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.
Please do not cancel
It is one of the best shows on TV
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO KEEP IT ON THE AIR
I need season 3, too many unanswered questions! Emily for one?!?
Designated Survivor is a magnificent TV Show…It should continue.
Loved the show. So many shows that require a brain seem to have been cancelled. How sad. i will miss this show a lot. But the worst offense isn’t that so many good shows seem to have been cancelled without giving them a chance by switching nights or times to see if it survives in different time slots–but the worst thing is that these shows with intricate plots leave the audience in limbo–even 4 million is a lot of people to dissappoint by not giving the shows a decent ending. Its bad enough that the show was cancelled but it… Read more »
Loved the show. So sad it was cancelled. We would definitely keep watching
No!! I was really looking forward to Season 3. Too bad-I felt it gave some insight to the White House
This show is so much better than West Wing ever was. Sutherland has really come into his own on this show. Too many things are unresolved to let it go.
Please bring this back. Adult drama, great acting, current subject matter….wish Trump would watch it to see how to act. Best show on tv….we need to see season 3 to resolve things.
Thoughtful and suspenseful! Good characters; have always liked Keifer Sutherland. Please do all that can be done to bring it back!
I’m disappointed in ABC. new shows will get spike ratings and there will be dropping,but not the time to cancel maybe revamp. Remember the show 24 Mr Surthland can remain President.
This is my favorite show; I look forward to it every week. I hope ABC reconsiders.
Say it ain’t so! This is such a great show. The writing is so crisp and sharp, a real shame to lose such a quality show. Maybe a rethink on ABC’s part would bring it back, or another network will see the rationale in picking it up and bring it back to life. Let’s hope.
I am definitely a huge fan of this show! Thought it was great and really looked forward to it every week. Am sad that this was cancelled… apparently not enough sex and violence! Saddens me!!
I loved the show and am so disappointed.
This was a horrible way to end the series, what’s the deal ??? Same as 24 Series with Keifer Sutherland, that ended with us hanging on. What’s wrong with these writers, are they in Dreamworld and never wake up ??? Please rethink this cancellation, why not cancel other programs that don’t make much sense in our present world.