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.
Love that show… So Sad it won’t be back!!
My husband and I love the show. Yes we would continue to watch, Please dont cancel.
I just googled to find out when my favorite show would start up again. I kept saying ‘Oh No , Oh no when I read it was cancelled on NBC! So disappointed 🙁 . I loved The Firm!!! I was waited all summer to watch the next season. It was the only show I really wanted to watch every single week. Really hope that it is picked up by another network. I don’t know another show as entertaining in that genre.
The Firm was one of the BEST TV shows on TV. I can not believe it was taken off of the air after just one season. It was put on Saturday night where hardly anyone is home to watch. I had to tape/DVR the show weekly. It was Great and I know alot of others that watched the show and Loved it as we;;! So sorry to see it end! Please bring it back on another channel………..
is it psble 4 sch a series to b cancelled bcz there r no viewers seriously!!!!
Just when I thought NBC had a show worth watching, they take it away! My husband and I loved The Firm. I am surprised that ratings weren’t better. Perhaps it was initially positioned against a show or shows that were too strong and with an established following. Saturday wasn’t the greatest time- often we were busy and had to catch it online. I sure hope another network picks it up 🙁
That is terrible! I love to watch the FIRM.
Our family is very disappointed NBC cancelled The Firm. I agree with so many others who commented that The Firm was a great show!! I’m also tired of hearing how the networks are only concern with the 18-49 age group who watch TV! We will watch The Firm if it comes on another channel or comes out on DVD. You made a big mistake NBC!
The Firm was great and different. We all know the story from the book and the movie but it was a great show! I would watch season 2. I agree send it to TNT where all the dramas are, leave the networks for degrading TV shows!
I am very disappointed that the firm has been cancelled by NBC. I would definitely watch it if it was on another cable channel. Heck.. send it to TNT where all the real dramas live…
I can’t understand, there’s shows out that running that not even half exciting as The Firm. I will watch this on any other network. This is brilliant.
I’m so disappointed that The Firm has been cancelled. I loved it and would love to see it continue on cable, if possible. It was much better than the not so reality “reality shows”. The acting is great and I love the cast. The story lines are great (and so is the book). I’ve been a fan since since I saw the movie with Tom Cruise. Please, please bring it back!!!!
i will watch on another channel i feel sorry for Nbc
I didn’t like how the firm tried to be serial, and at the same time have episodes that stand alone a la “Law and Order”. In my mind, you either gotta commit to full on serial or stand alone episodes.
My husband and I LOVED watching this show together. I was sad to google and find out its not on anymore.
Shame on you NBC for cancelling The Firm , there arn’t to many shows worth watching on your network as it is. So GOOD BYE NBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!