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 think The Firm is one of the best shows on TV.Especially the last few episodes. Please keep it on the air. My wife and I can’t wait for the next chapter.
I didn’t like The Firm in the beginning, but I loved the characters, acting and twists in plot. My DVR kept recording, and the more I watched it the more I loved it. Please give the show more time. I really love it, and I’m attached to these characters. The networks throw too much on television now and don’t give anything enough time or experimentation to take off anymore. It is frustrating for the public. I think the success of cable channels is due to the bigger risks they take. For whatever its worth, I remember YEARS ago I told… Read more »
Please keep this show on the air…one of the best. It should never have been bumped to Saturday night. NBC simply doesn’t know when they have a hit show. This show is suspenseful every week. Please do not cancel this show!!!
The Firm finally something with intelligence that grabs you from start to finish. It made me go back to watching things ON NBC which I hadnt considered in years!!! Please keep this for those of us who still like to use are brains that are CSI’D to death and HATE reality tv!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, my husband have just recently become avid fans. Please don’t discard this show, it has great story lines and deserves a chance to succeed. The cast is amazing.
We really like THE FIRM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We would be extremely sad if it is cancelled.
Love the show. Don’t cancel it. When does it come out on DVD?
The Firm has a great following here in Vancouver – hope it isn’t cancelled!!
PLease DO NOT cancel this show. My boyfriend and I watch it every week together, I am ADDICTED
I noticed the TV guide says “series finale”, not “season finale” & I am really sorry to see the show is cancelled. I really enjoyed watching it.
Please give us another season of “The Firm”. My husband and I watch it and look forward every week to each episode. We don’t regularly watch any other show like this one. Absolutely love it!! Can’t imagine why the ratings did not do well……..These are believable people and just because they are not in bed with numerous partners should not damage the ratings. For once the writers have depicted lots of drama in the lives of great characters.
Please do not cancel this show! There has not been that much on TV that is worth taking the time to watch. This show actually is very well cast, written, and keeps you entertained.
I LOVE this show! Please reconsider and do another season! It’s so nice to watch something that has some substance!!
Please keep “The Firm”!! This series is very well written with a cliff-hanger every week.
Please keep The Firm. People with brains also like to watch tv.