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The Firm (2012 TV series)

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The Firm
Created byLukas Reiter
Written byAlyson Feltes
Peter Noah
David Feige
William Rotko
Vincent Angell
Jonathan Shapiro
Lukas Reiter
Jamie Gorenberg
Ben Lee
StarringJosh Lucas
Molly Parker
Callum Keith Rennie
Juliette Lewis
Natasha Calis
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJohn Grisham
John Morayniss
Michael Rosenberg
Noreen Halpern
Lukas Reiter
Production locationsToronto, Ontario, Canada
Running time40–45 minutes
Production companiesEntertainment One
Sony Pictures Television
Paramount Television
Lukas Reiter Productions
AXN Original Productions
Shaw Media
Original release
NetworkGlobal
NBC
AXN
ReleaseJanuary 8 –
July 14, 2012 (2012-07-14)
Related
The Firm (novel)
The Firm (1993 film)

The Firm is a Canadian-American one-hour television drama that began airing in January 2012 on Global in Canada and NBC in the United States and in February 2012 on AXN, and is a sequel to the 1991 John Grisham novel of the same name and its 1993 film adaptation. The television adaptation is set ten years after the novel and film.[1]

On February 3, 2012, NBC announced that the series would be pulled from its Thursday 10/9c slot immediately, and placed on Saturdays at 9/8c starting on February 18.[2] AXN began broadcasts in over 125 territories and countries on February 19.[3]

On May 13, 2012, NBC confirmed that The Firm had been canceled.[4]

Cast and characters

The following are the regular and recurring cast members in The Firm:[5]

Regular
Recurring

Production

The concept of bringing these characters to television had been in the works for a few years with CBS having formerly been the expected network.[13] Reiter conceived the recreation of the series 10 years into the future and proposed it to Grisham.[14][15] Grisham oversaw the first three or four episode scripts and then became confident with its development.[14]

Sony Pictures Television ordered 22 episodes of the show from Entertainment One Television in late April 2011 for broadcast on their AXN stations in 125 markets outside of Canada and the U.S.[16] Shortly thereafter, NBC and Shaw Media confirmed that they had acquired broadcast rights in the U.S. and Canada respectively.[17] The show's 22 episode order was the largest of any of NBC's newly picked up shows.[18]

The show was filmed in Toronto and was produced by Entertainment One in association with Sony Pictures Television and Paramount Pictures.[16] Filming of Season 1 took place between August 4, 2011 and April 30, 2012.[19] The pilot was directed by David Straiton.[10]

Grisham served as an executive producer of the television series.[13] Lukas Reiter, a former Law & Order producer, wrote the pilot and was the showrunner.[13] Some of the other legal shows he has produced are The Practice and Boston Legal.[20] Other executive producers were Entertainment One's John Morayniss, Michael Rosenberg, Noreen Halpern, and Helen Shaver.[8] The show's writers included Alyson Feltes, Peter Noah, David Feige, William Rothko, Vincent Angell, and Jonathan Shapiro.[21]

On June 8, 2011, it was announced that Josh Lucas had been cast in the lead role of Mitch McDeere.[22] On July 12, Entertainment One announced the casting of Callum Keith Rennie as Ray McDeere and Juliette Lewis as Tammy.[10] The addition of Molly Parker as Abby McDeere was announced on July 29.[8] Natasha Calis was cast as Claire McDeere, Mitch and Abby McDeere's daughter. Parker had previously played Calis' mother in the 2011 Lifetime film, Gone.[23] Then, Tricia Helfer and Shaun Majumder were added in recurring roles as Alex Clarke and Andrew Palmer on August 19 and August 22.[11][24] As of 22 August 2011, the show was under production.[25] Although mostly shot in Toronto, the production has included other host cities such as Washington, D.C.[26] As of 3 November 2011, eight of the 22 episodes had been shot, according to Grisham.[27]

On July 19, 2011, CBS filed a lawsuit against Reiter and Entertainment One "for tortious interference with contract, breach of contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" because after CBS declined to commission a series from his script after paying him for it, Reiter reworked it, and Entertainment One agreed to produce it.[28]

