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.
Love this show. Please bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s superior to most shows nowadays. It’s past time to bring back real tv shows and get rid of all the reality crap!
I agree, the start of Firm had a weak beginning, but am I glad I stayed with it and I will watch or buy it wherever it is as it is a gripping story with great acting and well written. Why some shows get cancelled is very hard to predict and I hope someone picks The Firm up as it makes for great television.
Bob B.
Would definitely watch a second season. As TV series go I would rate it with my other favorites: NCIS and House. Have watched all episodes. KEEP IT GOING.
Best show on NBC. Would watch another channel or watch season 2 on DVD.
I like the show and hope it goes to another channel or I would buy season 2 on DVD.
Please don’t cancel the firm! I love the show and watch it whenever it’s on. I will follow it to cable. DON’T CANCEL IT!
Excelent show! Particularly in comparison to the god-awful reality shows every network is sponsoring.
Love the Firm…..please someone pick it up!!!
I love this show & will follow it to a new network. This has been the greatest show in a long time. I didn’t miss one episode.
🙁 I going to miss MicDeere beautiful blue eyes. I will continue watching The Firm on any other channel. I really love it!!!!!!!! Is something diffeeent and I love drama programs more that violent ones…..
I enjoyed the show and will watch season two if picked up on another channel.
Keep it on love it!!! Jean CA
Both my spouse and I have followed The Firm since the beginning. Please bring it back, if not on nbc, then on CABLE.
One of the few bright spots outside of AMC, in the way of new series and AMC hasn’t been doing a very good job of producing new bright spots. I’d watch this on any network that has the sense to pick it up. If the “kids” ( 18-49 demographic ), don’t like it, so what? Look at the S*#t that inundates the television to cater to the smaller portion of the population?
Good show, great actors .Hate to see it cancelled