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?
Horrible decision! One of the best shows of the year!!!
This show was fun and most of them are not. I understand the ratings issues, but I will miss the show a lot.
My husband and I really liked this show. Cannot believe they cancelled it!
Do they even pay attention to Hulu? I never am home in time to watch tv when it’s on cause of work and watch everything online next day. I was super pissed about it being cancelled. The majority of my friends only watch tv online, and the only ones that i know who watch it live are the ones who like american idol and all that crap. This is absurd…
Typical network decision. Cater to the unintelligent masses with shows that have no substance. I have had it with Fox. I will not watch another new show on that network again. I am tired of getting hammered every time a really good show gets cancelled. Step up and find a place for this show. The actors really are good, unlike some mindless drivel that attracts the younger generation. I am in my 60’s and prefer to think a little bit. After all, who do you think pays the bills. Certainly not the genXers.
I’m so disappointed. I LOVE this show! Don’t cancel it! Please!!!
Why??? Finally a great show thats different then your usual reality show mess thats all over tv now days and what do they do, cancel it. My husband and I watched every episode even when they killed it by moving it to fridays. If they knew what was best for there network they would bring it back, move it from friday and give the show a real chance. Very disappointed
FOX you guys are idiots. Moving a show was a huge mistake if you wanted it to achieve higher ratings! It was picking up and it just got really entertaining. Your upsetting 5 million people!
This is like other good shows. They put it on hiatus then move it from night to night and then cancel it and blame it on us when it is their fault. I really like this show and hope they will reconsider.
i love the finder. please bring it back!
This was a great show. Great characters. Good actors. Fun plots. Why cancel a great show. They should have given it more of a chance.
I really loved the finder, but I think the show was a little cartoonish. I think the show should have been taken in a much edgier direction & a move to FX wold be a great chance for the show. Plus it would fit in the mold of Justified which airs on FX already and is highly successful. I say off set the finder & justified and you will have a hit. Plus it would put another great show on FX.
Leave it as it is and give it to USA.
Are you kiddng me???!!! My husband and I were both absolutely loving this show, the characters are hilarious and have the best one liners. I actually tried to watch Bones but didn’t enjoy it and I started watching The Finder and loved it. Absolutely not loving this news 🙁
dude I like that show I want to see the gypsy uncle get beat down!!
I’m really bummed! I loved The Finder. I looked forward to it every week. I’m a big Bones fan but I’m going to have to give it up because I’m not going to watch the Fox channel anymore. They make stupid decisions by constantly canceling shows that people really like.