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.
The Firm was one of the best series ever. We watched the entire 22 episodes from 6 DVD discs loaned to us from the local library. We’re very disappointed that the show
was canceled and that there is no end or finale in sight. Shame on NBC for cancelling
one of the best series ever.
The firm is one of my favorite tv series i have ever watched. I like the rhythm of the movie and that of the characters they are very awesome.
As for the season two i think it should be aired
Well they gut to make season 2 …awesome series
Pls bring us the Season two. What a Series. It has made me develop interest for Law. Ghana loves the FIRM
Best show!!!
We just discovered The Firm and have watched the first season. What a bummer to learn there is no season 2! All those unresolved conflicts, etc. PLEASE at least have the decency to produce one more “closer” show for those of us who are frustrated beyond measure by this blow!
It indeed is a bummer to discover that after having to watch a whole season of the series, there is no season 2. Funny thing is a lot of tv series nowadays are all fiction & full of crap & they’re selling. This is frustrating, there is definitely no closure after the last episode…
This is the best series Iv watched. I must see what happens after episode 22.
Im frim Kenya.
Oh my God I just can’t believe the ratings are so low . Its One of the Best series in Law which I’ve seen that comes close to real life court proceedings . I love this show it stimulates your mind and keeps your morals in check when you are in a case . Please bring it back
Real shame its been put down ,one of my favurite shows .Hope it Will return ,T from Sweden
I was shocked The Firm was cancelled, By far me favorite show.
This was a great tv show. I am not a fan of reality tv. Shop this script to cablek networks please.
We recently discovered The Firm on Netflix and love it. We’re totally disappointed that there is no season two! We wish that we had known how good it was when it aired on NBC. If it comes out on cable we would definitely watch it (please, please bring it to cable!!! )
bring back season two on cable. Why would you take such a great show off cable, when all the garbage reality tv shows stay on year after year, please tell people how they should bring back THE FIRM
The Firm was one of my most favorite books to read, I was so glad when they made a show out of it. I loved this show I hate it has been canceled. Why do all the good shows get canceled so fast. The story line was great and it keep you wanting to see more. I love the firm wish it was not canceled
Not living in America I recently bought the DVD set of Season one. I just finished it and enjoyed it very much. I’m surprised it didn’t get good ratings. I would definitely buy a season 2 DVD set.