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?
Awesome show. It will catch on.
This is such a great show with a wonderful variety of characters. Please bring it back!
I love it! As a nurse, it’s pretty close to real. Love to dialog…true medical terms!
Awesome show with an amazing cast. PLEASE do not cancel. These shows are far better than those fake reality shows.
Renew it. I love this show.
I hope they don’t cancel this show! I love this show! The acting and actors are amazing! The stories are amazing! I love the fast paced drama. It reminds me of ER. I like how the stories are actually about the life in a fast paced ER instead of a sappy soap opera like who slept with who and how many! I think the ratings would also increase if the time slot was a little earlier. I would still watch it whenever they slot this show!
This series needs to be brought back for a full season !! The story lines and actors are priceless!!! This drama should be in each household and truly is real life !!! Invest the time and money to bring it back, we need it!!
I LOVE Code Black. Great characters and story lines!! PLEASE do not cancel it!!
This show is definitely one that should be back!!!
There are a few shows that my husband and I make a point to sit down and watch every week. Code Black is one of them. We never miss an episode and if something happens that interferes with the show we record it so we don’t have to miss any. It would be very disappointing if the show were to be cancelled. CBS would be losing a good program. Should they happen to drop it, I hope another station picks it up! We would definitely follow the program where ever it went. We watch CBS from morning to after the… Read more »
Code Black had my interest from the first episode! I haven’t enjoyed a medical show so much since ER. The fast pace and the idea of an emergency center located in a high-demand location makes it different. When we hear “center stage” we know there is a real problem. I have enjoyed the storylines, and the focus on medical issues. The cast of Code Black is excellent, and recognizable. Bring it back for a second season, please, and give it some time to settle in, like you used to do with new series.
Best Medical drama since ER
bring it back!! is a great show only show me and hubby are willing to watch together !
At first this show was so fast I had trouble keeping up, but after I became acquainted with the characters, set, etc speed, I really enjoyed it -esp “Mama” and Marcia Gay Hardin. Good stories – RENEW it!!
Love it … One of my favs.