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 love this show! I looked forward to each and every week. I’m hoping they will bring it back because I miss it. Please renew Code Black.
We love watching code black if we were not home we would dvr it too watch later. We love the show. Please bring it back.
Code Black HAS to come back. It was a fantastic show. I never missed an episode. I even got my friends into it. Please please bring it back.
I LOVE this show! My daughter and I looked forward to it every week. I agree with one of the other posts, this could be the next ER if they give it one more chance!
I love this show. Each week was revitong and exciting.and Ireally miss it. Networks don’t give reallly good shows time to develop anymore
I think if you give CODE BLACK another season they may be the next ER.
I stumbled on this show while channel surfing…It was heart thrombin, tear jerking, action packed from the word. I was so hooked I went to Ondemand recorded all episodes I missed. Just when I got hooked and getting the word out. The show stopped coming on. WHAT HAPPENED TO CODE BLACK.?????? Please bring it back. It was by far the best medical show since ER. The writers seek you guessing and craving more. If you cancel this show CBS…You’ll regret it. I’m a Heathcare professional who is not easily impressed when it comes this type of show. I must admit… Read more »
I love code Black!!! I’m looking forward to it every week. Hopefully there will be a second season!! It’s a great program for ER lovers like me. Greetings from the netherlands
My husband and I absolutely love this show. We plan our week around it. Please continue.
I absolutely love this show!!! My whole family loves this show.PLEASE renew!
I love this show. Please bring it back! Reminds of the old ER!
Please bring up the show back. It is pretty awesome and you can’t just keep us hanging?! I think t didn’t get it’s chance yet.
I absolutely love this show. I really hope they will consider a second season. I look forward to it weekly, although it does show a bit late it was well worth staying up for.
Please renew this show, it is one of the best shows on right now!! I look forward to watching it every week. Terrific medical show.
Please please please keep this show on the air!!!! Great medical series that us medics can appreciate!
LOVE this show. INTENSE. REAL. SUPER characters; OUTSTANDING actors. Please renew!!