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?


Best show! Excellent cast, recommend to all I know. KEEP IT! My wife and I favorite show
Great Show. KEEP IT! My wife and I are both in the medical field and it is our favorite show. Look forward to it every week. Have told others and they want to watch as well.
Love Code Black. Give it a second season and you’ll see. The problem is the night and time it’s on. The increased use of DVR and On Demand makes this show a must!
Love this show!! I sure hope they dont cancel it.
I really like the series and I think it should be renewed. It has a lot of characters and it takes time to get to know and understand each one. A show does not reach its full potential until we get to know and understand the characters and their relationship with each other. Please don’t cancel!
GREAT SHOW, please renew!!
I love code black please don’t cancel it!!!!
ABSOLUTELY bring this TV show back! This is the most realistic medical TV show since ER, with a level of complexity that is refreshing for the earnest TV viewer.
Yes please bring the show back – I love it! The fast pace and good character development was a lot of fun to follow.
Don’t cancel!! This show is awesome!!
Absolutely keep it. My wife and I love this show!
Yes I would keep the show on. I think people should know what it’s like in some of these big city hospitals.
Why I are all the best shoes cancelled ??
So tired of these reality shows, dance shoes uggh
This series has thought provoking drama each week that keeps me aNting more
Please do t cancel !!!
Love it, please renew!
Renew! Very good show. Both the writing and the acting are top notch