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, I think it is an amazing drama and don’t find enough of this type of programing to watch. I wish networks would promote the shows better and instead of cancelling the show. What is the sense in watching shows if they keep cancelling them?
Keep the Firm on… Relaunch it with a better night and throw some better advertising strategies out there… !
This show is GREAT! The issue is not the show but the launch strategy of NBC. When you have a show that has potential like this you need to put it on a Monday Night when people are looking for stuff to watch. The days and times for the show from the start have been suspect. Secondly, they finally have a good show and try want to cut it. Instead we have to have more of these talent shows and reality shows. People are more concerned about other people’s reality than their own… That’s why these shows draw well. The… Read more »
Oh Ray – I am so sick sick sick of the reality shows and talent shows and dancing shows…..ugh….let’s just have some good shows to watch on tv – otherwise, what’s the next 10 years going to bring…..yikes
Keep the series “The Firm it gives a reason to watch TV on Saturday night. I like the Firm and most of the actors & actresses in the show.
I liked the drama after the show got going on to the good stuff. It was alil bit boring b/c it was hard to follow at first. It was exciting then in the middle it was boring just waiting for the end of the show for that 5 mins of the rush that Mac was in trouble w/. After the series took off w/the full show being his problems only it was a terrific plot, cast & I loved it. I think you should give it a try again w/o the middle taking so much space. I’m still mad you… Read more »
I love this show I do hope that we atleast get to finish the season though I’d love a new season I watch the show on ondemand so I do not know if I get seen in the ratings but I do want to say I love the show and I’d love a second season
I too love this show. At least run it to the end. Who are the idiots that make these decisions?
I love The Firm with the twists and turns it takes! Keeps me guessing what will happen next!
I love this show. It is very tense andexciting.
I love this show! I think the actors are amazing .
The firm is a fast moving intriguing show…it sure beats Awake, Mentalist and a dozen other totally boring garbage..and the reality crud….get real!!!!
I love, love, love, The Firm, please don’t cancel it!!!!
The show was boring. The females on the show were terrible. The star and his brother were good. Need better females and a better script.
GREAT showwwww!! do not cancel!!
My whole family LOVES this show! I cannot believe they would think of canceling it! Please keep it on!