give us a better ending!
Moving a show to a Friday time slot is a risk. Folks like to go out on a Friday night. The show is engaging and the characters are lovable. I wish Fox would reconsider and keep it.
Finders is one of the best new shows to come alomg in quite a while. Interesting characters with a lot of potential for new story lines. Funny, always made you laugh, which is lacking in a lot of other shows.
The worst shows on TV are the mind numbing reality shows. Do not watch any of them.
Need more shows like Finders.
My favorite show. Watched the finale last night..one of the best episodes yet, and then find out it has been cancelled?? Unbelievably disappointed. Wish another network would pick this up and show Fox how to promote quality programming instead of 24/7 dating/reality crap. BOO FOX!
Just watched last night’s episode and I had the feeling something was all too wrong. Once again Fox pulls a Firefly-esque move and cancels a good show. Hate to break it to you Exec guys but good quality shows like this are hard to find. It had the right balance. Great scripts, great actors, and just plain fun. You’d have done better giving it more exposure and letting it go for a second season and then making your decision. Some shows need a year to grow an audience. I just record everything on my DVR and watch it later so… Read more »
Loved The Finder. Fox did a really poor job of marketing the show, then they took it off the air, then moved it to another night. Are they really wondering why it did so poorly in the ratings???!!! Maybe the USA network will pick it up — they seem to know how to market their shows.
This was is a nice witty family friendly witty, funny series! Not sure what the network promoters are focusing on. It is a failure of FOX executives that they were not able to create buzz around this. I will miss this nice serial, that I got hooked on to:-)
Hope some other network picks it up..
Dumb move Fox!! The Finder was a fresh alternative to television that offers nothing but reality shows and CSI look alikes. Booooooo Fox!!!