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?


LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show! Please continue it.
Please keep this show!! Don’t cancel it. I am so mad it is over for now! I can’t wait for new episodes.
Love this show. Please not cancel it. Keep it going!!
Please let the powers at be know,we love Code Black it is our favorite show
Please continue Code Black tv series.
Loved the show. Missing it.
Please bring back Code Black!! We miss our Code Black family.
So many freaking changes. I love Code Black please bring it back. It’s the best since ER.
My husband and I have watched this from day one. We love it and miss it! Please bring it back! The cast and story lines are amazing! Do NOT pass this by!
Please don’t cancel! Give the viewers more medical drama and less personal stuff. More realistic medical cases and more nursing. More focus on the nurses will gain more viewers.
I LOVE this show! The characters are well developed and diverse. The stories are great and I’ve actually teared up more than once. Please don’t cancel!!!
I would keep it. It’s a good show.
I DVR’ed all 18 episodes and was reluctant to start it….finally watched episode one and was hooked…binge watched the remaining episodes in four days…absolutely loved it…the show, the cast, the stories…all of it
Love this show. Keep it going!
Please re-new. Love the show.
Code black is great. Best on the air