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?


This is the ONLY show I watch on CBS. It is so exciting, especially because I know what they are talking about. I am an RN in a very busy hospital. This show is so much better than Grey’s Anatomy, which I only saw a few times many years ago. The cast is terrific and I loved the relationships between them from the very first episode, especially “Mama” and “Poppa” That doesn’t happen very much! Please keep it on!!
please keep it on great show give it a chance
love it in UK
we love it in UK
This was an exceptionally well written and well actedTV show PLEASE renew it!!
Keep it!!!! Great show my husband and I watch it every week haven’t missed an episode please don’t cancel it
The is Cbs’s ER. You need this show to continue. You need a great med drama on cbs to balance all the crime shows that are already there. There is nothing better. This cast is already amazing and we can go into just another amazing season instead of starting off with something that might not take off.
Thank you
Please bring Code Black on to stay!
My husband and I love code black. We have watched every episode and I pray that there is another season. I loved the excitement that went on in the ER. Please CBS I miss having the family shows that are clean but exciting. Please have another season.
Code Black is an amazing close to what sometimes happens in the E R. The dedication of most of the staff to save a life. Great Show, Please Renew !!!!!
Please don’t cancel! Amazing show. One of the best medical dramas since Greg’s attamoy. Please don’t cancel the show. Greys have had there upos and downs and a rough start but look at them now season 12. I love code black CBS keep it, it will be worth it!
A great show. I learned something new almost every week. Exciting series
I love the show and am sad I can’t find it on TV anymore. When will it come back?
This show has a GREAT chance of doing big things if it stays on. LOVE it!!!
Excellent show, great cast, renew.
Keep this great drama!