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.
Do you people remember 24 with keifer sutherland? The firm was just as good, or better. The way the story is told was just refreshing and original.
This series was the best series I’ve ever seen in quite a while, I guess there was not enough media exposure for it. I only discovered it after the season was over so I had to go to other sources to watch. A very intelligent series that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Very provocative and action packed, never boring.
This is a program that started slow, but became better as it went along. Unfortunately it is hard to recapture lost audience. With that said, my famiily hopes somebody picks it up for extra seasons. (USA or TNT?)
The firm is my favorite show. I cannot believe it didn’t make it. I would watch it on another channel in a heartbeat or buy season 2 on DVD if it were available and I really, really hope it will be.
I rarely ever watch a show in real time. I HATE commericals. I always watch The Firm first thing sunday morning. I really love this show, it requires more thought than most shows. When I was reviewing what shows were cancelled or renewed I was shocked to the show had been cancelled. I bet that over half of NBC’s Fall line up will fail miserably. I watched FOX’s 24 and no one I know watched that the first season, but season 2 everyone watched after that. I think major network need a more serious summer series. TNT and USA blow… Read more »
I love this show. Amazing cast, great storylines and filled with suspense. Guess NBC prefers the god awful reality shows, which in my opinion are a waste of time and space. The Firm is only show I watch on NBC, so will never watch network again. Cannot wait for Season One to come out on DVD. Maybe they should film it in Vancouver, Canada. We would love the show here and most of my friends here watch. I have always loved John Grisham and the cast in TV show are fabulous. What a shame that society prefers garbage tv, over… Read more »
I’d watch it on any cable channel. I’ve enjoyed it and don’t understand why it didn’t get traction. But, my wife feels the same and the millions of viewers that stayed away. Who knows?
So sad… this is one of the greatest action packed drams on TV. I have really enjoyed watching it on demand. Problem is, I’m never home to watch any ‘real’ time tv so I dvr everything or go on-line to catch up on what I’ve missed. Because of that, I didn’t even have knowledge of the show until seeing it available on demand. I love it. I think this is probably the case with most people. I guarantee that for those who have given it a chance, they love it and hate to see it cancelled. Especially when you have… Read more »
please bring out season 2. i really love this show. i don’t want it to end just like that. loved all the characters and people playing them. it was a show which kept people on their chair edge thinking what would happen next. don’t abandon the show. please renew it.
There should be a network with enough brains to pick up shows that everyone loves and put them on nights when people aren’t out or put up against the top rating shows.
When is someone going to be smart enough to have TV on demand so that the real ratings can be calculated.
Loved this show. I am so disappointed that it won’t be back. What is wrong with NBC?
Stupid move. It’s a great show. Hope someone else is smart enough to pick up.
I watched the firm on Hulu. I hadn’t heard about it before that. I would admit that it was a bit hard to follow in the beginning. But now I think that this is one of the best shows that I have ever seen. Right up there with the Practice and NYPD Blue. The Firm is cancelled but Keeping Up With The Kardashians is still on the air? What is this world coming too?
I was very upset yesterday when I read NBC was cancelling THE FIRM. I love this show and the actors are awesome esp. Josh Lucas I have a huge crush on him so he is very pleasant to watch! I hope cable picks this show up because it is too good of a show to let go. I am just waiting for another episode on demand to watch I can’t seem to find which night the show was on. I am really surprised the shows that they are bringing back for another season pretty dismal!
I strongly agree.
Great Show!!!! I am with all the others—if NBC does not want the show have another network pick it up. I will defiently tune in each week for The Firm!!!!!