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.
Loved the show. Would definitely watch or buy a season 2!
WE LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!! PLEASE BRING IT BACK !! There are so many dumb shows on TV these days this is one of very few that really made any sense. Taking it off the air makes no sense at all.
are you kidding me!!! you cant leave us hanging, i need to know how it ends. this show is a great show and idk why NBC would cancel it. season 2 must come outt. at least one more season to tie up the lose ends.
BRING IT BACK!!!
I really hope they continue with a second seasion. This was my show I could look forward to every two weeks!!! I never make time for TV, but I made time to watch “The Firm.”
I truly hope SOMEBODY continues to produce this series. I was hooked.
Very intriguing and suspense filled. I was saddened to see it was cancelled, probably due to real world elites not wanting their secret revealed. Hope they bring it back!
The show should be brought back on a Cable Station. They have better dramas there and this show is worth it.
What happened to the good wholesome shows on TV anymore. This was a great family tv show, not a lot of cussing, nudity, sex, etc. just a good show. Tired of watching all these made-up reality skit played drama queens making money putting their private life on TV with some made up Hollywood additives. Bring back THE FIRM.
Bring back The Firm for Season 2. We love it!!!
Yes definately! Tired of the reality crap being broadcast!!
My husband and I love this show. Will would definitely watch it on another channel. It is a shame that the good drama shows are being dropped for so many reality shows. Bring back the good drama.
My husband and I love to watch the show. We’re always anxious for the next episode to air. Please continue this series.
My wife and I would surley watch season 2 as well as purchase it on DVD.
So ENJOYED THIS!!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF SOMEONE PICKS THIS UP FOR A SEASON 2!!!
We were hooked! I am so bummed there will be no season 2. Please please someone pick it up!
Please don’t leave us up in the air. We love this show. At the very least give us an ending.