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.
I love this show, completely hooked. Josh Lucas is a hottie! Please don’t cancel.
I really hope this series is not cancelled, I really lke it. Can’t wait to see it and was dissapointed when it didn’t air Saturday night.
PLEASE PLEASE keep it on the air!
My mother, father and sometimes sisters watch this show every week and are addicted! We love the story that it has and the actors work SO well together! We would hate to see it cancelled.
I really like the show and hope NBC renews it for a second season. I wish I could contribute to the rating but I never know when it’s on. I do appreciate how I can catch re-runs sporadically throughout the week though.
Excellent show
I think it is a great show. I would really like to see it stay around. I am amazed at the shows that are getting the good ratings…unreal…
Great show. Tight writing and a wonderful cast. Don’t cancel.
yes i think the firm should keep going…. once that show starts my family and i get in to it,,,, we cant wait for saturdays to come///
i really do hope it stays…. also nice to see an amiercan show filmed in mississauga/toronto… my brother in law is there limo driver and is the one who told me about this show since the beginning i have not yet missed one show,,,, i find it that good
Upset – about The Firm not on TV Saturday night – had gone out to eat – rushed home to watch the program — not on!!!!
So sucks! I so agree.
Please …Please..Do Not Cancel ..I love The Firm..Never miss an episode.
I really like this show. But, then, I must have no taste in TV shows since I detest, Dance Moms, Mob Wives, Swamp People, I’m a Baby Making Machine – or whateverthehell that show about having a bunch of kids is . Shoulda known, they would cancel a show that has, at least a little class – more than Toddlers and Tiaras – which should have been named Pedophile Magnet.
My husband and I look forward to the show I can’t believe your thinking of canceling it
Beats all the garbage shows you keep on!
The Firm is a really excellent show. When a network commits to a show they should
think about the initial time slot more carefully. Instead of moving it around so much, they need to allow it to develop an audience. I missed it or part of it several times b/c I relied on my memory of when it was on , only to find out it had been moved.
I hope it gets renewed.
I love this show and can’t understand why the ratings are low. I never miss a episode ! Keep The Firm and cancell some of those so called comedys. If nbc decides not to renew this great show, I hope another network will see the talent and get it on their line up.
Why do networks always target the 18-49 age group. Other age groups watch TV …