Background

Both the novel and the film recount the story of an upstart attorney who unknowingly was hired by an organized crime enterprise's legal team.[13] He became a whistleblower to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and brought down the corrupt Memphis law firm with Chicago mob ties. The TV series begins as the McDeere family emerge from witness protection to encounter old and new challenges.[29] The novel sold seven million copies.[13] The film starring Tom Cruise grossed over $158 million ($333 million in 2024 dollars[30]) domestically and $111 million internationally ($270 million worldwide in 1993 dollars).[31][32] It was the largest grossing R-rated movie of 1993 and of any film based on a Grisham novel.[33] The week the film was released, Grisham and Michael Crichton evenly divided the top six paperback spots on The New York Times Best Seller list.[34]

In reporting about the television series, Bill Keveney of USA Today said, "The book ends with him [Mitch McDeere] on the run, his law career apparently over; the movie ends with him and his wife, Abby, on their way back to Boston, hoping for a new start in life and law." Keveney said that the television show more closely resembles the film in this regard.[14] Mike Hale of The New York Times, however, notes that conflict with the mob "...doesn’t jibe with the film, which ended with his having reached a détente with them while avoiding witness protection." He does note that "It takes a couple of jarring, revisionist flashbacks in the first 10 minutes of the premiere to reconcile these details."[7]

The Firm marks the third television adaptation of a John Grisham novel. The Client was a 1995 adaptation of the 1993 novel of the same name that aired 21 episodes on CBS between September 17, 1995, and April 16, 1996, during the 1995–96 United States television season. Grisham was not credited for the development of that adaptation.[35] The Street Lawyer was a 2003 adaptation of the 1998 novel of the same name that never aired on ABC that was developed for the 2003–04 United States television season.[36] Ford County (2009) is also in development at NBC.[37]

Plot

The 2012 television show picks up on the story of Mitchell Y. McDeere and his family ten years after the fictional setting of the 1991 novel and 1993 film.[1][21] In the original film and book, McDeere helped topple the Memphis law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke that protected a Chicago organized crime syndicate,[38] resulting in mob convictions.[39] When the Chicago mob boss dies in prison, the McDeeres emerge from witness protection to start their new life.[15] The television adaptation attempts to remain true to the conspiracy element of its predecessors.[7] Once McDeere is out of witness protection and building a new law firm, Kinross & Clark, a shady law firm, pushes to acquire McDeere's.[38] Since the McDeeres are strapped for cash, he is tempted by the business prospects of the mysterious firm.[15] Although McDeere's law firm is considered scrappy,[7] he has become leery of being watched, which makes focusing on his job difficult.[38] McDeere has a ten-year-old daughter Claire (Natasha Calis) and he begins the remake in the Washington Metropolitan Area.[14] Mitch's brother and his brother's girlfriend work for his upstart law firm,[14] which works out of a tiny former travel agency office.[40] The first season revolves around a conspiracy and Kinross & Clark's interest in a McDeere client accused of murder.[14] Throughout the season, the deceased mob boss' son seeks revenge on Mitch who was a cause of his father's prison term.[39]

Episodes

Main article: List of The Firm episodes

Broadcast

In May 2011, it was announced that in the United States, The Firm would air during the 2011–12 network television season on Sundays at 10:00 pm. It was intended to premiere as a 2012 mid-season replacement following The Apprentice.[41][42] However, in November 2011, it was announced that in the United States, The Firm would air on Thursdays 10:00 pm. It premiered as a 2012 midseason replacement following Up All Night, taking over the time slot from Prime Suspect. It premiered with a two-hour special on Sunday January 8, 2012 before debuting in its regular one-hour time slot on January 12.[43][44] The premiere drew NBC's worst ratings in the key advertising demographic ever for a regular season drama debut.[45][46] On February 3, 2012, NBC announced that The Firm was being rescheduled to Saturdays at 9/8c, with its original Thursday 10/9c slot being taken by Awake.[2]

