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.
this show is our favorite! hope it runs a 2nd season!
I love this show. I’d buy the second season hands down. Seems like a bad business decision to not have the show on another network on cable or something.
This is one of the best shows on T.V. I don’t know what was done wrong, but I can’t believe that NBC is really cancelling one of the best shows they’ve had in a long time! How do I protest to NBC or how do I find out who might pick it up. It’s one of the few shows that you really have to watch, or you don’t understand what is going on for a while, or is confusing. Once I realized what my problem was, I really loved the show. I liked it anyway, but it definitely made more… Read more »
I really enjoy the show and don’t understand why the small viewership? It’s creative, smart and entertaining. Apparently I, along with one or two others are the only ones that share this view. I’m disappointed and hope that it will be picked up by another network for another season.
I also really enjoy/enjoyed this show. I did not always get to watch it during its slated time but I would be sure to catch it online. I really hope season 2 comes out on DVD to purchase or that another network picks it up. Clearly NBC did not do a better job of selling the show or just put it on at the wrong times- because it truly is a great show.
These channels need to change their demographics. I’m a boomer and I’m the one that’s buying things I see advertised on TV. So a series like the firm will not appeal to the “I’ve got to do six things at once crowd.” We are more focused and don’t need to do multitasking.
I find it sad that such great shows are being discontinued due to mostly managements mistakes. I hope this does not end up like the Gates. Such a great show and now we will never know how it ends.
I Love the Firm,its one of the best TV show. can’t wait to see the next Episodes
The Firm is a very good show. The whole family is addicted to the show. I hope it comes back!
please keep this show running. Do not cancel the show.
My family really loves this show and we would definitely watch it if it was picked up by a cable channel.
Disappointing to hear it has not faired well. Every episode is a heart-stopper and an intriguing mystery. I hope it gets picked up elsewhere. Being Canadian, I am also a big fan of the supporting cast and the location as it showcases the talent we have to offer.
This is/was a great show. The suspense is like the show Damages was. Also, if NBC is canceling it, why not play it out? It’s been preempted so many times, I have to look at that day to see if it’s playing.
NBC cancels anything of substance, Southland, Harry’s Law, Prime suspect, and now The Firm. I’m surprised they are still a network. I have no desire to watch any of the lousy remaining shows they have on the air. Everything is all fluff!
That really Blows. This was a great TV Drama that was worth following. I couldnt wait to see the next episode and was always glued to what was happening. It seems that all these stupid reality shows are taking over as the new TV of the youth. When i recorded episode 19 and went to watch it, it was some stupid Betty Davis Show on outtakes of old folks. Really NBC. What was the rating on that. Shame on NBC for dropping it. I hope one of the other networks pick it up like FX channel.