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.
Do not cancel only show on NBC I watch!!!
This is one of the better TV Drama’s in a long time. I’m huge fan of John Grishman’s books and the FIRM really comes to life on TV. I would hate to see a good show like this be canceled. Maybe NBC should do a little more publicity for this show. If NBC can’t get the viewership, maybe USA or TNT would pick up this gripping show.
I thought the acting and writing was better on this series than almost anything else on television. Maybe an intelligent network like AMC can pick it up.
I LOVE THIS SHOW AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE THE SERIES… I THINK PART OF THE REASON THE RATINGS ARE LOW IS BECAUSE THE TIME IT WAS ON WAS CONSTANTLY BEING SWITCHED. THE ENDING HAS ME THINK THAT WE WILL SEE A SECOND SERIES… PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH. THX
Wife and I both agree. Great show, good writing, …very Grishamesque. TRue to the iteligent writing we are accustomed to in Grisham bnooks. We hope it will continue on cable or somewhere. Agree with prior comment. “Don’t end on cliffhanger”. We say, “Don’t end at all”
Just finished watching season finale. Love the suspense and all the characters. They interact beautifully. What better character than Josh to play a John type lawyer. Show is thrilling from start to end. Couldn’t wait to see the next episode. Can’t believe the show is being cancelled. Please bring back. One of the best legal thrillers on TV yet. If NBC won’t carry it, how about cable? That is where all the good shows seem to be any more!
If you are going to cancel a show…don’t advertise a SEASON FINALE, and end it on a cliffhanger that will never result in another episode. That is a waste of everyone’s time!!! Give us at least an episode that wraps it up! Then Season 1 is available for purchase on nbc.com. That is like purchasing a book with the last few chapters ripped out. Would’ve been better to end it in the middle of the season.
Great show. Please don”t cancel.
I enjoyed The Firm and am sorry to see it has been canceled. It had good story lines and interesting characters. It was entertainment that wasn’t another stupid reality show. Too bad it wasn’t on a cable network, maybe it would have had a chance.
I really don’t want The Firm canceled. It is a very interesting show the longer you watch it the more into you get.
I just finished watching the final episode of THE FIRM(dvr) from saturday July 14th. This has to be one of the all time best drama series in the history of TV. I did not want to get envolved with a continuing drama, but, because of the original film of the same title with Tom Cruise I was compelled to watch the first episode and got hooked big time. Now I am reading NBC is thinking cancelling it. What is that all about? RATINGS..HA! How many time in TV history has a tv show found extraordiary success in later seasons? The… Read more »
This is absolutely the best series I have ever watched! My family and I wait anxiously every week for the next episode of this fascinating series. It is in depth, complex, and drama filled and unlike 95% of the TV shows currently being aired. Please, please, please keep this show on the air! Every single episode leaves you hanging on the edge, anticipating wondering what is going to happen next, please keep this show on air!!!!!!
Keep it. It is new and innovative. Great story telling.
Someone pick it up!!
love this show don’t cancell
Big mistake canceling this show. Great acting and writing. Hope another network picks it.