In Canada, the show premiered on January 8 and was shown in simulcast with NBC for the first six episodes. With the acquisition of Awake, Shaw has moved The Firm to Saturdays at 10:00 pm on Global, beginning with "Chapter 10" on March 10, 2012. The Firm repeats on Showcase on Friday night, Saturday morning and night, as well as morning and night of the following Tuesday.[47] The series is also shown Sundays on Mystery TV.[48]

With its debut on February 19, The Firm marks the first time that AXN has premiered a show on the same day in all of its markets.[49] The AXN broadcast broadens the shows markets to over 125 territories and countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Central Europe, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Russia, and Spain.[3] Worldwide distribution is handled by Entertainment One, who owns the basic and pay television, broadcast television, and digital/DVD rights for the show outside of AXN markets.[3]

On March 17, 2012, the show was pre-empted by the new NBC reality show Fashion Star for one week.[50][51] On May 4, 2012 NBC announced on the show's Facebook page that they were delaying episode 16 until May 12 due to the holiday Cinco de Mayo.[52] Episode 16 was broadcast in Canada on May 5, resulting in NBC being one week behind the Canadian broadcast.[53]

In May 2012, it was confirmed that NBC would not be continuing with the show beyond the one season.[4]

Ratings

Season Network Timeslot (ET/PT) # Ep. Premiered Ended TV Season Rank Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions) 		Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
1
Global
Thursday 10:00 PM (January 12, 2012 – February 23, 2012)
Saturday 10:00 PM (March 10, 2012 – June 30, 2012)
 22
January 8, 2012
 1.075[54]
June 30, 2012
 0.285[55] 2011–12 TBA TBA
NBC
Thursday 10:00 PM (January 12, 2012 – February 2, 2012)
Saturday 9:00 PM (February 18, 2012 – May 26, 2012)
Saturday 10:00 PM (May 26, 2012 – July 14, 2012)
 6.32[46]
July 14, 2012
 1.72 2011–12 #135[56] 4.36[56]
AXN
Time varies by location
February 19, 2012
TBA
 2012 TBA TBA

Critical review

Prior to its initial airing, Entertainment Weekly critic Melissa Maerz gave the show a B rating, stating that "For a supposed update, The Firm sometimes feels like a relic from a bygone era."[38] However, she notes that McDeere is "an old-school, self-made hero" that you can't help rooting for and that The Firm is a "straightforward, one-man-against-the-system story" of "the scrappy, Everyman lawyer fighting against Big Corruption" that is naturally compelling.[38] The Hollywood Reporter's Tim Goodman describes the show as "a solid if unspectacular story about one of the most unlucky lawyers ever depicted on television." and uses the phrase "Average . . . as a Television Series" in the review title.[39] Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara presents arguments that the show has low prospects for success: "It isn't the flashbacks or muddled storytelling, the liberal white moralizing or ridiculous inconsistencies that threaten to deep-six 'The Firm,' it's the washed-out sepia tone of the legal thriller itself."[20] McNamara does not totally dismiss the possibility that Reiter, the man she says "all but invented the legal thriller derivative", may be able to mold this show into what she calls a "solid procedural hybrid", but questions the demand for such a show in the face of The Good Wife and Damages.[20] Hale complains that the television show is not self-contained: "...if you haven’t seen the film (or read the John Grisham novel on which both are based), the TV show will be especially bewildering."[7] He also complains that the weekly plot "...is notably slight and unbelievable, even for a TV legal drama.."[7] While giving 1.5 out of 4 stars, Robert Bianco of the USA Today claims that the show "is part weekly procedural, part season-long conspiracy, and wholly unsatisfying" and notes that it would not let a chance to present a clichéd moment slip by.[57]

While giving the show two stars, Gail Pennington of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says "'The Firm' is tedious but not terrible; whether it will be watchable depends, one, on how much you like legal procedurals and, two, how the ongoing McDeeres-in-jeopardy plot is handled in future episodes."[58] By way of comparison, she describes the show as "Harry's Law minus all charm" and as a show that "really wants to be Damages circa 2007". She also notes that because of the financing deal, the show is unlikely to be cancelled before the 22-episode run is completed.[58]

