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.
Who do we write to to get this show on cable? I watch person of interest too and found both were good. Is it NBC or what?
Let this dog go already!! They didn’t have to close it out, it died on the vine. Let it go… LET …. IT …. GO ! ! ! ! !
This show was excellent. I can’t believe it got the ratings that it did. Way better than all the stupid reality TV shows. Hope it gets picked up for a 2nd season.
it really sucks they cancelled the firm me and my mom loved it! its a real shame to see it go. i hope you guys will have a season 2 of the firm! the last episode kept me on the edge of my seat and makes me want more of the firm!!!
We love this TV show! Bring it back please. I t seems like all the good tv series get canceled. I’m tired of starting a series then once I get into it the network cancels it. Why don’t they move it to a night that it would have a chance for everyone to see it.
Loved this show, sorry to see it go
My husband and I love the show. Good story line and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
BRING IT BACK . I think the show got better as it went on.
LOVED the show and finally got to see chapter 22 — I can’t believe there won’t be a season 2 — BRING IT BACK!!!!
I honestly can’t get enough of The Firm! I am praying for season two, NBC or not!
I just finished watching it….there is no way they closed it out…..there was no resolve….everybody is waiting for the showdown between crime families and good cops and crooked cops… If you like Grisham you gotta love the show….it really is a lot like his books…..the show had to develope some, a little like the intro to his novel and those that tuned it out isn’t weren’t savvy enough to watch long enough to get hooked. A USA cable or TNT should pick it up….run it from January 2013 to the end ( May sweeps)and then let Mitch and Abby and… Read more »
love the firm! season 2!
I love The Firm. Season 2 should be given a chance!
love the show the firm and harry’s law is the best
The firm is hands down the best show I have ever watched on tv. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and entertaining!!! Every week it left you on the edge of your seat counting down the days until the next episode! Season 2 is a must!!! Give it another shot !!!! It definitely deserves a second chance! My husband and I have told everyone about it.
Agreed!
This show is amazing please make a season two the show must go on