NBC has cancelled the Thursday airings of their low-rated legal series, The Firm, and sent it packing to Saturday nights at 9pm beginning February 11th.
The Firm follows attorney Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas), his wife Abby (Molly Parker), and their daughter Claire (Natasha Calis), as they emerge from the witness protection program after 10 years. They relocate to Washington, DC to restart their lives but problems from the past quickly resurface. The show’s cast also includes Callum Keith Rennie, Juliette Lewis, Tricia Helfer, and Shaun Majumder.
NBC had high hopes for the legal drama but it stumbled in the ratings right from the start. The two-hour premiere of The Firm registered just a 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.32 million viewers. The numbers got even worse once the show moved to Thursday nights and, for the past two weeks, has only mustered a 0.8 rating with fewer than three million total viewers.
It’s no surprise that NBC is banishing The Firm to Saturday nights with ratings like these. Grimm repeats will fill the Thursdays at 10pm timeslot for the immediate future. Starting March 1st, the peacock network’s new drama Awake will take over.
While it looks highly unlikely that NBC will purchase a second season of The Firm, it seems certain that viewers will get to see all 22 episodes of season one.
If The Firm had been a typical network show, the episode order probably would have been cut down to 13 installments because of the low ratings. However, NBC’s deal for The Firm is unique and a bit more like the one the network had for Merlin, the supernatural drama produced by the BBC.
Sony and Entertainment One partnered to produce The Firm, primarily for the overseas market. Thanks to pre-sales and Canadian production tax credits, the cost of producing the series was already paid for and NBC was able to pick up the show for a greatly reduced licensing fee, just like any other secondary buyer.
If The Firm had been a big success, NBC would have made quite a profit on the series. As things worked out, the network may still be making some money on the deal or at least hasn’t lost much.
Will there be a second season? That depends on Sony and Entertainment One, not NBC.
What do you think? Do you like The Firm? Do you think it should continue?
Image courtesy NBC.
Dump the Firm for Awake? Seriously??? Now Awake on the other hand…you can trash that immediately.
This is one of the best shows I have seen in years ! Well written, well acted, great and riveting plot…so it makes sense that people would not rate it high ! They would rather watch people catching fish bare handed or worse !!! Sooo sorry to hear it may be cancelled !
I love this show but knew what it’s fate was when it was moved to Saturday night. I think that the writing is good, and I love how you can’t wait until next week to see what happens from the “cliff-hanger” ending…. each week! This is a great show. I think they should at least move it to USA. Look at the success Southland has had since moving to TNT. NBC didn’t let that run very long either.
I love this show, and can’t imagine why others wouldn’t love it, too! I wasn’t the least bit impressed with “Awake,” so it doesn’t matter to me that “The Firm” was moved to Saturday nights. I like it! There are other shows I like in the old Thursday night time slot. Please keep “The Firm” going. Thanks.
I love love love this show! It’s very exciting and keeps you on the edge. I sure hope it continues. Who wouldn’t love a show based on John Grisham works? 😉
I do NOT like “Awake!” Why in the world would NBC replace “The Firm” with “Awake” is beyond me. 🙁
LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Please do not cancel this show!
This is the best drama on TV right now.
The stories keep you glued to your seat!
I record the show as I have a newborn and can’t
always watch when it airs but if I turn it on during
a 3am feeding, I can’t go back to bed till the
episode is over. Even if the baby went to sleep
30 minutes ago! No other show can do that!
I agree with the recent posts to KEEP the Firm on the air!! I love the intense yet different storyline…..how many law or medical dramas are we going to have!!! Time to get some new fresh shows….and don’t get me started on the reality shows!!! Please give the Firm time to catch on with more viewers. I too record/dvr all my favorite shows to watch when it’s
convenient for me.
Please Please just renew the Firm(2012) don’t cancel it
All I ever hear is that people are mad & demanding that The Firm stay on —I am one of those people. The Firm has to be one of the BEST TV shows put on TV in ages, and I cannot see —nor understand WHY they would not want to continue the series.
Can you please send me an update as of today if any talks are in the workd and the latest status about renew The Firm for another season?
Thanks so much!
Starr Fagerstrom
Please do not cancel this show. Even though I was disappointed that it was moved to Saturday nights I continue to watch this show because this show is worth watching. Sometimes I wonder if the Nielsen ratings take into consideration that the viewers may be recording the shows on DVR so the show can be watched a later time. I set my DVR to record several good shows so that I can fast forward through the commercials. I look forward to watching The Firm each week. The Firm is good material, has excellent actors , and the plot keeps me… Read more »
Finally, when there is actually something to watch on network TV, there is the threat of cancellation. I look forward to The Firm each week, not minding that it was re-scheduled to Saturday night, because there is definitely nothing worth watching on Saturday nights besides The Firm. I am thoroughly exhausted of the shows with an autopsy shown every night, definitely don’t need to know all of this!!!!!! The Firm is good material, excellent actors , and the plot keeps me on my toes listening and watching. I have friend in Mississippi, and she watches it also and we compare… Read more »
Please renew the firm. It has a great edge and leaves you wanting more.
This is the best new show on the air now! Not sure why it’s not catching on. If NBC lets it go I hope another station will pick it up.
One of my favorite shows. I look forward to watching it every week. Its just starting to get really good.
Give it a chance to develop its audience! Great writing, great acting, great action. What more could a show have? It just needs time to gain exposure and a full audience (sort of like Seinfeld needed time). Impatience is a killer.
I love the Firm and want more.