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.
NOOOOO!!!! I love Designated Survivor!!! Don’t leave us hanging!!
What? One of the reasons of fans left was because there were long gaps between shows. I am sorry to see it go
I am still in shock over Designated Survivor being cancelled! The episodes were always exciting and suspenseful! Kiefer’s role as president displayed a lot of humility and strength in leading our country thru the issues and challenges that always come up!
As in his previous 24 seasons, Kiefer, had very good actors and incredible action and drama during those shows just like with his Designated Survivor series!
I agree with others here who suggest that other stations like CBS, FOX , NBC or TNT keep this awesome show alive and to stay on the air!
I really enjoyed the show. When the writers aren’t creative enough the show fails. The acting is good and you’re able to see his transition from not sure what to do to being much more secure in what he decides. But as a president you can be totally transparent. The ride is failed the show the acting is very good. But you show more people being adversarial to the president than supportive. So you needed more storyline as you had in the beginning. The show is good it just needed more twists.
Doesn’t leave much left to watch on ABC. Most of what I watch is on CBS. Looks like I’ll just keep my TV on CBS. They have the best programs. Hey abc just add another idiotic comdey or reality show for the 18-49 yr olds! Just remember they grow up too eventually.
This is one of my top three favorites. I am shocked to hear that it did not do well in the ratings. Guess people like reality shows better than a well written mystery. Hope some other network picks it up.
Too bad it’s cancelled. Loved it! Too many good shows get the axe while reality tv ratings skyrocket. The general public should make better tv viewing choices and networks should choose to air quality over quantity.
This is terrible, we loved designated survivor.
ABC, what is wrong with you, love, love this show and you axe it. Hope another network picks it up. Maybe you need your followers to make the decisions since the ones deciding the future of shows know nothing about good shows
Love this show. You can’t let us hanging without knowing what will happen!!
I love this show!! It is one of the shows that we can actually watch.
PLEASE do NOT cancel Designated Survivor!!! It is an excellent show!!!
Do not stop this show – one of best show on TV
Ever since they started making the show about the terrible female agent that was so fake the show started heading down. I loved the show until that point.
Please do bring it back! Someone pick it up if ABC doesn’t recognize what it has. There are many of us who want something else but brainwashing, uninteresting, all-the-same TV!