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?
Bring it back. What’s wrong with you guys. Very good show. You are canceling the wrong show
Loved this program so was so sad to see it canceled! BRING IT BACK!
Loved this show, and can’t believe it’s been cancelled. So sick of “reality” TV. Seems the newest shows are all about Marvel Comic characters, for which I care nothing. What’s the rationalization for cancelling an interesting show with consistently good episode ratings? Not happy.
So darn tired of good shows getting the axe and replaced with crap unreality shows. ABC is going to lose a lot of viewers if they keep this up.
We really enjoyed this program and never missed an episode. What a real shame that great shows like this are cancelled in favor or junk tv programming. ABC is notorious for putting on shows that are just awful and getting rid of shows that intelligent people actually watch! Wake up ABC not everyone wants to see the garbage you’re giving us.
My very favorite show! Please bring it back.
We loved this show. Was very disappointed to hear it being cancelled. We watch very few shows on TV anymore and two of our favorites are cancelled. This was one of the few shows that actually had substance. The reality shows are a total waste of my time. Will bypass TV altogether if it comes to that being the only thing on TV anymore.
Designated Survivor is one of the best shows on TV. Leave it to the opinion of network tv to decide for the viewing public and cancel all the best shows that come along. This is one of the most intelligent written scripts and good acting. But of course , the networks know better than me. Keep all the worthless sitcoms like Big Bang Theory and air it almost nonstop!! What a joke!!
HInt: Might try another evening other than Wednesday, but of course the other nights are non-stop stupid so-called reality shows???
We loved the series and was very disappointed on it cancellation. if people really looked closely a very democratic view. But a balance was held, and the need to know that a future such as that could be.
My husband and I love this show!!!!
WHY DID DISIGNATED SURVIVOR GET CANCELLED??? Because you Need Bachelor Series, & all the other Nonsense shows!!! Because the General TV Audience are IDIOTS with their Heads constantly into their Cell Phones. ABC/ Disney:
Thanks for Nothing! We are Totally done with your Channel !!!!!
I totally agree. This channel has some of the most brain dead programming available. And even their so called comedies aren’t even close to amusing much less funny.
why does ABC always cancel the good shows and keep stupid ones like the big bang theory and put it on for several hours no less…. what a joke
They just don’t care about us!!
why does ABC always cancel the best shows and keep the ridiculous stuff like the big bang theory
give me a break….
This was the “DUMBEST” cancellation by ABC “EVER”! I left a blog and I am getting tons of messages from upset viewers saying how upset they are, like me, that one of the very best shows on TV was canceled, and no one is buying the reason. This was the best Presidential show since The West Wing, and I love watching Madame Secretary on CBS, which continues to be renewed, and DS was even better than that show. ABC puts DS opposite Chicago PD, also one of the greatest shows on TV, instead of moving it to an other night,… Read more »
TOTALLY AGREE!!!!
help me understand why the awesome show was canceled??
Because Important shows like Bachelor & Bachelorette MUST BE AIRED! #€€~|<!?!!<##%%?’
Programing Dept has IDIOTS working there!
And if any shows are total crap, those are. And let’s get rid of Steve Harvey’s show while we’re at it… and I have no idea what channel he’s even on.. oh, wait, most of them!