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.
This series is my favorite. Please bring it back. PLZZZZZZ. I need to know what happened 6 weeks later.
I have enjoyed the chemistry between the actors…the story line and hope it will be renewed!
Do not cancel; put in a better time slot; one of the best shows on at the present time. LOVE IT!!
Love it. Please keep it on
Awesome series. keep it on the schedule.
I luv The Firm, the actors, the suspense …etc! Keep it or move to a network that would to have the show.
Keep this show. Best on tv
I just found The Firm and really enjoyed the show. I wish I could see the series from the beginning. Don’t cancel, instead promote is more.
I would really hate to see this show go. I enjoyed it very much and was wondering what happened to it on Thursday night and just found out it is now on Saturday night. Please keep it going. thank you
I love The Firm. Keep it on, please.
I love the firm. Please make more episodes.
Please continue with another season. I finally found a show I like and looked forward to watching. I love the John Grisham books and loved this show. Please find a network that will carry it!
The Firm has gotten better since its beginning. Really enjoy the entire cast and would be disappointed to see it cancelled.
Husband and I in older demographic and have really enjoyed this series. Please continue another season.
My husband and I loved every second of this show. This show was the only one we watched on NBC. PLEASE don’t cancel an intelligent, well written, well acted show that doesn’t make my husband and I feel like morons when we watch it.
I HATE TO SEE THE FIRM CANCELLED AFTER WATCHING THE FIRM I CANT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT WEEK YOU ALL KEEP GOING ON HIATUS AND I CANT KEEP UP WHEN ITS COMING ON .EACH TIME I WATCH IT,I WONDER IF THIS
IS THE FINALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE THE SHOW