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.
Liked this show. I always recorded it. Hope that doesn’t affect the ratings. Hope it comes back.
Put the show back on!!! You can’t leave us hanging like that!!!
This is the only show I watched on network TV. Very disappointed. No other shows on ABC worth watching.
Really you are canceling Desinated Survivor I look so forward to this show and it has a great storyline. Keiffer Sutherland is fantastic in this role. We have to get a reason for what Emily was doing with the Russian Agenr. Come on Best show on TV.
watched every week, very disappointed
Designated Survivor was one of my favorite shows. I will miss it. Hope some other network will pick it up to continue the series.
loved this show soooo sad its over!!!!!!!!
Really enjoyed this show. The plot was always intriguing with a moral ending. So sad to se this go. The show was up against popular shows on other networks
I thought Designated Survivor was a smart well acted show. I am sad that it never seemed to catch on. I hope that the CW or Netflix or Fox picks it up for the Fall or Spring even on a limited run.
Loved, loved this show. Why do the networks cancel these wonderful shows and leave the dribble on for yrs & yrs. Yes, we did record for future viewing but why should that matter? The major networks wonder why the are losing viewership, this is the answer. Bring Designated Survivor back!!!!!!!
I love this show and want more
My hubby and I would have cotinued watching too. We have been recording each week and kept up with it. I am sorry to hear it is being cancelled.
Would definitely have continued watching it! DVR was always set to record this show. Can’t believe they’re leaving it so unfinished.
Very sad to hear that Designated Survivor has been cancelled. It’s one of the best dramas on tv. What a terrible way to end a show the way this series finale ended. Very disrespectful to the actors, and even more so to the audience. Bad deal all the way around.
I concur!
Designated survivor is my favorite show. I always DVR it because it comes on at 10p. It is the only show I look forward to. I am really disappointed that we won’t get to the bottom of the final scene on May 16. All I can say is this is very disappointing to me. Designated survivor is the only major network show that I watch or DVR and watch asap. I am extremely disappointed.