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 loved this show. I will miss it and Michael too.
I love this series. Shame they didn’t keep Saffron Burrows in it from the Bones episode where it started, I think the dynamic was much better. Also read of Michael Clarke Duncan passing. RIP
I loved this show and feel cheated by its cancellation. I felt it needed a bit more time to find its solid footing but Iknew it was on the right track. One season of a new show is just not enough. Changing channels did the show in for those of us who had no idea what happened to the show. Is that what networks do when they give up on a show – move it and hope for the best (or worst)? What shall replace it – another “reality” show perhaps? The premise for the show was a good one.… Read more »
My husband and I were IMMEDIATELY attached to the show as soon as the characters made an appearance in Bones. We were thrilled for its premiere and it was quick to win our hearts. I would easily have called it my favorite show of the year. We were devastated when we learned of its cancellation and I have held a grudge against Fox since. Now to learn of Michael Clarke Duncan’s tragic and untimely passing yesterday, it lights the fire of disappointment again towards the Network to have let go of such a talented cast who brought many dimensions to… Read more »
My appreciation of the great work that Michael Clarke Duncan did on The Finder. What a shame this wonderful series has been cancelled. Thank heavens BONES thrives, eh? But what a total shame we won’t see more episodes of THE FINDER.
The Finder is awsome , Ive sky + the series so far and have watched them several times . There are some great characters with very interesting histories behind them . It would be a travesty to lose this series 🙁
Um, paul, the series IS lost. Fox cancelled it already back in May. And now with the loss of MCD, the show really would have had trouble.
I love watching The Finder! This is so disappointed! Please bring back both The Finder and Lie To Me!
I ABSOLUTELY love this programme… it took me 3 weeks to find it as i didnt see any decent advertising for the programme and didnt even know it was on… my mother never found it and it moved channels so you missed out on viewers that way… the programme is funny and interesting and gripping and i wait for the next weeks episode… i seriously think that the television bosses or whoever does the advetrtising etc have let good actors/actresses down with the way they dealt with this series and i am very sad to see there is no series… Read more »
what a shame… I was really enjoying it….sad news as well about Michael 🙁
the finder was an awesome show, I always watched it on global.com, it was brilliant and it’s a shame we won’t get to see more character development with the actors, though Michael Clarke Duncan added greatness to it, he died, I think Geoff and the others could still pull it off. the ratings may have not been there because it was only first season and not well advertised.
They should have left it on the same day and time, not let people like it and then they stop showing it. When they finally bring it back it is a different night! Shame on you FOX!
I’m with you Spyce. Shame on Fox indeed. What a trick.
It is sad for a funny show that is also interesting to be booted off the air. If the network gave it more advertisement the show would have a loyal following. Also when a show is knock back to friday nights it is doomed to fail because of people not spending their friday nights parked in front of the TV. Very upsetting to see another good show get knocked off the air and to hear more speculations about garbage reality tv coming on. The FOX network should give it a chance and air it on a night that is not… Read more »
Loved the show the finder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
I love this show…it was my new fav. Very sad to see it is cancelled. Also sad to see that one of its main cast pass away.
This was a great show. Loved it and don’t know why you had to cancell it. Like everyone has said a lot of people record shows now, so don’t just go by what you think is your rating ask your watcher what they like before you cancell. You will be surprised at what our response would be.
I really enjoyed something not american idol on fox. I really dont trust the ratings, how do they know what I watch and what I dvr?