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 have really enjoyed the firm and hope it will be picked up on cable. Even though on the July 14th episode Mitch said anomynous instead of anonymous.
This is the best show I have seen on TV in a long time!
Whereever it goes, I will follow.
The acting is tremendous!
The story captivating.
Makes me mad that so many programs on TV are mindless, and an excellent one like THE FIRM wasn’t given a chance by NBC. They are missing the boat!
The firm is one of the best shows on TV. As usual, NBC cancels another good program. This is not a typical lawyer show, it’s more suspensful just like movie – The Fugitive. If there are those that enjoyed that movie with Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones, then The Firm will be enjoyed just as much. I certainly hope some cable company picks up the series.
I have to agree with you, absolutely one of the best shows on TV and NBC does its usual and cancels. If the statements in this article are accurate, The Firm will have a 2nd season because the finale
certainly did NOT give amy closure! I can only hope…..
If another network picks up the series, my husband and I will definitely be watching this program. ~ Reva
Pleasee , please do not cancel The Firm. This is a great show with interesting characters. We do not have many good shows. There is TOO much reality TV.
My husband and I watch every time it is on.
The Firm is certainly one of my favorite shows. I agree with the reviewer who said take off a reality show and keep this. Josh Lucas is great and the rest of the cast has great rapport.
This show provides “Television worth watching.
My wife & I loved this show. Cast,plot,etc. Hope this will be picked up by TNT or FX.
I thought The Firm was a very good show, the storyline, the cast fit well together. I really hate it when I get hooked on a show then it is cancelled. I certainly hope that some other network will bring it back for another season.
Just watched the final episode this evening. We contemplated watching the ending knowing the show had been cancelled. We are obviously still hooked. We would definitely like to see it continue. It’s a good one for sure.
My husband and I love this show. Yes we would watch season 2 on another channel or buy on DVD. So sorry it is over. 7/14/12
Why is it the best shows are canned that viewers
Really enjoy? Then they puOnsite many trashy shows
On.
This has been out favorite show on TV. We look forward to the next episode and have been disappointed when a week was skipped. I would be very pleased to see season 2, even if it was moved to a different network.
My favorite show on television period I can’t wait to watch season two
There is no season 2. The show has been cancelled. It’s unfortunate because over 2 million people have been watching, and that still isn’t enough.
This show, like most good shows, keeps you guessing and on the edge. It is so dishearten to continue making of breaking a show on the viewership of the idiotic 18-49 yr age group. This trend has only resulted in nights full of useless reality shows, and semi-talented dance and singing shows. Unfortunately, we the sensible ones, must suffer with what these people consider entertaining .
My husband and I LOVE The Firm! It’s our favorite show on t.v. and look forward to it each week. I really want to know what happens with the trial and the Marolto (sp?) family?!??!! I really hope someone else picks up this great show. Wonderful story line, great cast…keep it coming!!