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.
One of the best shows on tv. I need to know what happens please bring back season 3!
Please please someone pick this show up. NETFLIX?
Please someone pick this show up and do a season 3. Netflix?
I can not believe it was cancelled. It was brilliant. I loved it. Please bring it back. I actually had great acting compar d to many shows that have not been cancelled.
I cannot believe that this show had low ratings! I, like so many other viewers watched this wonderful show religiously every week! If I couldn’t be home to watch it, I’d have it set up to record it while I’m gone. I am so disappointed to see that end; there isn’t anything worthwhile watching on TV anymore, and very depressing!!! Please bring this show back!
This is ridiculous!! Loved this show and all the characters!! Prerecorded every episode so I wouldn’t miss it. I hope your numbers show DVR set recording as ratings as well. If ABC doesn’t want it I hope they let Netflix receive it!!
Love tv programs like this where no one is using such foul language in every sentence. The show keeps you watching for the next crisis. The good shows are always cancelled. Example: last man standing. Keep this up and no one will be watching tv.
Since this show was cancelled I have decided to cancel my cable.
Netflix is trying to save it but the biggest obstacle is that hulu owns the streaming rights for the show in the us and canada.
So please contact hulu and ask them to give the streaming rights to netflix.
I just loved that show. I am so angry that it has been cancelled.
i loved that show and the interplay, one of the best of it’s type, please give it another chance….CANNOT stand network comedy, at all!!! Please renew Designated Survivor .
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR & Timeless & General Hospital are only decent shows your poor excuse of a network has. Your news stinks like rotten eggs. Dancing is pathetic.
This was a really good, intelligent show with an inside look at the workings of the presidency and other government entities. Very disappointed over this cancellation.
I am so disappointed….this was one of our favourite shows too- and we pvred it every week so we didn’t miss it…..big fans of the team on Designated Survivor…..it always bothers me when the networks who court viewers to watch and be loyal to their shows, don’t show the same respect back when they cancel a show without closing off the story….there are many of us who would at least like to see some episodes to give this story and proper ending.
I am very upset.. I loved this show.. So sad… Finally a good show and they cancel it…
This was one of our top five shows which we regularly watched. I don’t understand how ABC prime time is managed. It’s just not been good for years. I suspect there was behind-the-scenes drama on set…