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.
 Loading ... |
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?
this show brought something new to Fox. I’ve watch bones since season one and while i do love the show, The Finder is just as great. I work Friday and Thursday Nights so I had to watch the show online… this doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. It just got cancelled because of its time slot. Come on Fox don’t be stupid, you show a lot of great shows and you should know when a great one comes along. The season finale left me with so many unanswered questions and frankly I’m pissed that Fox would cancel the show so… Read more »
This is one of those few shows that doesn’t follow the popular topic these days for tv series like medicine, cops, and whatever. It was just plain FUN TO WATCH. Other than the fact that the time this show was airing was not the best, some of us can’t watch it when it’s airing because of location… it doesn’t mean supporters aren’t out there. I thought it would be one of those shows that will survive simply because it was entertaining. I will really miss this show, especially with the way the first season ended, I wish wish wish! it… Read more »
I found this show on Hulu Plus. I can’t stop watching it. It’s just plain fun–love it. So sad that it and other shows get cancelled without a fighting chance. Perhaps the network folks need better advertising for these new shows. This was one of the few dramas from Fox that actually could have drawn me to the network.
Get a clue! I don’t watch t.v. I find the shows on C.D. or other means. Just because you can’t “pigeon hole,” an audience doesn’t mean we are not out here. Actually look at your demographic and understand it. Thursday and Friday, what are you trying to kill it? Tuesday and Wednesday are the slot for this even if it is late.
This show did not make it because of it’s time slot.
Noooo not again. Whenever television gets a good, thoughtful show with characters we relate to….. You guys cancel it. The Finder is one of these shows. My wife and I have watched every episode and will miss it very much. TV needs more shows like the Finder with less violence and enjoyable characters.
Thank God this abomination has been cancelled!
The people at FOX dont know what they are doing. They cancel all good shows.
Terra Nova was epic too and had an open ending.
Best show ever.
You guy’s cancel all of the good show’s we watch in belgium.
Every time a good show comes out we can’t see the ending because you think that it’s no good.
Tracy from gent belgium
maybe if fox didn’t constantly change the nights of when they air their shows they might survive!
The Finder definitely shouldn’t have been cancelled, it was one of my favorite shows to watch week after week, if they had put it on at a better time and day, it would have done better. I, like many others, have Comcast, and we probably made the mistake of saying I’ll watch it on demand at a more convenient time instead of watching it when it aired to nurture it’s viewer numbers. Honestly I watched it either Tuesday or Saturday, in my opinion, those days are dead for T.V. most of the time, at least for the type of programming… Read more »
I just found this show on On Demand. Had I known what a GREAT show it really was, I would have been watching it without fail every week. I had never heard anything about it…never saw any promos for it, etc. Big mistake to cancel this show. I saw only 2 episodes since yesterday and am very disappointed not to be able to see anymore. It was a great idea, and a great cast. What a shame!!! I don’t understand why I had never heard of this show. I found it to be much better than Bones.
This is one of the best new shows to air on Fox in a while in my opinion. I will sorely miss The Finder and all of it’s well created if not kookie characters. RIP Walter, Mr. Knox, Willa, Timo, and Isabel, your wit and wisdom will be sorely missed.
I’M IN A SITUATION WHERE I HAVE ALOT OF DOWN TIME & I VALUE & KNOW THE DIFFERANCE IN WELL WRITTEN .TALENTEDLY ACTED SHOWS AND TRASH TV.THE CHEMISTRY THAT WAS ON SCREEN BETWEEN THE CAST MEMBERS OF THE FINDER WAS A VERY RARE DANCE TO WITTNESS.FOX YOU CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE.
I love the Finder.It was a great show. I really enjoyed it. TV can’t seem to keep shows that I really enjoy on the air. Not everyone enjoys reality tv. Please put the Finder back on. Expecially after ending it that way. My vote is for the Finder!