Profit is an American drama television series that originally aired in 1996 on the Fox Broadcasting Company (Mondays at 9:00 p.m. EST). The series was created by David Greenwalt and John McNamara, who each directed several episodes. It starred Adrian Pasdar as the eponymous lead character Jim Profit. In February 2008, repeat episodes began airing on Chiller (in the USA), and in October 2010 on CBS Action (in Europe)."Profit on CBS Action" from cbsaction.co.uk

Considered by many to have been well ahead of its time, the series was a precursor to the trend of "edgy" TV melodramas (featuring dark themes and multidimensional characters) such as The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad. Controversial themes largely stemming from the lead character's amoral, Richard III-esque ways, made the show uncomfortable and unfamiliar viewing for mainstream U.S. audiences and Fox network affiliates at the time. Combined with low ratings, it resulted in the series' cancellation after just four episodes (including the pilot) aired. In 2013 TV Guide ranked the series #4 on its list of 60 shows that were "Canceled Too Soon", calling the series "shockingly memorable".Roush, Matt (June 3, 2013). "Canceled Too Soon". TV Guide. pp. 20 and 21

Premise Jim Profit is a newly promoted junior-executive at Gracen & Gracen (G&G), a multinational conglomerate that often engages in unethical business practices while actively cultivating a positive public image. G&G's dark side does not bother Profit, who is not above using blackmail, bribery, extortion, or worse to get ahead himself. Jim Profit addresses the audience via voiceover narration and breaking the fourth wall. Raised by an abusive father and step-mother who sexually assaulted him, Profit sees G&G as a family. While obviously affluent and living in a well-furnished luxury penthouse, Profit still goes to bed the same way he did as a child: curled up, naked in the corner of a large G&G shipping box like the one he was raised in.

Characters

Main Jim Profit (Adrian Pasdar) – born James "Jimmy" Stakowski, he was raised in a cardboard G&G shipping box (with a hole cut out for him to view a constantly-on television) by a neglectful, physically and psychologically abusive father in a rural area near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Profit reinvents himself as an Ivy League-educated, corporate business prodigy after escaping his past by chaining his father to his bed, setting it afire, then fleeing the family ranch as a teenager. His upbringing leaves Profit with a hatred of TV, and idolizing Gracen & Gracen as the ideal family he never had. As a result, Profit's goal as an adult is to rise high enough in G&G to indispensably embed himself into the Gracens’ business and personal lives – by any means necessary. He worked in auditing before ascending to junior vice president of Acquisitions; his stated goal is to become president of Acquisitions. He climbs the corporate ladder by covertly engineering the ruin of those who stand in his way and/or refuse to assist him, while mostly staying behind-the-scenes himself. Joanne Meltzer (Lisa Zane) – Profit's archenemy and G&G's obsessive, crusading West Coast chief of security. She had a short-lived affair with Jack Walters while his wife had temporarily run off with a lover. She remains loyal to and friendly with Jack, admiring his decent and ethical nature – even after he reconciles with his wife (who openly resents her). Jack's spectacular downfall (engineered by Profit) along with parallels in the natures of Profit and her older sister (who raised but also brutally abused her) are key forces driving her to expose and stop Profit. A former police detective and "fanatical in pursuit of a goal", the ever-suspicious Meltzer constantly tries to figure out and foil Profit's plans, but is oftentimes a step behind her nemesis. She admires Jeffrey Sykes for his sterling morals, and perceives him as able to outsmart and defeat Profit. Charles Henry "Chaz" Gracen (Keith Szarabajka) – G&G's no-nonsense, paranoid, violently short-tempered chief executive officer. Although he takes a different mistress each year, making money is his only love. To clients and all outsiders to G&G he convincingly pretends to be soft-spoken, friendly and patient. Though usually agitated and curt, Chaz occasionally displays a dark, passive-aggressive sense of humor, constantly berates his brother, and bitterly chafes at working in the long shadow of his meddling father/boss, G&G's founder and chairman emeritus of the G&G board of directors. Pete Gracen (Jack Gwaltney) – Chaz's younger brother, and the senior vice president of Acquisitions. A longtime alcoholic, Pete secretly wants Chaz's approval – and to be president of Acquisitions, or even CEO – despite being impotent, immature, and apparently incompetent. Drunken stupors, often in public with family, are frequent sources of embarrassment and humiliation for Pete. Nora Gracen (Allison Hossack) – Pete's insecure, emotionally fragile, lonely trophy wife. Trusting and desperate for the love and sense of purpose that her failing husband can no longer provide, she becomes hopelessly obsessed with Profit, after he seduces her but then (intentionally) ends their affair just before physically consummating it. Nora regards Profit as a close friend, confidant, and kindred spirit; Profit strings her along by continuing to build intimacy between them, then restating that he wants to be "just friends" whenever she tries to act on her attraction to him. She harbors unhealed emotional wounds from a childhood tragedy. Gail Koner (Lisa Darr) – Profit's resourceful, morally conflicted secretary (originally Jack Walters' secretary), and primary henchperson. Initially, Profit blackmails Gail into assisting him in his schemes; however, she feels increasingly loyal (and/or obligated) to Profit, as he rewards her service with extravagant favors (e.g., saving her job, hiding her embezzlement, and arranging for vastly upgraded – and fully paid – nursing home care for her seriously ill mother). She may be the only character that Profit has any genuine human connection with. Profit takes pride as he guides Gail in developing her skills in duplicity. Profit seems interested in her mother's well-being, and after Gail is passed over for promotion (yet again), he promises to mold her into "executive material." Bobbi Stakowski (Lisa Blount) – Profit's hedonistic, temperamental step-mother (his father's 2nd wife), and occasional lover (who seduced and molested him during his socially isolated, early adolescence). A shrewd-yet-unpredictable drug abuser, con woman and former prostitute, Bobbi repeatedly tries to blackmail Profit (with threats of exposing evidence of his true background and past crimes – including murder) into financing a luxurious, effort-free lifestyle for her. Jeffrey Sykes (Sherman Augustus) – a litigious corporate law attorney and G&G's newly hired vice president of Business Affairs. A highly driven, P.R.-savvy do-gooder, Sykes takes a more directly antagonistic approach to Profit and is warmly welcomed by Joanne Meltzer as an ally. Sykes is single-mindedly committed to a secret, personal agenda that repeatedly – but sometimes unwittingly – disrupts Profit's schemes.

