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 just started watching the firm. Had them dvr’d. Great show. One of the better shoes on. Really sick of all the “reality” shows that can’t come up with a new idea. I would follow the firm to another channel if it came back on.
very disappointed to hear the show will not have a 2nd season and more! I think the writing and the production of it is very clever and it holds my interest right to the end of each show.
This is my favorite show. I would watch it on cable or buy it on DVD.
Finally find a show my husband and I both enjoy. We record each it each week so we don’t miss it. And now you’re not renewing it for another season!!!!!!!! Please. Renew. The Firm.
I’ve watched The Firm from the very beginning. From Thursday night to Saturday. Hopefully next to cable!
I am very disappointed it has been cancelled. I totally agree with Ray – I am a woman but I also get sick and tired of men and dads being made to look like buffoons. This series is so intriguing and interesting at every turn that it just astounds me that it could have such low ratings! It is not only riveting material but it is one of the few shows on TV that is clean enough (language and sexual content) for my taste. Most shows I won’t waste my time watching. I also often can’t watch it on the… Read more »
Please, please keep the the Firm. I love the show. We were on board from the beginning .
Very disappointed to see the firm discontinued.
I think The Firm is an excellent cerebral program. There is constant communication. The interaction between the charachters reflects the intelligence all involved. The male and female charachters all play a vital role. The male/female roles reflect what our society truly has become. Most of the scenes are facial shots only, much like a soap-opera. It is a show where one needs to pay attention and think. The series started slowly to set the ground work but has been excellent over the past 10 weeks. The Firm is one of the few programs that doesn’t make men look stupid idiots.… Read more »
The Firm is a great show. I would definitely follow it to another Channel, preferably a cable station that would be more inclined to let it develop a larger following. The characters are very well acted and the suspense leaves me wanting more………..
The Firm is one of the best drama shows in years.
My wife and I love The Firm. We would love for it to be picked up by another network!
The FIRM is an excellent series with a lot of potential. I have no idea why this series is being cancelled, especially, with all of the schlock crap that got renewed. Please bring back the FIRM! Great writing and acting!
The Firm is a great program. I agree with Kathy…all the programs she mentioned are excellent programs. I followed The Firm from Thursday nights to Saturday nights and hope to follow it to another channel!!!!!!
I love the show, look forward to watching it every Saturday night. I hate to see it cancelled.