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?


Please do not cancel we LOVE this show and look forward to it every week..it’s a great show. Thank you
Please renew!!
I love this show. Keep it coming! PLEASE…..
We love the show and would be very disappointed if it did not return.
Please renew. This was one of the best spews on. Can’t wait to see more. Loved it!!
Code Black is one of the best shows on TV Please renew
I agree. Gripping content, great acting and fast paced…what’s not to love? Please do not cancel there are so few good programs on. We need Code Black.
Thanks for your consideration-
Please renew!!! I love code black and I’ll be lost without it!!
Definitely renew I think it’s amazing love it!!
Code Black is an excellent show – please renew it – I look forward to seeing it every week.
This is my favorite show please don’t cancel it! Please renew
As an extra – CBS take note – I’ve just gone through all 68 pages (over a 1000 posts); and I found just FOUR negative comments. I think that should be a “RENEW” then, don’t you?!
Both my husband and myself are (British) viewers totally addicted to this show. It’s the best thing since ER. PLEASE don’t cancel it – RENEW it.
Awesome show. Please renew!
Love this show!!!!! One of few good ones. Would be very disappointing to see it go. PLEASE RENEW!
I really hope they renew. When you bring on a new show then take a month long hiatus & then come back for only 5 episodes you really don’t do the show or the viewers any justice. Give us a chance to become invested. Stop being so “wishy washy” networks!