It’s been a rough road for Mitch MicDeere. Now, it’s come to an end — at least on NBC. The Firm has been cancelled after one season of 22 episodes.
The Firm picks up years after the young attorney (Josh Lucas) made his deal with the mob to take his old crooked law firm down. He and his family have come out of hiding but their problems haven’t gone away. The show also stars Molly Parker, Callum Keith Rennie, Juliette Lewis, Natasha Calis, Tricia Helfer, Martin Donovan, Shaun Majumder, and Paulino Nunes.
The series represented one of NBC’s biggest launches of the season but it misfired right from the start. The two-hour premiere brought in a dismal 1.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with just 6.32 million viewers.
When The Firm moved to its regular timeslot on Thursdays a few days later, the numbers got even worse. Week two dropped 29% in the demo and the ratings kept falling in subsequent weeks. After hitting an embarrassing low for a primetime show — a 0.8 demo rating with 2.97 million viewers — NBC sent it packing to Saturday nights.
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The numbers have been awful since that move — even for a Saturday night show. It’s frequently outperformed by movies and crime drama reruns on the other networks.
To date, The Firm has an average of a 0.7 rating in the demo and 2.10 million viewers. On our NBC Ratings Report Card, which measures the relative demo success of shows on the network, the show has a “D-” grade — even after low viewership is taken into account.
On the positive side, 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 eOne 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.
Not surprisingly, The Firm won’t be back on NBC (according to TVWise) because the network has opted not to renew its deal with Sony and eOne. The series could continue to be produced for other markets however and even possibly be picked up by a cable channel here in the US. There’s been no word on the show’s fate beyond NBC so, for now, we’ll have to wait and see.
There are 22 episodes in the first season of The Firm and tonight’s marks the 17th. Right now, the finale is slated for June 23rd. If a second season isn’t going to be produced, hopefully the last episode will supply enough closure for the few million faithful viewers who’ve kept watching.
What do you think? Are you sorry that NBC isn’t continuing the show? Would you watch on another channel or purchase season two on DVD?
Image courtesy NBC.
Maybe they could bring “The Firm” back on Netflix
I would definitely watch The Firm on another channel. I hated the fact that they let another good show go.
I also think if it was reintroduced in 2017, the public would have a different reaction to it then in 2012. I believe it would be a huge hit
I know ratings are important. However, I just finished watching all 22 episodes of The Firm September 2017. It’s one of the best shows I have ever seen. Well written, well-acted. I think some of the choices that the executives made might not have been the best. It seems to me the performers didn’t have enough say in the direction of the show. I am beyond disappointed that NBC decided not to continue with the show. It would be amazing if another Network or conglomerate would pick it up and reassemble the cast. I for one would be glued to… Read more »
I just finished season one of “The Firm” and was very disappointed to see there was no season two. Would like to see the story brought back at least to DVD.
I ordered all the first season through Netflix. Am totally disappointed there is no Season 2. I am on limited TV, so I would hope (if it returns) it would be on a prime TV channels, as I can’t afford the full cable channels like Showtime, etc. I think that maybe the poor ratings of The Firm were because there were too much use of flashbacks. There is nothing on Prime Time TV anymore that interests me anymore. Most all the present sitcoms are not even interesting (except for The Middle and Home Improvement reruns). For movie lovers such as… Read more »
This was a great TV Series and it is extremely disapointing that there is not a Season 2 with closure on the story
Please continue with The Firm season 2 I would like to see how it ends is not fair for me the public who like the show I watched on Hulu it’s great maybe back in 2012 people wasn’t interested in this kind of shows but if NBC does it again I’m sure it will be a hit .
i dont understand why it was cancelled or how it had such bad numbers i binge watched all of this in 4 days…i want more .. but i mean this is based off book .. so maybe back in 2012 no one watched it but if you premiere it again what would happen here in 2017!!!
That’s literally EXACTLY how I feel 🙁 I don’t understand how this isn’t STILL on
My wife and I started watching the show and love it idk why you cancel something that has a plot. There have been a few shows that have done this just leaves you hanging. Would love to watch season two even will pay for it
i agreee!!! i loved this i want to see the rest of the book in series…
This is a very good show. Why is it they always cancel shows that have plot and meaning? This is a good one hope another network maybe Hulu or Netflix would be good. If they don’t I would buy the second season DVD……
I live in Bangkok, Thailand, and I didn’t watch the show on TV. I did when it’s out on DVDs. I have no idea why the rating was poor. I started watching it and I was hooked. Casts are brillant and the plots are irresistible. Agree with Nadine C., I’m willing to pay to watch more of the show too.
I am really disappointed I’ve just got pay TV and taped all the eps on box office but due to a power outage I missed the final 2 episodes, I am in love with this show I live in Australia I thought it was a new show and was getting right into it, I would like to know how they a ally Aquire their ratings, If I’m willing to pay to watch this show and so are many others bring it back, I’m now hoping Foxtel repeats it again so I can see the final episode, I’m very upset great… Read more »
I’ve just finished etching The firm and loved it, but am so disappointed there’s no season 2 and therefore the ending. I they are going to end shows there should be closure therefore we need another season. Or 3 or 4
Hi… I found that Serie just a few weeks ago but Ehen I started to watch it, I could not stop. Now I am very sad because there is no Second Season! An Ending like this is so dissappointing. Especially I dont know The Reasons! Right from The beginning I was catchend by The caracters, The actors The Story and The Great way of producing! I like to See more! I like to See Josh Lucas again and I like to know what Happen next! I also know that The meaning of one Person will Change nothing especially of it… Read more »