Not all the reviews were negative. David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle describes the show as "old-fashioned" in a good way. He speaks highly of things ranging from retro opening credits that he described as slick to the payphone that he mentions as if it is quaint. He also notes that the characters incorporate "nods to classic thrillers of the past" in a manner that is "in keeping with that old-fashioned element that wafts through the show".[40] Wiegand considers the unusual 22-episode investment a safe one because "The cast is appealing and the story line is not only compelling but also deals with fascinating moral complexities."[40]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Hale, Mike (2011-12-29). "A Second Chance for TV's Season". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  2. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (February 3, 2012). "NBC Sends 'Firm' To Saturdays, Schedules New Drama 'Awake' In Thursday 10PM Slot". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Entertainment One Television To Produce TV Series Based On John Grisham's Best-Selling Novel "The Firm" In Partnership With Sony Pictures Television's Networks Groups". eOne Television. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  4. ^ a b "NBC Confirms 'The Firm' Cancellation, Wipes Reality Slate Clean". The Futon Critic. May 13, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "Bios". NBC. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  6. ^ Rice, Lynnette (2011-06-09). "Done deal: Josh Lucas will do 'The Firm' for NBC". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hale, Mike (2012-01-06). "A Lawyer Leaves Witness Protection Because Everything's Fine Now. Right?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  8. ^ a b c "Molly Parker Joins The Cast of THE FIRM". ChannelCanada. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  9. ^ a b "Chapter 22". The Firm. Season 1. Episode 21. 14 July 2012. NBC.
  10. ^ a b c d "EONE's THE FIRM Casts Juliette Lewis and Callum Keith Rennie". ChannelCanada. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  11. ^ a b "Battlestar Galactica Babe Tricia Helfer to Appear in THE FIRM". DaemonsTV. 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  12. ^ Seidman, Robert (2011-08-22). "The Firm Begins Production; Tricia Helfer and Shaun Majumder Join As Guest Stars". tvbythenumbers.com. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  13. ^ a b c d e Hibberd, James (2011-04-29). "NBC in talks for John Grisham's 'The Firm' TV series". CNN. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Keveney, Bill (2012-01-02). "Ten years later, Grisham's 'The Firm' is back on the case". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  15. ^ a b c Albiniak, Paige (2011-12-31). "'Firm' grip: NBC adapts Grisham classic — with a twist". New York Post. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  16. ^ a b "Entertainment One To Produce TV Series Based on John Grisham's Movie THE FIRM" (Press release). ChannelCanada. 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  17. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2011-05-16). "NBC and Global pick up The Firm for midseason 2012". Playback. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  18. ^ "NBC's 'The Firm' To Be Ready For Fall". Deadline Hollywood. Andreeva, Nellie. 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  19. ^ "OMDC MEDIA LIST – July 29, 2011 Productions currently shooting in Ontario". Ontario Media Development Corporation. 2011-07-29. Archived from the original on 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  20. ^ a b c McNamara, Mary (2012-01-07). "Television review: 'The Firm' is now just another legal thriller". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  21. ^ a b Vlessing, Etan (2011-05-16). "NBC's The Firm To Be Shot In Toronto". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  22. ^ "Josh Lucas To Star in New Series THE FIRM". ChannelCanada. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  23. ^ Kovner, Melissa (2011-08-21). "Gone Review". Just Press Play. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  24. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (2011-08-22). "'The Firm': 'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Detroit 187' Duo to Recur: Tricia Helfer and Shaun Majumder join the NBC adaptation of the 1993 feature film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  25. ^ Graziadio, Marissa (2011-08-22). "eOne's The Firm Heads into Production, Adds Guest Stars". WSN INC. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  26. ^ Roberts, Roxanne and Amy Argetsinger (2011-09-13). "'The Firm' films in D.C. — more TV production, stars to come?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  27. ^ Farley, Christopher John (2011-11-03). "Will There Ever Be Another John Grisham? John Grisham Has Some Thoughts". