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.
Bring back the firm!!!!!! Best show on tv
great show please someone else pick this show up!
I watch very few network TV programs mainly because they are boring and all cut from the same cloth. The Firm has been a pleasant exception. I hope NBC reconsiders or it is picked up by another channel. I will definitely watch.
Bring on Season Two of The Firm!!! Please! Great show!!
I truely think this is wonderfully scripted and structured show with a fantastic cast. I would definately watch this show if it moved to another network!
The Firm is the best new TV series I’ve seen in years. With all the other junk on TV these days, it’s a shame to cancel such a spectacular drama. I seldom watch the major networks, but this program grabbed me right from the start. I really hope someone else picks it up.
Firm started slowly but got really good/ better than most reality shows and stupic sitcoms on TV.
IMO, “The Firm” is one of the best tv drama series ever produced The cancellation supports the old adage that “only the good (tv shows) die young. I guess if it’s not about star-stalking mindless bs, it’s not going to make it too long on tv today. I would definitely view and support another seaon of “The Firm”.
The Firm is our favorite show on TV. Couldn’t agree more with the other positive comments. It’s every bit as captivating as two other personal favorites … 24 and Prison Break. I sure hope someone picks it up for season two and beyond.
I agree! My parents and I also loved 24 and Prison Break, and when The Firm was first the movie, my mom had told me that it was going to be a tv show and they hadn’t watched it much but I never missed an episode, tonight I watched the finale and I was upset. I want a second season!
My husband and I are so upset about The Firm being cancelled. We watch it faithfully. Even with it being moved to Saturday night we were able to catch it on Prime Time 1020. We have watched every single episode. Why would NBC not promote such a wonderful show and yet continue all these totally horrible reality shows one right after the other. We have been on the edge of our seats waiting for the next episode. Please, someone else pick this up. It will be NBC’s loss.
One of the absolute best shows on TV this season. Well acted, suspenseful, great story lines. I hope it will be on another network.
The firm is the best show on tv.it had a rough spot because it moved around too much.some of the worst shows have been renewed,and good shows are cancelled.i hope TNT or fox will pick it up.they canceled missing also and left us with an unending!
Keep it on. Great show. Get rid of some of the realitiy shows.
i watched all of season 1 episodes on line. I love the show and hope it continues. i will watch it on whatever network it is on. good acting, good story line. it is a refreshing series. i do hope it will continue somewhere.
I love this show. I think if it were on on a different night, the ratings would be higher. Saturday night is not a good not for a lot of folks, although it is great for me. I am so tired of all the “reality” shows, and this show has good info and meaningt and a great storyline. Please, please let another network or cable pick it up. A&E would be a great one to pick it up.