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.
The Firm has become one of my favorite shows. I was very disappointed when I turned to watch it and found another dumb show instead. You people on TV have so many boring programs anymore that almost all I ever watch is reruns of good shows that were. This one was interesting, well done, well acted and kept me on the edge of what’s going to happen. So I came immediately to my computer to see what happened. At least I’ll be able to see it on Saturday (I hope). Another disappointment. I’m beginning to wonder why I have a… Read more »
I have really enjoyed this show The Firm and was really disappointed that it wasn’t on this evening…replaced by The Voice.
It has been a refreshing change from what has been offered in the past. Please keep this….it’s so good.
Please keep this show going….it is vry good.
I agree with all of these other reviews and happy to hear other people feel the same as I. The Firm is THE only show I watch on NBC (haven’t watched much on NBC since Friends and Seinfeld), the rest is trash. I would have thought this show could compete with others on CBS . I actually thought that this was one of the better shows I’ve watched in years, better than others in this category. And yet Law and Order is still on, really NBC? Can’t even compare! The actors are wonderful, better than so many other shows. I… Read more »
Am enjoying THE FIRM. Keep it!
BEST SHOW ON TV!!!!!!!!!!
Please please don’t cancel this show! Finally there is a tv show that is worth watching for. I love this show. t
Please don’t cancel this show> finally a decent and intellectually written script. This show is close to home. My husband is an attorney and I am a teacher. Other than the mob and shady firm, it reminds me of my own situation. Love love this show please NBC, dont cancel it!
here is a close parallelis My husband is a criminal defense attorney and I am a teacher.
I’m sorry , my computer is acting up, All I want to say is I love this show and please don’t cancel it. I agree with the other viewers, this is one of the best shows right now on TV. NBC please don’t cancel it, give it a chance to pick up the rating.
Screw you NBC!!!!
Screw NBC
I really enjoy the show!
Keep the Firm…I am with everyone else…sick of the disgusting trash that is aloud to stay on.
An entertaining and intriguing show. I would advocate giving The Firm one more season to build an audience.
I love this show and would hate to see it cancelled. I am bummed they moved it to Saturdays too. This show is way better than any other lame legal shows on tv right now. We need to keep McDeere alive!!
OH MY GOD!!!!! HOW could this have happened!!!??? I sit down to watch my FAVORITE show – and it is GONE???!!! This is the smartest show that has come out in decades. People are so brain dead from loser “reality” shows that they can’t even follow a GREAT show that finally allows us to THINK again! The Firm is fabulous – smart – edgy – keeps you on the edge of your seat! But YES – you have to LISTEN and watch and THINK! That’s the BEAUTY of it. PLEASE – KEEP IT GOING!!!! My Saturday nights are home to… Read more »
My husband and I really liked this show. I hate it when you start watching something and just when you get interested in it, it disappears.
I enjoy the show. The cast is great! Give it a chance. It beats some of the other shows that are full of objectionable content.