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 love the Firm so please don’t cancel. I have been waiting for the new season to start, it will be a big disappointment if I don’t get to see more. LOVE the FIRM
I liked the show, even though at times, it was hard to follow. I would have liked a “closure” episode or two. Great actors and good plots! What can be done? Maybe the cable idea was a good one. My sister and I would watch.
Wbat?!! Cancel The Firm??!! No way! It was the best new show on last season! Up against old shows, it was the best show period. Bad time slots, but I ways raced home for it. Please keep it going!
Love the show. Please don’t cancel.
Please reconsider new season of The Firm. It was an awesome show. Don’t let us viewers hanging to know what happens with the cast members in the show. all are great actors and actresses. Let’s see some new episodes the fall. 🙂
Please please don’t cancel my favorite show!!! I looked forward to it every week!! Drove my husband nuts saying, “is it on yet, is it time yet???” loved it!!
I agree – big mistake in cancelling the show. I was looking forward to its return in the Fall and believe that NBC should seriously reconsider as many people with whom I’ve spoken have enjoyed the sequel every Saturday.
This is a good show but got a raw deal on their time slot. One of the best series I’ve seen in a long time. Big mistake in canceling it.
Keep a good show. Not much advertizement, so I picked it up accidentally after it had been moved to Saturday. Where will the next installments be?
Please don’t cancel The Firm…I look forward to this show every week!!
The best show since Damages… LOVE the FIRM. Please Sony pick this back up. I agree, viewers who want something other than reality TV was engaged in this story line and incredible writing style. Tired of mindless TV, the Firm is a quality show.
I am disappointed to hear this series being cancelled…loved this show..one of the best dramas. I kept looking forward to viewing it after the Olympics but it never came back and now I am left hanging with an unfinished story line. Loved the writing and the acting on this program…someone please pick it up!
Our favorite show on TV. Look for it weekly to not miss a show. We’re wondering why it kept changing it’s time slot. Has the potential to be a long running series. Please do not cancel.
I absolutely loved this show and looked forward to every episode. I loved that the episodes were marked with a Chapter number. I missed a few even though i had it set to tape all episodes. Don’t leave all the followers in limbo?
We love The Firm and want a second season.