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.
 Loading ... |
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.
my family and i are very dissapointed. i am only twelve but i still loved and understood the storyline. it was one of the few show on tv that i am actually able to watch. it was apropriate and family safe. my family and i anticipated our saturday night viewings of the firm. they cant just end the show how they did. who is chasing mitch? does his client go to prison? what happens with the russians and joey? CONTINUE!!!
My wife and I love the firm. Sorry to see it cancelled. Hope it gets picked up by someone and/or can be watched on DVD or online somehow.
I will miss the show
My family and I were very disappointed with The Firm being cancelled. It was one of the best TV dramas in a long time. We would like to see it continue somewhere and would consider buying season 2 on DVD.
i agree. my mom is VERY disappointed…
The Firm was a great show and
I really enjoyed it. I can’t believe that it ended the way it did. I need closure!! I hope another network picks it up!
Why do they cancel good family shows? We have a teenage daughter and this was one show we would sit together and watch. I would buy season 2 on DVD…but I’d prefer to watch it on TV!
The Firm was our favorite show this season and can’t believe it’s been cancelled! Every episode was action-packed and each week left us hanging on the edge of our seats. Great writing, good cast…I sure hope someone else picks it up. Shame on you NBC for dropping such an outstanding program!
The Firm is one of my favorite shows. The actors and the acting is so good. Love the story lines, etc. Hopefully, cable will pick the show up for their lineup.
I went into Chapter 22 on Saturday nite, thinking “this is it” … and was ready for the story to reach an end. But this saga is still in full swing — what with the emergence of the Russian mafia, the uncertainty between the Chicago mob and the McDeere’s, and the suddenly not-to-be-trusted FBI. I checked listings, and it is definitely OUT of the NBC schedule. So I’d like to see more, somehow, someway — on cable ?? How many Chapters past #22 are in the can? Is there any chance of a Season Two?? C’mon, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE SOME… Read more »
The Firm CANNOT be cancelled!!! Even if it goes to another station, as long as it continues!! The show is amazing and one of the best I have seen in a long time. Plus, the way they ended the season premiere…. It’s NOT OVER!!! Help! Who do we write or contact???
loved the firm! My husband and i were excited to watch it every week! BRING ON SEASON 2…..NBC CANNOT CANCEL!
I loved this show! Full of suspense and good writing/character development. I will be extremely disappointed if NBC doesn’t reconsider and pick it up for another season.
I loved the show. I would watch it on any channel. Also, I would purchase season II on a dvd. Hope someone is listening and will produce season II
Couldn’t agree more with others on here!! The Firm is a great show and it definitely left it open for season 2. It needs to continue!!! Such a disappointment that NBC would cancel it!!!
Loved the show, love the characters! I am so sick of reality shows, but they are cheap to produce and there are millions of morons who will watch them so a decent show with intelligent writers don’t have a chance.
The Firm wasn’t given a chance to gain a following. Please have another season!!!!