Earlier this month, the popular NBC TV series Harry’s Law was cancelled after only two seasons.
As one blogger put it, NBC cancelled Harry’s Law, one of its few hits of the season, simply for the crime of “skewing old” – that is, for appealing to the “wrong” audience:
Harry Law’s ended up averaging 8.9 million viewers per episode before the ax swung… NBC’s overall prime-time average this season is 7.4 million viewers, and that’s with the Super Bowl factored in. In other words, Harry’s exceeded that average by 1.5 million viewers…. But in the only audience estimate networks care about…that would be advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds…Harry averaged a piddling 1.8 million of those “desirable” viewers. But don’t the old folks at home deserve at least one show they can call their own?
“When a network says, ‘We’re getting rid of our most-watched show because those viewers are too old and advertisers don’t like that,’ let’s keep in mind that…advertisers shouldn’t be stuck towards the 18-49 demographic,” wrote another blogger. “Those 50+’ers probably purchase more products than the 18-49 demographic. To count them out because of their age is just bad marketing.”
Read more about Harry’s Law at the official NBC website.
Join one organization’s fight to save Harry’s Law on Facebook.
Have you watched Harry’s Law?
What quality TV or movies can you recommend for older viewers?
Obligation is something we make up. It is instead of saying no, when you listen carefully you will hear the VN groan, oh NO, not that again. I strongly suspect women (especially) are raised to be too polite. My experience is: 
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I was disappointed to hear about Harry’s Law being cancelled. The ‘up to the minute’ cases were better than any I’d seen in a while. Kathy Bates is great in the part, but I wasn’t thrilled about the glamour girls surrounding her.
It almost seemed like Hollywood got it right this time by portraying a 60-something female attorney with gray hair and some vices such as drinking and smoking pot. But, unfortunately, they just couldn’t resist throwing in the long-legged, size zero, hot chicks to distract us. I mean, really, it’s been a while since I’ve been on jury duty, but I don’t remember ever seeing a female attorney wearing a skirt that barely covered her behind.
I agree, American televison is still afraid to cater to the older audience just like women’s magazines rarely recognize boomer women unless it’s to honor them for still being sexy at 60.
If anybody watches British TV, you’ll see that Hollywood copies them all the time, but falls short by not having enough balls to show real people with flaws, bad habits, and uncapped teeth.
No wonder America is so screwed up when the media caters to the perfect person who doesn’t exist.
Okay, I hadn’t heard Harry’s Law was being cancelled. That truly is a shame. I loved the quirkiness of the show. It helps that I absolutely love Kathy Bates as an actress and have loved her in every movie she has graced us with. I always say to my partner, I’d love to be a lawyer like her, full of vim and vigor and oh, so knowledgeable. Yes, she is a character but it also shows society that ‘older’ lawyers have their value.
I will miss the show. As for it screaming ‘old’ very wrong. It is full of young lawyers doing their thing and who does society think the young laywers learn from……older, wiser and more experienced lawyers.
Our television stations will put on shows like Toddlers and Tiaras, which is a pathetic and disgraceful show. What ‘it’ teaches our young girls; creating very high maintenance young ladies, dressing too ‘old’ for their age. Is it any wonder little girls get in trouble?
Now, for me I’d much rather watch a program with a bit of spunk, intelligence and fun like Harry’s Law….I’d be embarassed to be a fan of “Toddlers and Tiaras”.
Seriously….what is wrong with our society?
Oh no! Say it isn’t so! I love this show and I will miss it terribly. It’s so reminiscent of Boston Legal (both were created by David Kelly) which also starred a number of “outside the prized demographic” icons…but I guess Boston Legal lasted longer because its stars were men rather than one aging, plump, very hip, very real-to-us strong woman character. Just goes to show that the ‘old boys network’ is still running the show, regardless of what women viewers (who usually hold the pursestrings!) think. Two thumbs down to NBC.
think I will find the show- watch it and check out the sponsers and then boycott the products advertised.
I wrote to NBC and told them they should hire some marketers that could read demographics. Maybe some group more intelligent will pick up the show.
I love that show although I must admit it took me a bit of time to warm up to it. The acting is really good, there is humour and pathos and a funny kind of morality about it and it makes me think and judge myself. Wonder how many people complaining about the cancellation it would take to make them think about keeping it going.
And I am just so sick of reality tv which isn’t real! Just a bunch of fools letting the world view their idiocy while the producers egg them on to be more obnoxious.
The advertisers don’t realize that the 50 somethings of today are not stereotypical old people … we’re active, intelligent and appreciate good TV … Bring Harry’s Law back!! (btw, I’m 64)
I didn’t feel “old” until I realized that at 57 I no longer counted! I enjoyed Kathy Bates performances and the story lines. Bring Harry’s Law back! :(
I liked this show too. I also liked Memphis Beat, which also got canned. Yet they leave on the shows that I can’t imagine anyone enjoying.