Rod Lurie says he and Geena Davis got the word the show was canceled 'at the very moment' they were receiving an award at the United Nations.
Kristin Scott Thomas and Joan Allen were amongst the actresses approached to play Mackenzie Allen. Rod Lurie first planned the series as a sequel to La candidate (2000) where Joan Allen would reprise her role as Laine Hanson.
The scenes of Air Force two in flight during the pilot episode are from Air Force One: Avion présidentiel (1997).
The characters of the President and Vice President were named after the two actors who played those roles in director Rod Lurie 's previous political thriller La candidate (2000). Teddy Bridges, named for 'Jeff Bridges' who played President Jackson Evans, and MacKenzie Allen, named for Joan Allen who played Laine Hanson, his vice-presidential nominee.
When a show begins, the main cast usually signs for five years. According to creator Rod Lurie, Donald Sutherland didn't want to commit for that long, so he and Lurie made a deal. Ironically, the show got canceled after just one season.