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.
 Loading ... |
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 was sorry tohear the show was canceled. The actors were really good, the story lines were intense, and it was fun to tune in to the next episode. I read recently where Josh Lucas was glad the show was canceled. That was disappointing to hear. Yes, I would watch it on cable, as well as purchase as a DVD. Thanks for the great storylines and stimulating acting performances.
Our entire extended family watched this show and are VERY disappointed that it won’t play again next year. We even bought the episodes that were missed in order to stay up with the story. We would give this series 5 stars. I even agreed to share the iPad with my family so they could see it as well. Please reconsider this decision.
The Firm is by far the best thing on NBC. I have not missed a single episode and eagerly wait for the next one each week.
I know dollar votes speak, NBC runs a business but it says alot about our culture that The Firm got lower ratings than much of the lesser quality programming on NBC
I hope the Firm is picked up by another network. I would buy season 2 on DVD.
Great story line, great actors, suspense, danger, intelligence, passion, depth, personality. It’s got it all. I look forward to a new installment every week. But it seems that NBC doesn’t have the courage to stick with it another season and promote it. This is very frustrating. I hope another more foresighted station, cable or otherwise, picks it up and runs with it. Why is it that insultingly stupid shows continue and intelligent ones get drop-kicked? Give it another season to catch on NBC.
Loved the show. Just like one of Grisham’s good books. I was really hoping for season 2 and would definitely buy the entire season on DVD.
I can’t believe NBC did not pick up this show for season two! I agree that they didn’t promote it enough. It’s such a clever and well written show… I’m sad to see it go as I faithfully watch every week! I usually DVR it.. maybe that’s what others do and that doesn’t count for ratings. Hoping that this gets picked up on another network!!
I Look forward to this show every week. NBC didnt promote this very well intelligently written show becasue they dont want their viewers to think. How pathetic!!
I love the show; really hope it’s picked up by another network.
Best show ever – NBC is such a LOSER. Hope cable picks it up. This show does not insult my intelligence such as The Bachlorette, etc.
Once again NBC demonstrates its ability to take great shows and kill them. I truly enjoyed this show, I found the story line compelling with lots of twists and turns.
If this show is available elsewhere to me I will definitively resume watching it.
This is a great show and if NBC doesn’t want it I hope another network picks it up!
I love The Firm and do not understand its poor ratings! I will definitely watch on another network or on DVD. I do not understand why networks are so quick to drop shows. All The Firm needs is some better marketing and a Marathon day to catch up new followers.
This is my favorite show, and I will watch it on any network that will continue it! NBC does not stand behind it’s shows. They need to show the reruns and generate new fans, so when the new season begins, they will have doubled the viewership.
I hate NBC!!! First they cancelled Harry’s Law now I find out they’ve cancelled The Firm!!! What is with this network? Jay Leno made a joke June 4/12 on his show about someone not being able to be found and he said the were discovered on NBC at 8pm primetime so they weren’t missing it’s just nobdy watches NBC…..because they keep taking off the good shows. I would definately watch The Firm on another station. I suggested that Harry’s Law people shop theirs around too.