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 code black. Best show this year!!!!
I love Code Black! Please don’t leave us hanging. Renew the show.
Please keep Code Black! I loved this series. It’s got everything I like; drama, medical, humor, all of it.
Renew code black!!! Love it!!
Please RENEW! RENEW!! RENEW!!! Love the show and the characters. I’d like it better at 9pm; have to watch it another day because too late.
please bring back CODE BLACK!!!! Love the show!
Code Black is an awesome show! It’s a must watch for our family. Keep it going!
Love Code Black. It was different from other medical drama.Please bring it back!
Please renew Code Black! It is one of my favorite shows on TV and the only one I watch on CBS! It is definitely my favorite medical drama! It beats out Chicago Med and all the others!
I would renew Code Black — best show ever & I never missed a episode . Can’t understand why they’re even thinking of cancelling; the show is so real – just love love it !!
I Love, Love, Love the show. Please renew. I will definitly be watching
Renew! Our favorite show on CBS!!
Don’t cancel Code Black. Great show!!! Also who’s bright idea was it to cancel Vegas? With Dennis Quaid. That was super series. I miss Vegas. Bring Vegas back please
keep Code Black It is such a great show. My friends and I talk about it every week.
We love Code Black. It is the best medical show on the air. Please continue the show b