Designated Survivor has not survived, sadly. Today, it was revealed that ABC has cancelled the TV show after two seasons. *Update below.
The political drama centers on Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), a low-level cabinet member who becomes President of the United States after a massive attacked on the capitol. The cast also includes Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, LaMonica Garrett, Kal Penn, Maggie Q, Malik Yoba, Paulo Costanzo, Zoe McLellan, Ben Lawson, Tanner Buchanan, and Mckenna Grace.
Designated Survivor: A Look at the Ratings
Designated Survivor debuted strong in 2016, but the ratings have waned in its sophomore year. So far, season two is averaged a 0.71 rating in the 18-49 demo and 3.95 million viewers, making it one of ABC‘s lower-rated TV shows for the 2017-2018 season in the demo.
The show could easily have been cancelled but the network renewed it, likely hoping that the ratings would rise in year two. They went in the opposite direction. In the demo, the ratings dropped 43% year-to-year and 32% in viewers.
The May 16th episode will now serve as the defacto series finale.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Designated Survivor? Are you sad to see the series go? Would you have watched season three?
9/5/18 update: Designated Survivor was cancelled by ABC but Netflix later ordered season three.
Read this today and am very disappointed. The show was good and kept me coming back each week. They should have given us at least one more season. I liked the actors and their characters. If they can give Scandal 7 seasons then why are theya cancelling this show after two seasons? I will never understand the TV execs thinking. Just when I finally found 3 good shows on Wednesday to watch..Supernatural, Arrow, and then Designated Survivor. I may never watch ABC after this call.
So disappointed to hear this. Finally something decent to watch. I guess back to Netfix.
We liked the program in the beginning. It had an intriguing plot. After a while, though, it seemed to became just another White House drama series. After a few episodes into the second season, we lost interest. Besides, it’s hard to compete with the real-life drama coming out of the real White House these days.
Very sorry to see it go, was our favorite. Please put on another junk comedy
So very sorry to hear this..really liked this show, and enjoyed seeing it on Wednesday nights. Wish ABC would reconsider.
Sorry it is cancelled. It is one of our favorite shows. We would have watched a Season 3, for sure.
Honestly I loved the show but the network kept pulling it after abbreviate number of shows and I never saw any ads or banners telling me it was back on in 2018 so I thought the network had quietly buried it — I blame the network for making its seasons so fragmented! That’s the reason the show lost it’s fan base.
We loved Designated Survivor and certainly would have continued to watch season 3. Looks like that won’t happen now. We especially liked the Hanna Wells character. The plot stayed engaging and as TV goes today it was a clean show.
ABC had better take a look at their plans because their viewers will not like being left hanging with the end of the series .
Poor judgement ABC.
I’m very sad.. it was my favorite show right now… just love Kiefer Sutherland
This was a great show with great acting and compelling story lines. I wonder why nobody watched it.
I really liked Designated Survivor. I am sad to see it go; however I know if it went to another network I would not watch. Only because I watch ABC all the time and have shows I watch from 8 – 11 pm every night except Saturday. I will miss it.
What a shame… this is a very well written, acted and produced show that deserves another season.
Oh darn, that was my favourite political show. If ABC cancelled that show, what if CBS carries that show on?
Liked this show…Hope it lands on another network or Netflix or Amazon. It was barely out of the gate.