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?


Great show. Pls don’t cancel
RENEW A GREAT SHOW!
Please, please renew. I LOVE this show!!!
I Love this show, great cast and story lines. Why no ratings for viewers over 50? Please do not cancel this show.
Please do not cancel this show. I enjoy watching it. Good actors in this show.
Please t renew the show
I love this show. No bare butts or breast, no sex. It has a beginning and end. With not every one rolling around in bed. It is a REAL life show and very very close to a hospital ER. Please keep this one around.
Please renew. This Is one of the best shows on tv.
One of the few “intelligent” well acted shows out there. That likely means it will be cancelled, since the majority of TV viewers want more fluff television than serious drama.
I really like the show, so much better than shows like criminal minds. I’m afraid that kind of show just gives crazy people more ideas. I personally like more realistic programs.
Please do not cancel this show! I love love love this! I really don’t watch tv and got into this really quickly, can’t wait to see season 2!
Please do not cancel, I love this show. Can’t wait to see season 2 if there is one.
First medical show that tweaked my interest since ER and I really like it a lot!! Watched it every week. Pls do not cancel.
Both my husband and love the show and it keeps us on the edge of our seats. Please, please renew it. Also, don’t start moving it around to different time slots. That’s setting any show up for failure.
Love Code Black. Sure hope there’s a second season.