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.
I am truly disappointed to hear that The Firm has been cancelled. We watched every episode and looking forward to more. Its a shame the good stories always get cancelled. I would watch The Firm on cable where it seems all the good shows are anyway.
I am soooo disappointed that the Firm is canceled. I agree with statements above. I hate the stupid reality shows and sitcoms that have no character to them. This show was clean, had a good story line and I would watch it on any other channel.
I have really enjoyed The Firm and have watched it every week since episode 1. I hate to hear that it is being cancelled. I would definitely watch it on another channel.
Loved “The Firm”, put it on in the fall on prime time when people watch TV and don’t have a lot of outdoor activities. Hope it gets a new start, there are a lot worse shows staying on TV.
I agree – this is a GREAT drama! Quality programming without all the smut is so hard to find. Networks used to give tv shows more time to let audiences find out how good a show is. Hiding it on a Saturday night and dropping all promotions is not smart. Keep the program, or move it to a highly accessbile cable channel. I will miss Harry’s Law too 🙁
We loved watching both The Firm and Harry’s Law and are so disappointed NBC is cancelling both. It’s difficult to keep an audience when the shows are constantly moved to different time slots or are put on hiatus. I don’t get why the Networks keep adding more Reality Shows aside from the cheaper to produce view. Why do people care about Bachelors & Bacheloretts and who they marry? Why do people care about who survives an island when there’s a TV crew filming them so they aren’t having to “survive” anything? Why do people care about the Kardashians and their… Read more »
Well said.
The comments above are right on the money. The Firm has intrigue, great pacing, and keeps you involved, as well as greatly anticipating what will happen the next week. Really sorry the ratings were not so good, potential viewers don’t know what they are missing. The Firm and Harry’s Law made me actually start watching TV again (other than sports programming). And now, they will both be gone.
I am so sorry I didn’t listen to Everyone who told not to watch any new shows on NBC. The reason you have such low viewing is because you cancel everything. Everyone I know says they will not invest time in watching NBCs shows. I didn’t listen this year and of course I am sorry. I am fully invested in The Firm, and also Awake. I also loved Harry’s Law and a few others you canceled. I will now become one of the people who support not watching shows on NBC.
Yes I would watch it on another station, It is intelligent, non violent(for the most part) no sexual content…. a good all around program… no wonder the network isn’t continuing it. Same with Harry’s law. They will come out with more mindless, stupid reality shows… no wonder the brains in this country are mush
I really enjoy The Firm. It is too bad that they want to get rid of it. It’s one of those that I have recording on the DVR every week. And I love the story line. It is a diamond in the rough. So many things are happening all at once and sometimes I have to rewatch to get the little details that the writers add. Not many shows are as intricate as this one.
The firm is so intense. My wife and I love it. We can’t believe that NBC would cut such a great, well written, excellent acting and gripping show. They are morons if they cut this show.
Have enjoyed the show very much, especially with a solid (and presumably happy) married couple at the center. No sex romps, just intriguing story lines. Entertaining, well done, and clean.
This is one of the best shows on tv. My familt every y love it. We look forward to watching every week. It has a great cast and excellent story line. I hope someone else picks up the show. I woul definately buy a season II dvd, but would much rather the show continue weekly on tv.
This is terrible news. I really have to agree with the hundreds of other people that have commented. The Firm is a great show with a great storyline; the acting is wonderful as well. I’m getting so sick of all these stupid “reality shows” taking over television, and all the really good shows (such as this) being canceled. The reason television was invented was so people could get away from reality a few hours a day. STOP CANCELING ALL THE GOOD SHOWS.
Ditto jean. Love the firm and the cast. Disappointed it won’t be back. Hopefully cable will pick it up.