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ABC’s Kiefer Sutherland Drama — Not Yet Officially Renewed — Has a New Showrunner

May 3, 2017  •  Post A Comment

It may be just a formality that ABC is going to renew its Kiefer Sutherland-led drama series “Designated Survivor” for a second season, especially now that a new showrunner and executive producer is in place. Deadline.com reports that the series has Keith Eisner signed to take on both roles for season two.

“Eisner will succeed at the helm Jeff Melvoin, who will be staying on as an executive producer,” Deadline reports. “Eisner would be the fourth showrunner on the series, following Amy B. Harris, Jon Harmon Feldman and Melvoin.”

Eisner brings with him some impressive credentials, including being behind the scenes on more than 100 episodes of CBS’s “The Good Wife,” which was a perennial presence at the Emmy Awards throughout its seven-season run. By the time the show ended its run almost exactly one year ago, “The Good Wife” had chalked up 43 Emmy nominations and five Primetime Emmys, along with recognition from the Golden Globes and the Television Critics Association, a Peabody Award and a ton of other kudos.

Eisner was with “The Good Wife” for five years as a producer and writer.

ABC’s “Designated Survivor,” which still has two episodes left to air in its 20-episode freshman season (tonight and May 10), has been a solid performer since premiering with a stout 4.4 average rating in the key 18-49 demo and 17.7 million total viewers in Live+7. The show has consistently delivered huge gains in delayed viewing, including posting a 156% gain in 7-day viewing in the 18-49 demo along with a 111% gain in total viewers in the week ending April 16, leading broadcast prime in both measures.

That week’s episode of “Designated Survivor” wound up with 10.31 million total viewers and a 2.3 average rating in 18-49 in L+7, and the two episodes that have aired since then have been trending upward.

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