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.
Finally, we had a show about intrigue without violence. Now what do we watch? More drivel that erodes the brains of America? Kiefer, find another show that we can watch with thinking involved.
I loved this show. Keifer Sutherland was amazing as usual. It survived ABC putting it up against the most highly rated shows and i thought was doing decent. Big mistake cancelling ABC.
I love the show. I can’t believe this would be cancelled when there are so many trash shows like Bachelor and Bachelorette (insult to women all over the world). I guess any show that actually show compassion and the truth in politics without BASHING the Trump or doesn’t side with HATE mongering gets canned. Glorification of criminals (Empire) that show bad is right…those need to be cancelled. Tried of the dumb down shows.
I’m heart broken as one of the best TV series is being scrapped.Please could another network pick it up?
So crap “reality” soaps are all we are allowed to see on TV, but a decent drama like DS is cancelled, like so many others before this? No wonder people turn to alternatives for a good tv show. Why even pay for a subscription if all the networks want on TV are stupid reality crap?
Perhaps another network can pick it up.
This series failed when the writers killed his wife and took his children out of the equation. The second season was not up to par for me. Not sorry to see Designated Survivor end.
I can’t believe DS has been cancelled. Yet junk has been kept. What are you thinking?
Renew pls!
What a mistake! Needs to be brought back.
What’s wrong with ABC? This show never had a chance at 10:00 pm. Please give it a chance at an earlier time slot. Maybe ABC should find someone else to make time slot decisions, I’m retired so I don’t have a problem with the time slot but I believe the ratings would be much better at 9:00 pm.
Nooooo! One of the best dramas on TV. So disappointed that ABC cancelled this show!
Breaks my heart!
very enjoyable show. Would watch as many seasons as they could make
So sad. Our favorite show