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.
From the very beginning the show was never on when it should be on. The menu on my TV would say THE FIRM, but it would be basketball, golf or something else. I love the show and am very disappointed that it is never on when I expected and that it has been cancelled. I have watched every episode but some I had to watch on the ON DEMAND channel because I could never find it on the air where it should be. NBC should be ashamed of not even giving this great show a chance.
LOVE THIS SHOW! I have been reading the news on it and it seems people don’t like it because they can’t “keep up with it….it confuses them”. IT IS A THINKING SHOW PEOPLE! Get with the program. This one will be missed! I hope it gets picked up elsewhere because I will certainly tune in!
I completely agree with you Randa! It really does make you think. If you want a show you don’t have to think about watch the Real Housewives. I am very disappointed that it has been cancelled. Hopefully someone else will pick it up.
I agree with Mike K…there’s not going to be any reason to turn on the tv any more except for CBS Monday night!! I’m so tired of falling in love with a show only to discover apparently I’m the ONLY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY who liked it!!!!
At the rate things have been going with our (few) favorite programs being cancelled, there won’t be any reason to even turn the TV on. With today’s “measure of success” dictated by network “management,” some of the best TV shows of all time would have been killed in their infancy. Then again, with the national attention span being that of gnat, maybe consumers are ultimately to blame for given shows little time to establish themselves.
I thought it was the best show on tv! I am really upset that it isn’t being renewed. I would definitely watch it on another channel.
That REALLY upsets me… We love this show. My recording of the last episode had some moronic show about old people…. Not happy
I absolutely love this show! I started watching it in the beginning because I am a huge fan of Josh Lucas and I loved the show from the first episode. I am very sad to hear they have cancelled the show. It is the only show I record besides Days of our Lives. I hope they will put it on another cable channel. I would love to keep watching it!
I’ve watched this show from the beginning and I can’t tell you how upset I am that it has been cancelled. I just hope they give us a decent ending and don’t just leave us hanging like some of the shows have done in the past. I don’t know if I will start up new shows next season or not because this is the second year in a row that I’ve started a show, gotten real involved, and was left wondering what happened. It is like reading a book half way through and someone takes it away!!
It is a great show and it is sad that they are not having a second season…
I have loved this show from episode 1. My heart actually beats faster when I’m watching. I am really hoping that they continue on and I have the ability to keep watching! I have enjoyed the characters and the story line. Thanks for a great season, I hope it isn’t the last!
I have loved this show from episode 1. My heart actually beats faster when I’m watching. I am really hoping that they continue on and I have the ability to keep watching! I love the characters and the story line. Thanks for a great season, I hope it isn’t the last!
Everytime the big three networks get a decent series, they cancel it because of the demographics! WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO GET IT THROUGH THEIR HEADS, THAT IT’S THOSE OF US WHO ARE OLDER THAT HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON PRODUCTS???? Younger people are going to movies, bars, etc. or raising their families and involved in childen’s activities, not home watching TV!!!! I hope one of the cable networks picks up this series. The big three networks are losing out to cable networks. It doesn’t take long to get sick of the “cheaper to make” reality shows that they… Read more »
Touche’ Patsy!
Cancel Betty White, show is horrible!
I loved The Firm and looked forward to watching. Set my DVR to record ever episode and saved each one. I hope there will be a Season 2.
I looked forward to every episode! It will be quite a disappointment not to see the next season!! The creatively written plots kept me guessing from week to week. I hope some network picks it up!!