TV’s Trouble With the Oval Office: ‘Designated Survivor’ Searches for 4th Showrunner

Alex Logan

Designated Survivor is searching for its fourth showrunner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Kiefer Sutherland series about the Oval Office has had some trouble in the leadership department and will hire a fourth person to fill the showrunner’s shoes. Amy B. Harris was originally tapped to run the series but was replaced by Jon Harmon Feldman when the show was picked up to series, but he left for an overall deal with ABC Studios. Enter Jeff Melvoin, who is now stepping down but will stay on as an executive producer to train the new hire.

'Designated Survivor' star Kiefer Sutherland
Designated Survivor star Kiefer Sutherland. (Photo: Courtesy of ABC)

The first season of Designated Survivor was met with impressive ratings and decent reviews, so it’s likely it’ll keep chugging along despite the frequent regime changes. And this isn’t a new story, as television has had a long, difficult history with presidential series. Of course, there are the shows that absolutely nailed it — The West Wing and House of Cards — but for for each of those, there are two failures.

'The West Wing' cast
The West Wing cast. (Photo: Everett Collection)

Commander in Chief in 2005 seemed like a promising project for Geena Davis, but it was canceled during season one. Hail to the Chief also tried a madam president back in 1985, played by Patty Duke. That went only seven episodes before it got the axe. It’s almost like America doesn’t want to see a woman be president.

Patty Duke as Madam President in 'Hail to the Chief'
Patty Duke as “Madam President” in Hail to the Chief. (Photo: Everett Collection)

And there were comedies too — 2012’s 1600 Penn was set to be a home run for Josh Gad after breaking out in the Broadway smash hit The Book of Mormon, but horrible reviews killed it in 13 episodes. That’s My Bush was Comedy Central’s failed madcap look at the Dubya years from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The cast of Comedy Central's 'That's My Bush'
The cast of Comedy Central’s That’s My Bush. (Photo: Everett Collection)

All this makes Comedy Central’s new The President Show with a Donald Trump impersonator seem like a risky gamble. But so far, America has remained unperturbed by incessantly seeing the Donald on TV.

Watch: Comedy Central Reveals (Fake) Donald Trump’s Own Series, ‘The President Show’…

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