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?
Please bring Finder back!!!! Perfect casting. Entertaining. Great location I wish I could be there. And I so enjoyed his thought processes I would do the same thing right along with him. Made me laugh made me think my dvr was always ays set to record The FINDER. Find it in your mind and common sense to bring back a show that needs a second chance. Please release Geoff from wherever they took him and the rest of the cast.
My husband and I began watching Finder because of Bones, but as said many times before, the show was not promoted nearly enough. This show had amazing actors and a very comical yet suspenseful story line. By far one of the best series I have gotten into. The show wasn’t even given a chance to take off. Besides, you could have at least finished the story of Willow before you ended the series. I loved the series and wish Fox would bring it back or sell it to someone else without too much on their plate, who will take the… Read more »
My wife and I love “The Finder” and it was one of the few shows actually worth watching. “Cheaper reality TV” sucks and everyone knows it. Attention Fox suits, bring back “The Finder”!
We love The Finder because it’s different. We are tired of
Reality TV. We get enough reality in our lives
Give us the entertainment that this show provides
Did you ever think maybe the show should be given a fair showing?
THE FINDER IS A GREAT SHOW, YOUR FORMULA FOR RATINGS AND SEASON SURVIVAL IS FLAWED.
We loved this show. There is not a thing that I would change. The three lead characters, Walter, Leo and Willa are GREAT much to do with the talent of the stars portraying them. What do we have to do to keep this on TV. Why don’t you sell it off to some network who can do a better job of promoting this show. So far it’s been by word of mouth around here. I have never wanted a show back as much as this one. It’s fun.
Where did FOX go wrong that is the question.
Why not? Let’s cancel another hit show… every one that comes out, that I and friends happen to like, and crowd around the TV regularly gets cancelled! I guess there’s not enough hollywood ‘left’ in these shows, or maybe there’s too much Real American ‘right’… either way, it joins another long list of shows that leave us wanting more, and recieving absolutely nothing… i.e., Adventures Of Brisco County, Jr., Alcatraz, Birds Of Prey, The Cape (iffy), Caprica (2), Chase, Combat Hospital, Defying Gravity, Dogfights (2), The Event & Flash Forward (never understood these, but good acting), Firefly, Flash Gordon (iffy),… Read more »
fox is stupid as **** putting the finder on friday it was going up against the cw Nikita at 8 then it was supernatural at 9
This show was original and funny! I have been checking my DVR each week thinking i missed another time chnage. Way to kill a show. I want this show back!
I was upset to hear that The Finder had been cancelled. Although it was a new short term series put in place of Bones when Emily Deschanel went on Maturnity Leave, it was a good show. As one of the other commenters stated you have to think during this type of show.
I hope FOX changes it’s mind an brings it back, or some other station picks it up as it was a show with all the stops…funny, thoughtful, suspenseful, and even family oriented. I definately won’t be watching the “Cheaper” reality TV as I have NEVER cared for it.
I just found out that the Finder has been cancelled, i was very sad to hear this, i found it a highly entertaining, unique show, unlike most others on Tv…. I dont believe it was given a chance, many of my friends had not even heard of it, but once i introduced them to the show they now have watched the whole season!…. It is really sad!!! Sigh, why??? i dont believe it was given enough exposure or enough of a chance to grab viewers…
I guess this show was too much of a thinking show to keep on the air? Why cancel this show? Well, because, like Bones and other shows like that, it didn’t have enough blood and guts, bad guys, and more inventive and interesting ways of killing people. No, Finder was a show that required thought, that was light hearted in many instances, great character development, great acting, and great stories. And, the simple fact that most people don’t know what they are really looking for when they ask someone to find it. That, I like.
Bring back The Finder. PLEASE!
I am so disappointed that Finder is being cancelled. I can’t stand the mind-numbing stupidity of “reality” TV and certianly won’t be watching anything that Fox has to offer as a replacement. I agree that there was not enough promotion of this program, expecially since you could tie it in with Bones. I found the program fun, entertaining and intriguing – and if you are going to cancel a series – DO NOT leave the story line so horribly unfinished! At least give those of us who like and appreciate a decent program a little closure. Bring it back! Please!!
We Love this show!!! It’s truly different and interesting. Not the same ‘ol same ‘ol. The cast mixes well together, perform great and the story line is unique. It did not receive the promotion it deserved. In fact, we just happened upon it by accident, and believe with some promotion it would have acquired quite a following. We are sooooo disappointed to hear that it has been cancelled. If our vote counts at all, please bring it back in the fall.
This is a great show just did not find it at the beginning. My husband and I would add it to our list in the fall. Why is it all the good ones get axed. I agree with the other viewers, no more reality shows!!!! One more note, the cast on the Finder are absolutly great together!