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 bring this show back…..love the pace, characters, and story lines!
Love it, leave it please
Please, please bring back Code Black. Loved it!!!
I love Code Black! Please bring it back!
We love Code Black and are so disappointed that it’s not on every Wednesday night these days. It’s a unique take on all that goes on in an emergency room. Having been in emergency rooms dozens of times with asthma attacks, strokes, seizures, heart conditions, and car accidents, my husband and I love the scripts and cast. We’re amazed at how you accomplish to present such a complicated setting with numerous compelling interactions..
Renew! The show was improving as the season went on.
Renew!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL Code Black the show is awesome! I hate waiting a week to see the next episode. I will be very disappointed and looks like a lot of others will be too if the show is canceled.
Keep Code Black
It would be a pitty if they would not.
Great Show!!!
Please DO NOT CANCEL!
RENEW CODE BLACK! love the show! seems like everytime we get a good show they cancel It. 3 of my shows are being cancelled it would be very depressing to see code black end! KEEP CODE BLACK!
Renew
I like Code Black. It is second on my list of medical shows to watch. Greys Anatomy is my number one show but did not miss one episode of Code Black. I think the viewers should be the one to rate the shows because networks have cancelled a lot of shows that I like
Please DO NOT CANCEL. I have to record the show since I work during Prime time. I know recorded shows are not included in the ratings as many folks do record the shows. Please return Code Black.
I love Code Black, please renew it!
I used to love “House”, and that was pretty much my standard for medical dramas, until “Nurse Jackie” came out. And then “Code Black” came out on CBS, and I thought, finally, network TV is doing something right again. The show is so much more realistic, believable — not every patient is miraculously cured, not every procedure goes perfectly. And not everyone is drop-dead gorgeous, perfectly coiffed, and wrinkle-free in real life. This show does justice to hard-working hospital staff, and doesn’t glamorize the gritty reality. And for the most part, stays away from cheap sensationalism, and takes the time… Read more »