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  28. ^ Belloni, Matthew (2011-07-19). "CBS Sues Writer of NBC's 'The Firm' Claiming Show Was Stolen (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  29. ^ Cahill, Sarah (2011-04-29). "John Grisham's Mitch McDeere Is Back On the Run". Random House, Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  30. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Movies: 'The Firm,' with $31.5 million for the weekend, leads the way. Total movie receipts for the four-day holiday are an estimated $120 million". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  32. ^ "Weekend Box Office : So Far, This Is Summer to Beat". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  33. ^ "The Firm". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  34. ^ Brown, Joe (1993-07-02). "'The Firm' (R)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
  35. ^ "The Client (TV Series 1995–1996)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  36. ^ "The Street Lawyer (TV 2003)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  37. ^ Schneider, Michael (2010-12-06). "Grisham tries his hand at TV again: 'Ford County' series set at NBC". Variety. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  38. ^ a b c d e Maerz, Melissa (2011-12-28). "TV Review: The Firm". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  39. ^ a b c Goodman, Tim (2012-01-06). "Review: 'The Firm' Still Average 20 Years Later as a Television Series: NBC makes law procedural from old book, film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  40. ^ a b c Wiegand, David (2012-01-05). "'The Firm' review: good old-fashioned thrills". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  41. ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (2011-05-15). "NBC overhauls sked with 12 new skeins: Drama back on Thurs; 'Smash' held for midseason". Variety. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  42. ^ Rice, Lynette (2011-05-15). "NBC unveils 2011-12 fall schedule". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  43. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2011-11-14). "NBC To Give 'Harry's Law' Full-Season Order; 'Prime Suspect' Gone?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  44. ^ Gorman, Bill (2011-11-14). "NBC Unveils New Mid-season 2012 Schedule". TVbythenumbers.com. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  45. ^ Rowe, Douglas J. (2012-01-09). "Ratings: The Firm Sets An All-Time Low for an NBC Regular Season Drama". TV Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  46. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (2012-01-10). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Cleveland,' 'Family Guy,' 'American Dad' Adjusted UP + Unscrambled 'The Good Wife,' 'CSI: Miami,' & '60 Minutes'". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  47. ^ "Advertising - Television - Specialty - Schedules - Showcase". Shaw Media. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  48. ^ "Advertising - Television - Specialty - Schedules - Mystery". Shaw Media. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  49. ^ "Sony Pictures Television annuncia 'Il socio'". Millecanali (in Italian). Il Sole 24 Ore. January 11, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  50. ^ Riddle, Michael (2012-03-16). "Get Bent On Wednesday Night!". WITN. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  51. ^ "NBC to Encore Tuesday's "Fashion Star" Premiere This Saturday; USA's "Fairly Legal" the Following Saturday". Futoncritic.com. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  52. ^ "Cinco de Mayo". May 4, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ Brioux, Bill (May 9, 2012). "The Brioux Report: wrong teams, afternoon scheduling has hammered hockey ratings". TV Feeds My Family. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  54. ^ Brioux, Bill (January 11, 2012). "The Brioux Report: World Hockey Beats Bomb Girls and Big Bang Theory". Torstar. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  55. ^ Brioux, Bill (July 4, 2012 (appended in comment on July 9, 2012)). "The Brioux Report: Euro 2012 still tops in Canada". TV Feeds My Family. Retrieved July 9, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (May 24, 2012). "Complete List Of 2011-12 Season TV Show Viewership: 'Sunday Night Football' Tops, Followed By 'American Idol,' 'NCIS' & 'Dancing With The Stars'". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  57. ^ Bianco, Robert (2012-01-05). "New TV adaptation of 'The Firm': Legally bland". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  58. ^ a b Pennington, Gail (2012-01-06). "TV review: 'The Firm,' Sunday on NBC". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
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