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.
Very interestin and full of suspense… Pls someone should sign dis movie cos i cant wait to see the season 2.
I am a late viewer but I just caught wind of this show while in Europe and after only seeing one episode bought the first season on iTunes. I’m addicted and very disappointed there is no season two. I would definitely watch it on another channel and/or buy the dvd for the following season. Please someone pick up this show.
I loved the show. Would have bought both seasons if available.
Best show ever.
The Firm is the top 3 tv series I’ve ever watched! You need to have an eye for details when watching The Firm and that’s why I think the majority of the people don’t like it. You have to listen carefully and to concentrate when watching it and people are too lazy to do that.
NBC or some other company should sign a new contract and make season 2 for us!
The Firm is a great show! NBC needs to bring it back
I LOVED The Firm! I am so disappointed that it has been cancelled. Great story and even better suspense. Josh Lucas made the show!
Best tv series ever! I was hooked from the strat and very dissapointed that i wont get to see season 2!! NBC must hring it back.
Men! What a disappointment the firm is the best series movie I ve watched recently and am impressed by movies easily. NBC pls bring it back.
I can’t believe they canceled it. The firm is a great show. Sometimes it takes over a year for people to even see the show. It never had a chance……………
Please season 2, come back!
I had no idea the dvd set i got would end the way it did, i didnt know it was canxelled after the first season. If it had been advertised better i would have watched it when it was on tv. I am soooo upset now that i was left hanging with the series.
i would buy season two on dvd if available in a heartbeat
I love The Firm very much….good series!
I was really really hoping that THE FIRM would be coming back which is how I came across this page!!! What the hell are the networks doing? What about getting it available on Netflix or something like that. I have seen a couple of the online ‘film’ providers producing their own shows which happen to be really good for example there was one called ‘Chosen’ on Crackle. I cant tell you how much I love this show and all the actors and their characters I am truely disappointed 🙁
Couldn’t wait to get home in time for the next episode. Tonight I got home and check to see what is going to happen next…just to get hit in the face that the previous episode was the season finale. Checking when the next season is starting, this is what we have to deal with? I want to burst out in tears! Love the actors, the story everything about the series….can not believe viewers did not support it. I am deeply saddened and do hope someone see the potential to shoot the next season and next and next! Please!!!!!!