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.
The problem isn’t the show. it’s the late time it airs on a weekday. 8 or 9 PM would have boosted ratings significantly.
We love the show and watched every episode
Very dad if it does not return!
I watched every show. I love it. It is an awesome show. I cannot believe it is being canceled. I am so disappointed and sad. I would have watched every show in season 3.
THAT STINKS!!! we love this show. It was very interesting… actually had plot made sense great acting. very entertaining. Please renew
I watched every episode in both seasons. I would definitely have watched season 3. Loved the show…..sad now.
i loved the show so sad
I am amazed this was cancelled. I’m not sure that I can support ABC in this, the show was a must watch for our whole family.
i like designated survivor it is a good show on abc it should be renewed
I can’t believe Designated Survivor has been cancelled. I have to see it on Neflix because I live out of the country. It is not about vampires or fantasy situations but actually might increase your vocabulary and give you some food for thought. I guess that is why it is being cancelled. Please pick it up Neflix.
it was a great show with emotions, thrilling developments. and great characters
Please please keep it.
So sad to see Designated Survivor go! It seems like most of the good shows can’t survive! I’m done getting engrossed in new series just to have them disappear or be cancelled.
I sure hope someone with a little bit of common sense picks this show up. One of the great ones!
Typical ABC. It’s a great show, so they cancel it. Remember Last man Standing?
My family and I love Designated Survivor. We watched a DVR of it, but we still watched it. I hope ABC changes their minds. It’s a great show! Or I hope another network picks it up, like Fox picked up Last Man Standing. Ultimately, I think this is another bad decision by ABC.
It was just nice to see a weekly dose of Hope. To see an idealized view of what a president should be.