ABC Picks Up Full Seasons of Designated Survivor and Speechless

Kiefer Sutherland and Minnie Driver's new shows aren't going anywhere yet

By Chris Harnick Sep 29, 2016 8:00 PMTags
Designated Survivor, Kiefer SutherlandABC

ABC certainly isn't speechless when it comes to the success of their new shows. The network has ordered full seasons of Designated Survivor and Speechless.

"Designated Survivor and Speechless are two of the most critically acclaimed new shows of the fall season," Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement. "We're very proud of the creative excellence in front of and behind the camera, and are thrilled to be giving our audience more episodes."

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman in Designated Survivor. The series follows the events of a terrorist attack that wipes out many officials in the United States government with an attack on Washington, DC during a State of the Union address. Sutherland's character, a low-level cabinet member, was kept away from the meeting as the designated survivor and becomes the president. The show also stars Natascha McElhone as Alex Kirkman, Adan Canto as Aaron Shore, Italia Ricci as Emily Rhodes, LaMonica Garrett as Mike Ritter, Tanner Buchanan as Leo Kirkman, Kal Penn as Seth Wright and Maggie Q as Hannah Wells.

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Designated Survivor hails from creator and executive producer David Guggenheim with Simon Kinberg, Mark Gordon, Jon Harmon Feldman, Nick Pepper, Suzan Bymel, Aditya Sood and Sutherland on board as executive producers.

Minnie Driver headlines the family comedy Speechless.

The sitcom follows the DiMeo family, mom Maya (Driver), dad Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), daughter Dylan (Kyla Kenedy), middle child Ray (Mason Cook), and teenager JJ (Micah Fowler). JJ has cerebral palsy and Cedric Yarbrough plays his speech aide Kenneth.

Scott Silveri is writer and executive producer on Speechless with Fresh Off the Boat's Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.

Designated Survivor and Speechless join NBC's This Is Us as freshmen shows with full season orders.

Designated Survivor airs Wednesdays, 10 p.m. on ABC. Speechless airs Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m. on ABC.