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 can’t believe there won’t be a season 2 of The Firm. This is the best show ever. My husband and I love this show. I would definately watch any channel that aired this show or buy it on DVD.
I love The Firm. I was a 24 fan and The Firm replaced the void for me. Almost!
This is a great show. Good story line. Lots of action. Actually initiated some great conversations with my children regarding morals and honesty, loyalty, love, all sorts of things!
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE FIRM HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF. I LOOKED FORWARD TO LOOKIN @ IT ON SATURDAY NITES. I WISH IT WOULD BE RECONSIDERED, MAYBE IF LEFT ON LONG ENOUGH, MORE VIEWERS WOULD HAVE WATCHED IT. AGAIN I AM VERY SADDENED BY THE REMOVAL OF THE FIRM SERIES.
I am so upset to hear that NBC dropped The Firm. My husband, Mom, Dad, co-workers and myself watch this show faithfully. We can’t wait to watch the next episode every week. It probably hasn’t helped the show that it hasn’t been on every week. I really hope another channel picks it up. It’s a phenominal show!! Thank you.
Please don’t drop The Firm. I don’t miss it if it is on. I love all the characters. The story line keeps me coming back for more!
I would like to see The Firm continue for a second season even if moves to another network or cable channel. Seems all the new series I start watching get cancelled .
I really hope that another network picks up The Firm. Such a great concept and actors, I’m tired of watching the same reality television on every channel. Do these networks also count the views of online websites like Hulu.com? with little time to watch t.v. I usually go here to watch it, hope the networks would count the views as part of their data research. Hope to see season 2!!
Amazing and yet not amazing at all. Trashy shows like Fashion Police and disgusting programs like Celebrity Apprentice are touted. not to mention one reality show after another. Who cares what goes on behind the “not so closed” doors of self-serving pseudo-celebs and their partners or families? Is this what we want to see, not to mention our children?? I hardly think so. We have enough dysfunction in our own lives, must we augment it with Joan Rivers filthy mouth, or Trump’s insufferable arrogance? NBC deserves the low ratings it gets. You put a quality show on and then those… Read more »
This is a great show. I would definitely continue to watch if we get a season 2.
I can’t believe that NBC would let a show like this go……..only to replace it with some really sorry shows. No wonder NBC is in sad shap with ratings on other shows. Most of it junk. The suites need to get real. Remember when one of the big three were going to ax a LITTLE SHOW LIKE CHEERS? The presidentof the company’s wife told him to leave it on……..maybe you people should ask your wives for help on television. I understand The Today is also in trouble. I can only hope to see The Firm on another station. You moved… Read more »
I’ll certainly watch it on any other channel. NBC has a knack for ******** up good programming or not even putting it on the air in the first place. This is another case where all television shows should prepare a closing episode and have it available from the start just in case it gets cancelled.
Most of the episodes of “The Firm” are quite good and the 18th episode was one of the best. The background story of Mitch’s wife does not interest me, but the 18th episode went back to its roots with Morolto Junior. It would be a pity if this show gets dropped off, looks like fantasy shows like “Once Upon A Time” capture the 18-49 demographic more than reality based shows 🙁
My husband and I have really enjoyed this show. We look forward to each episode. Not since Lost have we consistently watched a weekly series. Please give us season 2!
I love The Firm! I haven’t been able to enjoy it in the time slot it has been in and have had to watch the episodes on line but have looked forward to every week! I am saddened by NBC’s decision to cancel.