Network: ABC, Netflix
Episodes: 53 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: September 21, 2016 — June 7, 2019
Series status: Cancelled by ABC, Revived by Netflix, Cancelled by Netflix
Performers include: Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett, Tanner Buchanan, Kal Penn, and Maggie Q.
TV show description:
This political thriller series follows what happens when an unlikely person becomes the leader of the free world.
Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is a lower-level Cabinet member, the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He’s the “designated survivor” to the current administration, an individual in the presidential line of succession who is at a distant and secure location when the President and the country’s other top leaders are gathered at a single location.
On the night of the State of the Union address, an unprecedented attack claims the lives of the President and all other members of the Cabinet. Kirkman is immediately sworn in as President, unaware that the attack is just the beginning of what is to come.
He struggles to keep the country and his own family from falling apart — while navigating the highly-volatile political arena and leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.
Seth Wright (Kal Penn) is Kirkman’s speechwriter and he has strong doubts about his boss’ abilities to lead the nation. FBI agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) investigates the attack and believes that there’s more to come from the perpetrators. She clashes with FBI Deputy Director Jason Atwood (Malik Yoba).
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Aaron Shore (Adan Canto) advises the new President following the attack.
A career military man, Admiral Chernow (Mykelti Williamson) is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who becomes one of the new President’s most trusted advisors. Emily Rhodes (Italia Ricci) is Kirkman’s former Chief of Staff and a close friend of his family.
Kirkman’s wife is EEOC attorney Alex Kirkman (Natascha McElhone) and their children are teenager Leo (Tanner Buchanan) and young daughter Penny (Mckenna Grace). Mike Ritter (LaMonica Garrett) is Kirkman’s Secret Service agent who’s charged with protecting the family following the attack.
Episode #53 — #truthorconsequences
On election day, Kirkman turns to his therapist to assuage his conscience about the events — and his own decisions — of the momentous prior 36 hours.
First aired: June 7, 2019.
What do you think? Do you like the Designated Survivor TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?
I enjoyed Designated Survivor. Action-packed, reality of a family in the White House. Wish it had not been cancelled. I will definitely follow the program if it moves to Netflix. ABC blew that one for cancelling.
Designated Survivor was a good show. Yes, a couple of mid-season 2 episodes lacked some content, but It picked up again in the last few episodes. ABC doesn’t know how to look ahead anyway.
Start to like a well produced show and it gets cancelled!! Meanwhile shows like Survivor, The Goldbergs, The Bachelor, and Big Brother endure. Makes no sense at all!!
This show had so much potential but I lost interest quickly, especially Sutherlands whispery dialogue. It got annoying and made the POTUS look like a complete wuss.
Love this show. So upset your cancelling it
The show Designated Survivor. Is riveting. It kept me wanting to identify with how I would want to support my country.
Lots of excitement.
Please don’t cancel it.
I could not believe the news of the cancellation of this show. It was the only series show I watched! One of my all time favorites.
The only reason this show should be cancelled (or skip a year and then return) is if 24 is coming back with Kiefer Sutherland.
Amen! I enjoyed 24 more than any serial TV program. I know that the time frame was ridiculous and some of the plots were impossible (like blowing up reactors remotely) but it was sure fun to watch.
I agree.
Really hope you bring this show back!
I think its a mistake to xanxel this show. I found it very entertaining and was looking forward to another season.
I really love the show and I absolutely love “Jack Bauer” I think the content is extremely clever and the writers should go back to the writers room and channel there inside informer / full disclosure / exposure! It also allows the American’s to relate to the White House in a more human way! How can you go wrong with that angle! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE SHOW!
Please bring it back!
Nirvana
Cape Town
South Africa
This show was great! It was constantly being taken off when it was supposed to be showing, which made it very hard to know when it was going to be shown. Because The Olympics were on they canceled the show for a couple of weeks and did not advertise enough for the followers to know when it was coming back on. You have said that the ratings were not bad but there were other reasons for canceling the show. For political reasons. REALLY! Let the public decide if it’s to close to what is going on with our politics. IT… Read more »
I don’t know what you people are thinking…this was a good show!! Was it because it was a pro-government show…I think this show doesn’t meet your pro liberal agenda!! SHAME! FAKE NEWs!!
Love the show, was one of my fav
I’m so sorry to see this show get cancelled and then to see Will and Grace not get cancelled. SMH!!!
Because W&G fits their liberal agenda!! Fake news!!
totally agree! and because ABC is slanted in their views and has now cancelled most all of my shows, I CANCELLED ABC……They don’t know how to run a network.