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.
Another good show being cancelled, but yes, keep the crappy ones. To leave the ending the way it was left adds further insult to your viewers; at least let your viewers see some sort of ending that doesn’t leave so many loose ends. Also, what is with the demographic ending at 49?!?! In the age of unprecedented centenarians, do networks who use these ratings HONESTLY believe that people over 49 no longer watch prime-time shows?! How completely ignorant.
No way!!!! I have watched this from Day 1… This is a great show with great actors that are telling a wonderful story. It could happen and I love the way everyone handles all situations. It makes my heart race and I sit on the edge for the outcome. I do hope that ABC will change their minds. I have not missed an episode and have both years on my DVR. Please bring on more Designated Surviour. Please don’t cancel this intriguing and exciting show. The audience needs Season Three PLEASE! Thank you and looking forward to Season Three PLEASE!
Yes I would like designated survivor to be renewed by ABC or another channel that I have Netflix costs a lot in canada
This is really disappointing! This was a show that both my wife and I enjoyed together. It was a quite different set of circumstances of a storyline. Wow it is always seems too bad when we like a show! We seem to doom it to survival.
I loved this show! Hate to hear it’s been cancelled! It’s one of three drama series I watched on ABC. Now I’m down to 1 since Scandal ended.
I can’t believe it’s gone… I love Designated Survivor. A good story, narrative, interesting conceps and overall the greatest series of all I’ve watched. It was literally the first choise when searching what series i was going to watch. I hope in a future that this serie could be renewed <3
#Make_Season_3_happen
#Designated_Survivor_For_Ever
This is the only show that me and my husband watch together. We are so very sad to see it go. Great actors, great story. Only the good shows seem to go off.
The only show I look forward to is Designated Survivor, what a bad decision to cancel this quality show…..seems like ABC wants to keep the dumb shows and cancel the superb.
We love this show. So well written, great actors…actually wish President Kirkland was our REAL president….so caring , intelligent and understanding. Wish the network would reconsider!
I love this show. Extremely well written. I really hate all the reality shows. ABC should wake up and not cancel this show
It is my favorite show on television, and the only one I watch on ABC. I’m sorry to hear that it is cancelled. Hopefully Netflix will pick it up.
I would absolutely watch season 3 one of my favourite shows, love Keifer Sutherland
They get a excellent show on, then they want to cancel it they should cancel some of those other crap shows
Big mistake. I am finished with ABC.
Not at all sure why I am surprised. Find a well written show with a great cast and it’s gone. Who are the double digit IQ folks with the Neilsen boxes? Big
mistake. I plan to shift my viewing to other stations.