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.
I liked Designated Survivor and am sorry to see it go. Another good show gone…
Another great show cancelled. This is an interesting and intriguing show. It’s for intelligent people. Maybe that is why ABC cancelled because they are idiots.
ABC cancels another good show. What losers are calling the shots over at ABC? They keep shooting themselves in the foot. Designated Survivor and The Crossing were two of the only ABC shows my family likes and watches regularly. We’ve grown so tired of the typical sitcoms with their silly laugh-tracks. If you need a laugh-track to clue the audience in as to when to laugh, it ain’t good comedy. So now, ABC’s cancelled another good show. My family liked this show along with The Crossing and Ten Days in the Valley. That’s three shows we liked that are now… Read more »
I watch very few ABC shows. This is one I really like. It’s amazing how quality shows seem to lose out to reality shows and those without merit. This could be why so many people are switching to cable stations, etc. I truly hope you reconsider your decision to cancel Designated Survivor.
I hate it that they are taking Designated Survivor off. I seems like the shows I like are the ones they remove. Why watch any of them. When you get attached they are gone.
I am very upset over the decision to cancel Designated Survivor! It is one of the few shows I watch and I look forward to every Wednesday nights episode! Please reconsider your decision!!!
Of all the shows on tv that are garbage, running season after season and THIS one gets cancelled?My favorite and the best show on television and they cancel it? They must be crazy! I am fed up with getting involved and time invested into a great program, great cast only to have it cancelled. EVERYONE i know are fans of DESIGNATED SURVIVOR!
To bad you are pulling the show. I know it is far from what really happens in the White House but I, for one, think it is the way it should be. A president with integerity? Na. But you wish it would be
Don’t know what will be taking place for DS, but don’t really care as I will not be watching it. You get us hooked on a great series & then cancel it. Go figure.
Please Please don’t cancel this one its clean clever deep everything you want to see and watch in a tv series, you cant keep cancelling these programmes once you get us started please.
We love Desinated Survivor You didn’t count us !!! Watch it every, week don’t miss it
Please reconconciter DONT CANCELL
LOVE THE PEOPLE ON DESINATED SUVIVOR !!!!
What annoys me the most is these US networks do not look at international figures and what kind of following these programs have. DS was doing fantastic on Netflix in the UK was consistantly pulling in massive figures. Had a massive following and even saying that 4.5 million rating in U.S is awesome considering most people don’t have the time to watch a show when it airs. Thats why platforms loke Netflix are awesome. I am hoping Netflix pick up DS for a 3rd series. Considering #savedesignatedsurvivor and #renewdesignatedsurvivor and #pleasestepinNetflix were all trending for hours over weekend. Time these… Read more »
That’s a shame. It had the necessary drama to remain on the air. Love the the president always found a way
It’s sickening when u find a show u love and it’s cancelled. They r certainly not counting my house.
I love Designated Survivor. Consider it to be one of the best shows on TV and very disappointed it has been canceled.