Recurring and guests Jack Walters (Scott Paulin) – G&G's former President of Acquisitions. Elizabeth Gracen-Walters (Jennifer Hetrick) – Jack's (recovering) alcoholic wife; cousin of "Chaz" and Pete. Constance Gracen (Teryl Rothery) – Chaz's estranged wife. Dr. Jeremy Batewell (John Hawkes) – a former G&G employee who sexually harassed Gail Koner. "Kelly Hunt"/Carol McKenna (Jessica Tuck) – Profit's female equivalent.

Episodes

Critical reception The critical response to Profit at the time of its debut was overwhelmingly positive. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 94% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 9.0/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Unapologetically amoral and headlined by an unnerving Adrian Pasdar, Profit pays off handsomely as outrageous entertainment."

Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times called Profit "... rip-roaring, sinus-clearing, bold and wonderful."Rosenberg, Howard. "Will Viewers Cozy Up to Naked Ambition in Sinfully Rich Profit?", Los Angeles Times, April 8, 1996. Accessed July 30, 2013. Tom Gliatto of People magazine said of Profit: "Refreshingly cruel, Fox's Profit is the most exciting new show I've seen this year."Gliatto, Tom. Picks & Pans: Main Tube, People, April 8, 1996. Accessed July 30, 2013. John J. O'Conner from The New York Times called Profit "one of the most intriguing shows to come along since Twin Peaks ..."Meisler, Andy. The Man Behind Nice Jim Rockford Now Gives the World Evil Jim Profit, The New York Times, April 21, 1996. Accessed July 30, 2013. Joyce Millman of salon.com stated: "Profit gains heft ... from its nervy satiric vision of corporate capitalist culture." Eric Mink from The New York Daily News stated "Jim Profit may well be the most unremittingly evil character ever to serve as the protagonist and principal voice of a network TV series. Next to Profit, Dallas' J.R. Ewing is as menacing as Babe the Pig." Entertainment Weekly included Profit in its "Ten Best TV Shows for 1996" list at position #8.

Controversy and cancellation Despite numerous positive critical reviews and intense industry buzz, Profit was canceled after only 5 out of the 9 hours produced were actually broadcast by Fox.Graham, Renee. "Loss of 'Profit' Deals a Blow to TV", Deseret News, June 19, 1996. Accessed July 30, 2013. Low Nielsen ratings were cited as the official cause; Profit ranked 138th of 160 shows for 1996 and suffered from viewer tune-out during the airing of the 2-hour pilot episode. Other factors that may have hastened Profit’s demise include:

Viewers reportedly flooded their local Fox network affiliates with phone calls objecting to Jim Profit’s immoral actions, some even referring to him as "Satan in a Suit";Endrst, James. "A Season Finale After a Nine-Year Wait", The New York Times, August 13, 2005. Accessed July 30, 2013. such opinions were most vociferously expressed by viewers in the Bible Belt region of the southern USA."3:16 'Profit' Musings" Some Fox network affiliates even threatened to pre-empt Profit in their local markets, replacing it with alternative programming. Members of the business community were outraged that Profit portrayed them so poorly. Shaifali Puri of Fortune said: "Just in case there's anyone left who isn't convinced corporate America is a den of naked ambition and bald turpitude, comes now (the TV show) Profit." It was rumored that even Fox network founder Rupert Murdoch objected to the show's edgy portrayal of corporate America, although Adrian Pasdar was quoted as saying that Profit was Murdoch's favorite TV show.