What is a Designated Survivor? Well lets ask wikipedia, and quote:
In the United States, a designated survivor (or designated successor) is an individual in the presidential line of succession, usually a member of the United States Cabinet, who is arranged to be at a physically distant, secure, and undisclosed location when the President and the country’s other top leaders (e.g., Vice President and Cabinet members) are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union addresses and presidential inaugurations. This is intended to guarantee continuity of government in the event of a catastrophic occurrence that kills the President and many officials in the presidential line of succession. If such an event occurred, killing both the President and Vice President, the surviving official highest in the line, possibly the designated survivor, would become the Acting President of the United States under the Presidential Succession Act.
Okay that was boring but you know what isn’t? Its ABC’s new hit political drama Designated Survivor created by David Guggenheim. Check out the trailer because Jack Bauer Kiefer Sutherland is BACK!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_f1v0Nx5Sw
In its 1st episode, I was unexpectedly hooked with its incredibly fast paced transition from the death of all those elected officials to the swearing in of Thomas Kirkman as the US president to the surprise mobilization of Iran’s Navy. I mean, give the guy a break! He just turned president overnight. You’d feel bad for Kiefer’s character Thomas (Tom for short), a wimpy push-over cabinet member (who was about to lose his cabinet position prior) whom majority believes he should resign as President and give the position to someone more qualified.
His character literally cowers away from the stress and anxiety that comes with the responsibility BUT in key moments of the story Jack Bauer Tom’s INNER STRENGTH comes out, takes charge, and floors everyone with his sharp, commanding brevity.
Also joining the cast is the lavalicious Maggie Q as Hannah Watts an FBI investigator tasked with uncovering the true perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Washington DC. This 22-episode series currently airing in the US (and also on Netflix) also stars Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Kal Penn as Seth Wheeler, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, Natascha McElhone as Jessica Kirkman, LaMonica Garrett as Mike Ritter and Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman.