The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentThe LatestTV

Exclusive: Maggie Q and Kal Penn Talk ‘Designated Survivor’ Season 2 At The Tribeca TV Festival

by Farah Idrees September 28, 2017
by Farah Idrees September 28, 2017 0 comments
5.4K

The White House, Drama and Conspiracies.

Season 2 of ABC’s ‘Designated Survivor’ promises to bring the political thrill, and then some. Maggie Q, Kal Penn, Italia Ricci and Paulo Costanzo were some of the cast in attendance, to dish on the new season at the first ever Tribeca TV Festival! 

Season 2 begins with ‘President Kirkman’ being a year into his presidency. We spoke to Maggie Q who plays Hannah and Kal Penn who plays Seth. They discussed their expectations, thoughts and excitement for what this season will bring and where these characters will go from here.

Maggie Q

Q: When it comes to the stunts, do you do your own stunts on the show?

A: I do. I mean honestly this show for me is so light on the action, I could do it in my sleep (laughs)

Q: Yes, Nikita was a stunt-intense show that you were on?

A: (laughs) Right yeah! I mean this show is like a walk in the park compared to that. But yeah, on Nikita I did and on this one I definitely did. I make it a point to.

Q: What should the fans be expecting this season?

A: Oh my gosh. Every episode kind of has its own thing. But we’re going to try to really get to the bottom of the conspiracy that plagued us in the first season. Hopefully once we kind of get towards the end of that, we’re going to be exposing a web of people that really worked to make this happen. That to me is entirely interesting because you realize that when something does go down in that way, it’s always a village that makes it happen, it’s never one person. So that web needs to be exposed and we’re going to do that.

Q: What was your favorite episode to shoot?

A: I think last season was probably the finale. I mean usually the finales are huge. Normally it takes around 8 days to shoot an episode, I think our finale last year was 13 days.

Kal Penn

Q: Any surprises that we can expect from season 2?

A: I think surprise-wise, the show has a little bit of a different look, and it’s a little more aspirational. There’s a little more balance between the conspiracy theory stuff and some of just the human interactions within The White House.

Episode 2, I’m the press secretary but I’m still sort of the de facto speechwriter. So, there’s a correspondents dinner episode where Seth think he’s way funnier than he actually is. Obviously we’re an hour long drama on ABC, so the humor has to be a little bit layered and kind of subtle. So, literally the opposite of “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”. (laughs) And I enjoyed that. I enjoyed that the humor was a lot more understated than  I’m used to

Q: Where do you see the development of your character going?

A: Yeah I’m curious to see where Seth goes in the course of the season. Right now, I’ve learned a little bit more about him. We meet one of his family members in the first half of the first season. You see a little bit of his home life,a little hint of maybe- maybe a dating life, I don’t know yet. We don’t find out anything in advance, so I only know up to episode 8.

Q: So you’re somewhat surprised with the fans?

A: Oh yeah! We all text each other when we get the full script.

‘Have you read it yet?’ ‘Which draft do you have?’ ‘Skip to this page.’

Q: What’s your favorite episode that you’ve shot from the upcoming season?

A: I like the second episode. I like the correspondents dinner.

Q: What about last season?

A: I think the Pilot was my favorite because Seth, -this is totally selfish obviously-  the way that Seth and Kirkman meet, so when Kiefer and I have the initial scene in the bathroom. It’s this junior speechwriter with a newly inaugurated president. Both of them are throwing up in the bathroom. One is because he’s drunk, the other one is because he’s nervous. We don’t ever speak of that ever again (laughs).

Kiefer and I talked about this, where there’s this implicit trust that comes out of the relationship from that moment, is kind of how they’re entire arch is built. So, that will always have a special place.

Q: What is the most challenging part as an actor on this show?

A: Hour long drama generally on TV, you don’t know a lot about the character in advance, you find out things with each script. And so, that’s a challenge, because you want to ground your character in as much reality as possible. But, you might make a choice for 5 episodes and find out 6 episodes in that there’s another piece of information that could’ve maybe negated that. So you then have to build a world around that and expand who you are. It’s a welcomed challenge.

designated survivorKal PennMaggie Q
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Farah Idrees

previous post
You Wanna Talk About Reading: Five Fresh Book Picks For Fall
next post
Exclusive: Cast Talks ‘Red Oaks’ At The Tribeca TV Festival

Related Posts

Renowned Restaurant Fresco by Scotto Debuts a New...

October 22, 2025

Cedric the Entertainer Reflects on The Neighborhood’s Final...

October 22, 2025

It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Non-Spoiler Review

October 22, 2025

Bernadette Peters, Sutton Foster & Leslie Odom Jr....

October 22, 2025

James Callis, Shaul Metzstein & Nick Mohammed Talks...

October 21, 2025

AIF 2025 Festival Opens with Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet

October 21, 2025

Techno and Tragedy in Oliver Laxe’s Sirat

October 21, 2025

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Joel Kim Booster Talk...

October 20, 2025

NMIXX Explores All ‘Shapes of Love’ in Their...

October 20, 2025

Building Community Over Commerce: The Stript Story

October 20, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company, where office life meets absurd comedy. 🪑 
Stream it now on @HBO. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/la-premiere-hbos-the-chair-company/

✍️: Katherine Wright
-
#TheChairCompany #HBO #HBOOriginal #HBOShow #BingeWorthy #MustWatch #StreamingNow
@justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The @justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The Leag, one of LA’s most talked-about underground sports events. With celebrities, athletes, and creators filling the sidelines, the night captured the energy of competition and culture colliding under the lights. 🏀

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/justin-bieber-leads-skylrk-to-victory-at-las-underground-sports-phenomenon-the-league/

✍️: Parris Rose

-
#JustinBieber #SKYLRK #TheLeag #LosAngeles #SportsCulture #Basketball #UndergroundSports
@nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about t @nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about their journey as six members, a long, inspiring adventure that’s led them to a major milestone: their first-ever full-length album, Blue Valentine. 💙

The project dives deep into the complexity of human emotions, wrapped in NMIXX’s signature MIXX-pop sound. 🎶

“The story of NMIXX is still unfolding.” 

Full Article 🔗 https://theknockturnal.com/nmixx-blue-valentine/

By @EmmaSalehi 

#NMIXX #BlueValentine #NMIXXBlueValentine #MIXXPOP #NMIXXComeback #KpopInterview #TheKnockturnal #Kpop #KpopNews #KpopGirlGroup #NMIXX_BlueValentine #HAEWON #LILY #BAE #JIWOO #KYUJIN #SULLYOON #엔믹스
Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of @beetlejuicebway? Now you can! From now until Halloween, @tempotimessquare hosting an unforgettable Beetlejuice Suite experience where every corner is bursting with spooky charm, strange surprises, and a whole lot of Netherworld flair. 💀✨ 

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a little strange and unusual, this is your chance to step into the world of the ghost with the most. 👻 #BeetlejuiceBroadway #TempoTimesSquare #BeetlejuiceSuite
#ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when y #ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when you least expect it — and flinch when you do. 👀💥

Full review out now.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/park-chan-wooks-no-other-choice-is-dark-gripping-and-bitingly-funny/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala 

-
#NoOtherChoice #KoreanCinema #Cinephile #FilmReview #NewRelease #MustWatch
📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining 📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining boundaries with each track, image, and evolution. Dive into our exclusive to uncover the artistry behind the name. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/woodz/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#Woodz #Kpop #ArtistSpotlight #Editorial
EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to elect EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to electrifying new heights, bringing “I WANT IT” to life with unmatched energy, confidence, and flair. Every beat, every move, every note is a reminder that STAYC don’t just perform—they command the stage. 🌈💥

From their glowing visuals to powerhouse vocals, @stayc_highup deliver a night that’s equal parts spectacle and soul.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stayc/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#STAYC #StayTunedTour #IWANTIT #STAYCgirls #STAYChighup #Kpop #ConcertHighlights #ExclusiveFeature
Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new film, exploring its unique darkness. 🌟

#ParkChanWook #NoOtherChoice #TheAx #KoreanFilm #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook tea Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook teases his probable upcoming project Genocidal Organ! 

#ParkChanWook #GenocidalOrgan #NYFF #NYFF26
Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in his latest film @nootherchoicefilm. 🖤🎬

#LeeByungHun #NoOtherChoice #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun refl Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun reflects on 20 years of film, from South Korea to Hollywood! 

#LeeByungHun #Hollywood #KoreanCinema #Film #NoOtherChoice #NYFF26 #NYFF
Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what it means to move forward together in their latest comeback. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/cix/

✍️: Emma Salehi

Photo Credits: C9 Entertainment 
-
#CIX #GOChapter1 #GOTogether #TheKnockturnal #KpopInterview #KpopNews #CIXComeback #CIX2025 #KpopFeature #CIXFans
It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North Ameri It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North America on their ‘Stay Tuned’ tour! 💖

Watch their energetic and fun filled show near you 👀🌟

#stayc #kpop #kpopconcert #iwantit #staycstaytuned #staytuned
Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷 We had the most a Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷

We had the most amazing day of inspiring panels, activations and networking at @femalefounderworld, with @eyebuydirect! 👓
Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
@nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as @nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as a director, bringing his story to life with precision, collaboration, and attention to every frame. 

The film reflects his dedication to emotion, storytelling, and cinematic craft. 🎥

-
#JoachimTrimmer #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Director #Filmmaking
We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the emotional process behind her latest film. ✨

-
#IngaIbsdotterLilleaas #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Cinema
Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling — @ellefanning in conversation at this year’s @thenyff.

-
#ElleFanning #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #RedCarpet #Cinema
✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performa ✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performances, the 2025 #TeenVogueSummit brought together voices shaping fashion, culture, and activism today. 💬🎶

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/2025-teen-vogue-summit-recap-full-of-fun-fashion-and-connection/

✍️: Zipporah Pruitt

-
#TeenVogue #TeenVogueSummit2025 #TeenVogueEvents
#TeenVogueCommunity #TeenVogueStyle
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch