Get a sneak peek of ABC’s new political thriller, Designated Survivor, debuting tonight at 10pm ET|PT.
We So Nerdy loves political dramas, which is why we’re super excited about the debut of Keifer Sutherland’s new series on ABC, Designated Survivor!
The show’s premise begins on the night of the U.S. State of the Union address. This is a speech that the President makes to Congress in January of every year. POTUS uses the opportunity to update the legislature and the nation of the progress made in various areas and then propose new policies.
Besides representatives and senators, the Vice President, Cabinet members, and Supreme Court Justices typically attend.
Because of this, a designated survivor (successor) is selected. This is a person in the presidential line of succession who doesn’t attend the State of the Union and is removed to a secure, undisclosed location.
This is done merely as a precaution; should anything happen to POTUS, the VP, or any other U.S. leaders at the event, at least one person will be alive to continue government.
Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level Cabinet member who is suddenly appointed U.S. President after a catastrophic attack on the Capitol during the State of the Union.
As the show unfolds, Kirkman struggles to keep the country and his own family from falling apart, while navigating the highly volatile political arena. At the same time, he’s also leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.
Watch the series trailer below for a preview of the drama to come… no one seems to believe that Kirkman call fill the shoes of president.
I’m really glad to see my faves like Maggie Q, Kal Penn, and Malik Yoba back on TV!
Check out a clip from the pilot (written by David Guggenheim, directed by Paul McGuigan) which takes place after Kirkman has been sworn in as POTUS. He’s rushed to the PEOC (President’s Emergency Operations Center), and almost immediately finds himself in conflict with military leadership on the best way to respond to the attack:
The fate of the world is in his hands. #DesignatedSurvivor pic.twitter.com/h1x0qWE1Q0
— Designated Survivor (@ABCDesignated) September 20, 2016
POTUS Kirkman certainly has conviction. I really can’t wait to see this season unfold.
Tune in to ABC at 10:00pm ET tonight for the series premiere of Designated Survivor. Make sure to come live tweet with us (@WeSoNerdy)!
