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 hope another network picks up this show. I would definitely purchase a DVD of season 2.
I absolutly love this show! It’s a great take off on the John Grisham book/movie of the same name. The actors are excellent and the plot has my husband and I on the edge of our seats. Please, NBC don’t cancell this show!
My husband and I really enjoyed the show. I do not understand why they are cancelling it.
how will they do a 4 chapter finale?
This show is awesome. I love the actors….love the plot….it keeps you coming back for more! I work in law enforcement and find this show refreshing and interesting….it doesn’t rely on gruesome details or the typical oversexed scenes to keep you interested.
There aren’t many TV series I enjoy, but this was one I truly looked forward to each week. I’ve been wondering why I couldn’t find it last week or this week. Why? No sex, trashing of each other, or insufficient foul language? How do I find out how the last episode ended?
How on earth do they calculate these ratings…I don’t think they can be accurate, especially with the world of DVR. I absolutely love the Firm and can’t imagine anyone not liking this show. It keeps you on the edge of your seat each and every week. I pray USA or TNT or someone picks it up–NBC never makes good decisions on shows they cancel or keep. One problem with the Firm was moving it around…keep it on one night and they should have never moved it to Saturday Night. I LOVE THE FIRM!
Fabulous show. I loved the show and never missed an episode. Pooh…Pooh to so called ratings. There was not one person that I spoke with that did not love this fast paced very exciting show. I live in Wisconsin and when I was in Florida visiting my step-sister and I watched this show together as she was hooked on it to. I do not know where you get your ratings from but obviously not from my side of town. Please bring the show back either on cable or at the very least DVD. Thank You Gail R
Fabulous show. Never missed a episode. Pooh…Pooh to your so called ratings. Wonderful faced paced and exciting, sit on the edge of your seat show. Please bring back on cable or at the very least DVD. Thanks Gail R
Cannot understand why this show is not getting the ratings it deserves. Plot and writing are excellent, as well as the caliber of the acting! Really hoping a cable channel picks it up!
My husband and I love The Firm. We certainly hope somebody picks up Season Two. Yes, we would buy a DVD of Season Two.
I don’t know why the 18-49 demographic has to rule everything. This is/was a quality program but the almighty 18-49 group would rather watch something less. Why can’t there be advertisers that fit the demographic of the people watching the program? I know that’s a mind-numbing idea. If we’re lucky cable will pick it up.
This is insane! By far the best show ever on TV in all aspects. 24 was a great show BUT, The Firm exceeds it nearly every way. If someone does not pick this up it will be a major dis-service. What are you thinking NBC? Just give it a chance in a different time slot and you’ll get your ratings….KNUCKLEHEADS!!!!!!!
It is insane to cancel this show! This is by far the best structured and produced television show that has ever been on TV….and I say that even having been a huge fan of “24”. If someone else doesn’t pick up this show we may as well throw or television sets out the window.
My husband and I just cant understand why are the rates not as good as the show. This is one of the best programs ever. The plots per show are excellent. All the chapters have been excellent. I hope another channel picks up the Firm. I will be NBC s lost not to give the show another season.
NBC sucks, It is dropping all the good shows. Bring The Firm back on another channel.