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?
I can’t believe they cancelled this show. Both my wife and I have become hooked it and it is now our favorite show. This is definitely a USA kinda show, great characters, let’s hope they pick it up.
Aw – com-on … I liked the original cast with Saffron Burrows and you took her out. She would have added some heat to the show. I love MCD (Leo) in whatever he does. Willa – Walter – Leo a strong tri-fecta!!! and Maddie just ate the camera. But then as I think back, the minute I saw Mercedes in the intro in the bra & panties get-up I knew the studio was going on the cheap. No offence to Mercedes. But even Mercedes was just not enough of a foil or a strong enough actress to go up against… Read more »
Fox is crap. i used to be a loyal supporter, i’d watch everything Fox dished out. They canceled Chicago Code, Human Target, Terra Nova, Alcatraz, and now the Finder. Heck their losing House as well. Why is it so hard for TV companies to realize people are too busy nowadays to sit down when you tell them to sit down and watch a 60 minute program with 12 minutes of unappealing commercials just so you can pay your bills? With more and more households having a DVR or access to Hulu and other online streaming, people watch their favorite shows… Read more »
Fox is sucking
Fox does not let good showes devolipe the audience .. They fail with crappy reality crap. Fox is starting to suck more..
My whole family loved this show we did DVR it but I’m afraid to say we pretty much do that to everything. Please fox rethink your decision remember they almost canceled MASH after one season.
One of the few shows we actually looked forward to. What the hell is wrong with these TV “executives”. I guess the brainless bean counters figure they can get by with one more dim witted reality show. Much lower quality. Cheaper to produce. Not watchable. Thanks Fox.
I’m really sad that this is over. Great cast, great fun…hopefully another network will pick it up.
I loved this show!! I have not been able to watch it on Friday at 8pm but have been watching it on Saturday tvo’d. I think Fox knew if would flop on Friday night. I watch VERY little tv and this show was one of the few. I guess my tv viewing is just getting less and less!!!!!!
I cannot believe they canceled The Finder, there are alot others that need to be removed, DANG IT. I loved all of the actors. Bring it back.
The Finder was the best show on Fox. Rating generated from web-runs should be considered. Good writers and a good Cast.
This is unbelievable. I mean, there were a couple of episodes that were hard to follow, but every episode was incredibly awesome. I can not believe that FOX cancelled it. The Finder was the ONLY show I actually watch on FOX. I really hope someone else picks it up. It feels like a USA or Cloo kind of show. But seriously, somebody needs to pick this show up.
this is a totally awesome show — especially the final episode this week. The characters are terrific. I don’t watch much on FOX but did love this one – it is a complete shame!
if i had the will id probably write a strongly worded letter. it was a great show with a great cast. fox needs to get with the times and pay more attention to the online ratings.
I hate reality TV, So I really hoped this would make it. Please bring it back FOX!!!