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.
my wife and i loved the show, can’t believe its cancelled after seeing some of the shows that were renewed
Love, Love this show. Love the actors and the episodes. Please do not cancel.
We like The Firm and would be greatly disappointed if one of the last somewhat family friendly, smut free shows is taken off the air. We like dramas, but won’t watch them if they have a bunch of unnecessary sexual content. The show is clean and intellectually stimulating. I hope that the network seriously considers keeping this show on the air for those of us that are still looking for quality entertainment.
PLEASE. . . . .PLEASE. . . . . Don’t cancel The Firm!!!!!!! There are so many mind-numbing shows on TV! I was starting to think that all of the good writers are GONE!!!!! My husband and I both enjoy the many twists and turns in the plot which make the hour long show just zip by. The acting is great and now they have added some seemly characters that are part of the Russian mob!!!!!!
My family loves The Firm. We will be greatly disappointed if it is not carried over in Season 2.
Hope it is not too late to film a second season. We have really enjoyed The Firm.
Just saw the last episode for the season, and it was a cliff hanger. Please bring it back next season. It is intelligently done with fine acting and great plot lines. So much better than morst of the competition.
Save The Firm!! It is a terrifc show!
This is a well written show with good acting and interesting story lines. With the garbage currently on network TV prime time, this series maintains my interest. These reality shows catered to the 18 to 49 age group leaves little good programing for that “older-group”.
Please do not cancel The Firm. We enjoy it
very much.
Please don’t cancel the firm. It is such a good show.
Even when it was moved to Saturday, I would watch it that
night or dvr it so I wouldn’t miss it! SAVE THE FIRM!!!
The Firm like Harry’s Law is just another mistake by NBC! What is wrong at this network? They just continue the stupid errors in programing since they tried to force Jay Leno on the public in Prime Time! Come on folks get a CLUE! NBC once was know for good programing! What happened?
Bring back The Firm! Finally a show with energy and drama and a great cast. NBC you disappointed this family. We never miss an episode and loved The Firm.
Please do not cancel The Firm. It is an exciting, useful series. Cancel the various reality shows which I will never watch.
I agree with so many of those who previously commented. I am so tired of reality tv. The Firm is excellent…it has a great story, great acting, suspenseful (always leaves you wanting more), and then they cancel it. It’s so sad that America subjects themselves to such reality crapped based shows that aren’t even real they’re scripted. Keep The Firm it is one of the best shows on tv. Don’t they say everyone deserves a second chance. They need to slot The Firm after NCIS: LA or before Law and Order SVU. Put the show in a slot for people… Read more »