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.
Please don’t cancel the Firm!!! It is one of our favorite programs this season. We don’t understand why more people aren’t watching. Why can’t you try promoting it more or possibly change the air time. Please try something to save this great program
Ditto. I really enjoy the intrigue of The Firm. A blogger described it as a replacement for 24. I agree! It’s an awesome show.
Please don’t cancel this series. The acting superb and story line so imaginative and sooo darn good. There aren’t a lot like this on TV right now as TV seems to be catering to the
teenagers and young 20’s. Renew it……..please……….
I am so totally hooked on The Firm. It’s got such a great cast, the acting is superb and the storylines are addictive. Anyone not watching this is crazy. Definately give it a shot!! This is for any adrenaline junkie; if you love action and intelligence, you’ve got it here in this fantastic show. PLEASE RENEW THIS SHOW!!!
Love, love, love The Firm, and I eagerly await each new chapter. I sincerely hope that it gets a second season.
Hi NBC hudge fan of the firm very upset that its not on every saterday like its aspose to be i just read that theres problems with the raitings well mayb if u guys advertised more and actually aired it on saterdays like planned u would get better raitings honestly the only thing that got me to watch it was i read the book the firm and loved it when i found out that they were making a sequal a show i was very excited i think more people need to know that it fallows up on the book alot… Read more »
The Firm is a great show. I love watching it! I’m glad it is on Saturdays so I can watch it Tuesday or Wednesday would be great day also to air it if you need it to run on a weekday.
This is the best drama to come out in ages. I wondered where it went on Thursdays and search for it on Saturdays. The writing, acting and story line is fantasic in this day of stupid reality shows, and old rehased dramas from the 70’s. Please DO NOT CANCEL! IF THIS THIS WAS GIVEN THE SAME ADVERTISEMENT VEHICLE AS OTHER CRAP OUT THERE IT WOULD BE A WIN WIN WIN.
The Firm is one of the better shows on TV, especially on Saturday nights when there is not much else on other networks. I hold high hopes that this series will not be cancelled. It is full of intrique, action, and keeps you glued to your seat. I find myself anxiously waiting for the next chapter to air. If I thought this series would be replaced by some obnoxious reality show, I would give up on NBC altogether.
We love THE FIRM!! PLEASE don’t cancell it!!! I don’t believe you have a true pulse on the public rating of this suspenseful series!!!
Please don’t cancel the firm! My husband and I both love it. We can hardly wait for the next episode. We both think the casting was very well done. We love all of the characters. We just watched chapter 15…..now we have to wait a whole week!
Please do not cancel this show–it’s full of suspense!
Don’t cancel this show we love it!!!!
It is one of the best shows on TV today. If you cancel it, what would you replace it with … another dumb reality show. Lets get The Firm into one time slot and givepeople a chance to get involved with the show.
This is one of the best shows currently on television. Forget the reality shows – this one keeps you on the edge of your seat! It’s definitely a keeper!!
The Firm is just now developing into a suspenseful show. It would be a shame to cancel when the characters have become well-developed and dynamic.