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?
Why is it that the shows that are good to watch with your children always get cancelled? I watched the show and instantly loved it. It was something I could watch with my family. It was funny and entertaining for all ages. I agree with all who blame the network for not promoting it more. Bring it back! Even with the sad passing of MCD it can work with Walt and Wila. |You could have Leo send Walt a letter asking him to find Wila. Walt and Wila return to find Leo gone. Remember what Walt said to Wila when… Read more »
Like others, when I thought the show was cancelled because of the tragic passing of Michael Clark Duncan. I was very surprised to find it was because of ratings. I only found the show by a fluke and because I had not seen a lot of advertisement promoting it. After I saw the show, I loved it and was a consistent viewer (or recorded it). But when they switched the time I had difficulty following. I also loved Touch, but they switched that to the old Finder time. I was loyal to both, but the network made it difficult to… Read more »
I can’t believe they cancelled and still totally left you hanging at the end…. I love Bones but I think this show had more variety… This one really grew on me especially the characters. Dumb choice to cancel!
put the show on Tuesday nights works for me.
Apparently Fox forgot that Seinfeld, one of the most popular series of all times, was a flop the first year. But the network was smart enough to give the show another year to develop the characters and the relationships. Fox did the same thing with the Good Guys, and as with the Finder, if you have the great writers and talent that both of these shows demonstrated, then give them some time. Let the audience develop a relationship; with the characters.
Hello Effie,
I loved the Finder too, are you willing to sign a petition… there is a site I found the blog is old but maybe it can be revived?http://keepthefinder.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/new-attack-front/comment-page-1/#comment-586
I am from belgium, i love this show! I search the net to view for season 2 and i read it is cancelled? Boooooo fox boooooooo!! Best show on air! It is funny, always a good plot,….. . Now we can all watch reruns of Friends again again…..
When I saw the show cancelled, I thought it was due to the heartbreaking loss of Michael Clarke Duncan. Now that I know it was due to ratings, I’m completely shocked! This show was absolutely amazing! It was one of the best shows I’d ever been addicted to. Storyline was amazing and the actors were the best! It was hilarious, brilliantly written and immensely stimulating on an intellectual level. If you watched the show once, I don’t know how you couldn’t be captivated and left wanting for more. I know the problem had to lay in the lack of advertisement.… Read more »
Hate loosing the “the Finder “. Enjoyed the series and was hoping to see much more. It had so much potential to grow into something great.
I loved this show it was great. It really kept you interested inhospitable he solved things and it was fun. I think reality shows are stupid, we all have to live in it. TV is supposed to be an escape, not more stress. Bring back the show.
It was a great show, great storyline and awesome cast. As another has said, I think it was lack of promotion. I absolutely hated it ending. A lot of great shows end and replaced with shows I do not want to see. The finale was terrible. I so wanted to see another season. Although the terrible loss of M. Duncan would have left a role hard to fill, the story had all the potentia to go for much longer.
“The network could do just as well or better by running cheaper reality programming.” This is everything that is wrong with entertainment these days. With the amount of crap reality shows on TV I’d consider getting rid of cable altogether before ever watching any of them.
I agree! The Finder was entertaining and stimulating, while the reality shows are annoying and anything but real. FOX seems to have a habit of making really bad choices. There needs to be a shake up in personnel!
i really think it was fox that dropped the ball here. The story lines were great! !!!The actors were wonderful! They should have done more to promote the show! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“The Finder” is one of the most original, intelligent, fun and funny shows in a very long time. I love, love, love this show. I cannot believe Fox canceled it. I will never watch a “reality show.” They are insipid and stupid.
One of the greatest shows ever. Why pull the plug so quickly on such a wonderful show, they should have given it a chance. I know it would be hard to replace Michael Duncan but if the show ever gets a second chance it could become a huge success.
I stumbeled upon this show by accident, and I thanked god for that. The show is, or was, amazing. I really loved the characters, the story, and the connection with Bones. I watched every episode several times, it became my 2nd favourite show, just after Psych. I was so dissapointed when I saw that the show is cancelled, and It sucks that Michael C. Duncan died, I loved him, he was one of my fav actors…man, I hope he rests in peace. I reall want this show to continue, its a great show!