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?
My husband and I have watched this show each week even though we had to record it and watch on a different night. I can’t believe FOX would cancel a show that was as interesting, funny, quirky, and unique as The Finder!! Yet, they are renewing stupid reality shows that numb the mind, and cater to the ignorant! It has gotten to the point where we are thinking of cancelling our cable subscription and going back to the video stores for movies. There is hardly anything on television worth watching anymore! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that if FOX doesn’t… Read more »
Boooo Fox. They suck….or I guess the American public sucks for not getting into the finder, besides it’s loyal 5 million. It’s sad that a show can’t find a place with 5 million fans. I’m sure it would do quite well given another chance
I think they are crazy most series don’t really get a lot of people interested until the second or third season. The Finder was one of the best shows on Fox I usually don’t watch Fox because they seem to have stupid series on but they finally got two good ones The Finder and Bones. My family and I watch it every Friday it is funny, entertaining, and great at keeping you interested. I don’t know why you would get rid of a show after only one season. Not very many people watched CSI at first but by the second… Read more »
I love this show, i was hooked after the first five minutes, the characters were likeable, the dialogue was sharp and witty and the storylines entertaining. i stumbled across this show on-line and wish i hadn’t cause yet again some tv execs without a clue cancel it after the first season, hey guys maybe with some publicity and advertising you would have had a hit show. Fox knew they were going to cancel this great show from the start, thats why they aired the episodes out of sequence.
Jean, Jayne, Tina,
I feel the same way as you do. My husband doesn’t tolerate many TV series and won’t watch reality show. The Finder managed to catch his interest. It was a quality show, good acting, interesting plots, fun and dramatic. We will miss it. I watched this instead of Bones. We are going to miss this delightful series.
One of the Best shows to come along in awhile. But FOX had to to mess with it;
put it on hold after just 7 episodes. Move it to Fridays…
What a shame..Hopefully,another network will pick it up. Like what happened with
Cougar Town. You listening FX or USA ?
Good job Fox…shoot yourself in the other foot while you are at it. Bring back “The Finder” NOW, you idiots !!!
i wish they would continue the show finder i believe if it had continued with more episodes and another season it would have picked up (putting the show on Fridays was a bad idea) i like the show because of the cooky ideas and also the cast was good
if finder had another season i believe the characters would have built up very good
BOO FOX!!! This sucks! It has been a long time since such a great show like the finder has been on. I don’t usually get hooked on shows , but this one was a fav or sure. It totally ruined my Friday night since I went on to see when the next season would start and instead find it cancelled?!? BUMMER. I don’t even write blogs or anything like this but I’m seriously bummed and hope FOX is reading these. I was bummed when they moved it to Fridays since I always had to record it and watch later. I… Read more »
No wonder they couldn’t get a following;dumb ass fox put show on hiatis after 7 episodes. then,moved it to Fridays. Typical FOX. Hopefully,FX or USA will pick them up – like what happened with Cougar Town.
The Finder: one of the best shows in awhile. What a shame!
I just finished watching the last episode of “The Finder”. I immediately got on the internet to make sure it was renewed only to find that it hasn’t been. I love the silliness, the characters, Walter’s bizarre contraptions and the storylines. FOX?!!! Why do you come up with these lame dating “reality” shows and cancel this. I agree with the person who said FOX did nothing to promote this show. To add to the insult we are left with all sorts of unanswered questions.
they shouldnt of cancelled it i loved it! when i first saw it on bones i liked it and looked all over for it and recorded the series before it was out…i mean seriously, a guy gets into a horrible accident that ends up being an amazing gift that allows him to find the unfindable vs a show of celeb guys going on dates with girls off of a game show or whatever its about, it didnt even get enough of my attention to listen to exactly what its about. i doubt itll get much views maybe it might but… Read more »
they shouldnt of cancelled it i loved it! when i first saw it on bones i liked it and looked all over for it and recorded the series before it was out…i mean seriously, a guy gets into a horrible accident that ends up being an amazing gift that allows him to find the unfindable vs a show of celeb guys going on dates with girls off of a game show or whatever its about, it didnt even get enough of my attention to listen to exactly what its about. i doubt itll get much views maybe it might but… Read more »
I still wont watch reality shows or the forever and horrible american idol or glee or any of the other garbage left on fox. more time to read. so angry i probably will not begin a new show on fox………unless it’s TRASH u dont keep it
This sucks. Left hanging. And the characters were awesome. You don’t see many shows with unique characters these days. Too much “reality” or selfish/foolish characters with poor decision making skills and no brains. The TV is hardly worth turning on anymore.