Designated Survivor: Maggie Q, Kal Penn, and Simon Kinberg Preview ABC’s New Drama

Kal Penn is a self-described politics nerd. “I subscribe to policy periodicals,” he explained with a laugh. “And I read them. Every month.”

“So do I!” replied Maggie Q, and they were on, comparing titles.

Designated Survivor‘s executive producer Simon Kinberg (Yes, the Star Wars/Fox Marvel’s universe Kinberg) isn’t quite up to their standards, but he can hold his own.

He, after all, doesn’t have to sell it on-screen. They do.

The three talked to reporters during a special San Diego Comic-Con screening and Q&A to promote Designated Survivor, one of the most anticipated new shows of the Fall Season.

There’s good reason for the anticipation. The show is a smart, fast paced and relatable – a tall order for a TV show about politics.

And, if the show’s producer is to be believed, the core of its greatness is balance.

“We tried to balance all aspects of Tom Kirkman’s life, so that this is not just a show about politics, not just a show about his family life, not just a thriller,” Kinberg explained.

In other words, there’s something for everyone to love here.

High stakes drama/suspense your thing? Then watch Designated Survivor; there’s something for you.

Family dynamics speak to you? You’re in luck, as this show is set to explore what happens to a seemingly normal 2016 family when they’re thrust into the spotlight.

Love politics? Yes, you guessed it …Designated Survivor is your new obsession.

But, make no mistake about it, the basis of this show is politics, and considering the current political climate, they would really love to bring some authentic, real-world scenarios into the series, and explore how those would shape their very own First Family.

“Of course, we have to script, and then shoot, then edit — we’re not as fast as news — but yeah, that’s something we want to do,” Kinberg admitted. However, he went on to say that the show wasn’t exactly planned to air during an election year, calling the timing of the thing “a happy accident.”

It’s clearly one the show is eager to capitalize on.

Making a good show is one thing, after all, but making a show that’s relevant is much, much harder. Think of The West Wing, which Kinberg admitted was one of his favorites and an inspiration. Think of House of Cards.

For a show like this to work, it has to be rooted in realty.

And the idea of the “Designated Survivor” is rooted in reality, even if most of the cast didn’t know such a thing existed before signing on.

“I had no idea,” Maggie Q  said, looking amused. “Me either!” admitted Kal Penn.

Even political junkies don’t know everything, apparently.

But Designated Survivor has even more cards to play than straight-up-political shows. It’s got three distinct plot-lines, and though they all start playing separately, the intention is for “all the characters to interact with each other sooner or later,” Kinberg said.

Probably sooner.

The show also has people who seem to really appreciate and love what they’re doing – and who are as excited about where the story-line is going as we’re probably going to be.

Kiefer Sutherland, for example, read the script and was on board right away.

“All we had to do was show him the script,” recalled Kinberg. Everyone else was on board quickly, as well. That speaks to the quality of the concept, but also the level of writing.

Penn, who spent time in the Obama administration as associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, has even gotten a chance to use that experience to the show’s advantage, adding a level of accuracy that you probably don’t get from most shows that are actually set in the White House.

There’s also a particular scene in the Pilot that he admits reminded him of how “super conscious” he felt during his time in public office, because the stakes were real.

Maggie Q, who plays an FBI agent, admitted to asking tons of questions from the FBI consultant every time she had the chance, because she just wanted to know everything. “I pestered him. I asked him question after question,” she recounted with a smile, explaining that she doesn’t think she’s done with those. “I’m sure I drove him crazy. And I will probably  continue to do so.”

Not that she needs any tips on how to play a strong female role. She’s got that down.

Excitement is a good thing. The stars are excited. The executive producer is excited. And, from what we’ve seen, they have a right to be.

When asked who in the cast would make the best Designated Survivor; all three agreed that the answer was: Definitively not Kiefer Sutherland.

We are, after all, not asking him to step into the real-life shoes of the President of the United States. We’re just asking him to play him.

Designated Survivor premieres Wednesday September 21st at 10/9c on ABC.

You can check out all of our coverage of San Diego Comic-Con right here.

18 New Fall TV Shows You’ll Definitely Want to Watch