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’m sorry to see The Firm canceled. Great show. One I looked forward to watching each week. Too bad.
great series, little slow getting started but totally hooked
it took me awhile ,however i now think it is one of the best shows this season……
Love the show and wish it would continue, however; it does not appear to be the case. I think ratings are low because every critic wants to give their opinion. Well I say opinions are like ******** everybody has one. Unfortunately these critics have managed to influence the viewers. It’s sad to see it happen but hopefully the firm will get picked up by another network.
Great show – actually has a plot!
please do not cancell the firm. i luv it. it keeps me on the edge of my seat.so much better than the stupid reality shows that they putting on.it is agreat show i would hate for it to end.
I really liked the Firm It was suspenseful and had a very good human interest It is fast paced and the villian is totally believeble the interactions between the characters is very good as well the writing is supurb and the dialogue is appropriate for the series please don’t cancel
It seemed to take a couple of episodes for The Firm to establish itself – I’ve really enjoyed the show and it has only gotten better and better. Please don’t cancel it.
PLEASE do not cancel The Firm! This is the ONLY show that we all four WAIT to see each week. Two possible reasons for the low ratings: 1) viewers prefer to watch some mindless pointless show or 2) viewers did not ever see one episode. The show has human elements, suspense, drama, and humor. What more could a viewer ask for? SEASON TWO OF THE FIRM.
Yes yes yes! Keep the firm going please.
My husband and I both look so forward to looking at “The Firm” very much and would love for this series to continue. Please do not cancel!
My husband and I love the show!!! We want a second season!
“The Firm” is an excellent show and should be renewed for another season. I was sorry when NBC took it off of the air on Thursday nights. This show is JUST as good as “Scandal” and we need more drama based show with plots and less of these mindless reality shows. I find myself watching old “Perry Mason” reruns . . . is that sad or what? As you can see, I need “The Firm” to stay on the air.
My wife and I greatly enjoy this show. Please do not cancel it.
The Firm is a very well written show. I really look forward to watching it. Please don’t cancel it. There aren’t enough “use your brain” shows on TV now. Keep this for the thinking crowd!