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 have worked in critical care as an RN and have been in many of those emergency situations and this is the most truthful depiction of how much an RN does. Most other shows are not even close they have the doctors doing everything. Including MRI. I love this show
I love Code Black!!!! I always DVR it. Please renew
I love this show. Praying you bring it back. It’s my favorite show of the season. It would be a shame if you don’t bring it back!
Please RENEW!!!! It hits home for a lot of us Nurses!!!
Also, Code Black airs along with another great program, American Crime-doesn’t effect me as I have on-demand but for those who don’t I am fairly certain it was a coin toss each week.
Thanks
Please renew Code Black, it’s a great show. Looked forward to seeing it each week and was surprised to see that it might not be back.
Love this show!!
Please don’t cancel! Love it and definitely deserves a second season!
I am a nursing student and I LOVE the show! I work on Wednesday nights, but I always watch it on Thursdays thanks to DVR! I’m sure many people do that, so it doesn’t get counted towards ratings (I don’t think so anyway).
Love this show. Please renew !!!
Please keep the show going. We look forward to watching it every week and would be very disappointed if it was cancelled.
One of my favorite shows now! Please renew! Stay up just to watch! Thank you!
Please do not cancel ..This show is great !!! Love it and look forward to it !!!
This is my FAVORITE show!!! You have to bring it back,,
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL CODE BLACK, WE LOVE LOVE IT AND LOOK SO FORWARD TO IT EACH WEEK.