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?


RENEW IT: LOVE IT. GREAT SERIES
Please do not cancel code black please bring it back for another season this is honestly the best medical show currently on! I admit the first couple episodes I wasn’t sure if I would like it but by midseason to the end I absolutely fell in love with the show!!! This is in comparison to the first season of Grey’s Anatomy and this is way better than Chicago med please please please have it come back for season two!!!
I love Code Black we watch it every week. One of the best shows on the air.
This is a terrible medical show. Story line is somewhat interesting but medical procedures performed really sucks…cross contamination, nobody wears a mask during procedures in the ED, no privacy, etc…cancel it!!
Um, let’s see..this is a TV show, NOT real life. I ought to know cause my brother-in-law is an ER doc @ Johns Hopkins. The show would be BORING & “yucky” if it mirrored real life. MOST shows wouldn’t be worth watching if they were “real.” KEEP THIS SHOW!!!!!
Loved watching code black. Drop two broke girls and bring back code black.
RENEW: GREAT SHOW!
I love Code Black!
I like watching code black I thought it was a good show to watch. I used to watch trauma life in the ER.
Please don’t cancel!!!! LOVE this show.
Renew
Please keep Code Black on, I have been waiting for the next show. So much better than the other medical shows. I love the characters on the show.
I love Code Black!! What has happened to it? Bring it back!
It is an excellent show and I will be disappointed if it is cancelled. You have to give shows time to find their Niche.
This show is amazing and trumps it’s rival on the other network
Love Code Black!
Very good show and I hope they bring it back!!! I watched every episode!