CBS hasn’t had a successful medical drama in quite some time. How has Code Black been performing in the ratings? Will the network want it back for a second season or, will it be cancelled instead?
Code Black takes place in an Emergency Room in Los Angeles where underfunding and understaffing pile huge pressures on its staff. The cast includes Marcia Gay Harden, Raza Jaffrey, Bonnie Somerville, Melanie Chandra, William Allen Young, Harry Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth, and Luis Guzman.
The series debuted in late September 2015 to a 1.54 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.58 million viewers. That was an okay start for the 10pm drama though the CBS execs were surely hoping for better.
The ratings took a big fall in week two, dropping 25% in the demo to a 1.16 rating with 6.83 million. The numbers for Code Black stayed at those low levels for the next several weeks and things weren’t looking good. Rather than ordering a full season of the series, CBS picked up five more episodes, bringing the first season tally to just 18 episodes.
Then, the ratings started to slowly rise and reached a mid-season high of a 1.47 demo rating with 8.50 million viewers. In 2016, the numbers have wavered however and last week’s installment hit a series low with a 1.05 demo rating and 6.04 million.
To date, the series has averaged a 1.27 in the demo with 7.13 million viewers. It’s ranking 15th (of 20 scripted CBS shows) in the demo and in total viewers.
Will CBS renew Code Black for a second season or cancel it? Looking at the ratings, the network should probably cancel it but they could easily go either way. Their decision will likely have everything to do with the strength of their upcoming pilots. We’ll know for sure by mid-May.
But, what do you think? Do you like Code Black? If you ran the network, would you renew or cancel the series?
I hope they renew! I think more people would watch it if weren’t in such a competitive time slot. I will continue to watch it. They have unique characters and plots.
Code Black is definitely the most exciting (hits close to home) medical drama since ER! It deserves a second season so the writers can expand those thrilling story lines and I am confident the ratings will soar.
Love code black. Watch it every week.
This is a really really well done show. It better get renewed. A lot of people I know watch it
Please Renew Code Black for Season 2 PLEASE!!!!!
Love this show. It takes awhile for a great show to mature. Code Black is just entering that level. Give it another season.
I would keep the show. Personally I think it is one of the best shows out there right now and it’s one of the only shows I watch.
Insightful, realistic show. One of the best ones in years. Please renew & continue good work.
I really hope they renew it. Looked at IMDB tonight, and the episodes consistently, except for one, have been in the 8s, which is hard to do for big movies! One of the episodes had a 8.9 rating with 134 raters. That should be good enough for them. Top notch cast (love Mama) and great storylines. And plenty of action in LA in a county hospital that can’t close to trauma. Best medical show in years, and I was married to an anesthesiologist.
Yes, please bring this fantastic show back!
Absolutely love the show!!! Renew, renew, renew!
I have watched every episode of Code Black and love it!! Please bring this show back for many seasons to come!!
Please renew Code Black, CBS execs. We think it’s great already with a lot of potential to develop the characters even more. One of the best medical shows ever.
I love this show. Please renew it. It’s an awesome realistic medical drama and we record it to be sure the whole family can see it. I give it an A+
I think Code Black is much better than the other medical dramas and beats Chicago Med hands down. It’s one of my favorite new shows, so I’m hoping that it is renewed and stays on for years!