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.
ca’t believe low ratings. show had the wow factor.
I love this show Well written & acted. I hope it gets another chance for a second season . I would encourage viewers to watch season one to become familiar with the story line & characters
I love the show. So sad if its cancelled!!!!!
please don’t cancel love this show its so disappointing
I am extremely disappointed not to see The Firm on this falls list. It was the one show I lived for from week to week. It was very well written, exciting, and the actors were perfect for their parts. Please find someway to bring it back.
Absolutely love this show, very well written!
I loved this show. Hard to keep up with the changing of nights but did not miss a show. Would love to see it come back for second season.
My entire family loves the firm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved the book…………..love the show please do not cancel…please!
I love The Firm please renew it for another season…
Please don’t cancel The Firm!!!!
The Firm in one of my favorite shows – it’s unique plot line ssets it apart from most crime dramas. Please DO NOT cancel this show.
The Firm is one of the best dramas I’ve seen in awhile. I don’t see any reason to tune intoNBC anymore for the dramas. They have nothing worth watching anymore.
M FAVORITE SHOW!love josh and the rest of the cast..please don’t cancel this great show.
Please please make season 2,3,4,5,6…happen. We enjoy the **** wife series too and last time we enjoyed a Legal series was the original LA Law! But this, The Firm, is one, if not the best, legal tv series out in this 21st century.
I love The Firm. It has great actors, good suspense leaving you waiting for the next show. Please don’t cancel…..