This evening, we must say goodbye to the Code Black TV show after three short seasons on the air. Series get cancelled all the time — mostly due to low ratings — but, did this Wednesday night series deserve the ax or, should it have been renewed for a fourth season instead?
A CBS medical drama, Code Black stars Marcia Gay Harden, Luis Guzmán, Rob Lowe, Boris Kodjoe, Harry Ford, Benjamin Hollingsworth, William Allen Young, Emily Tyra, Noah Gray-Cabey, Emily Alyn Lind, and Moon Bloodgood. The story unfolds at Angels Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles — the busiest, most notorious ER in the country. The high patient volume dwarfs the resources available to the exceptional staff — creating a condition known as Code Black.
Debuting in September 2015, the first season of Code Black averaged a 1.27 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.11 million viewers. It was a middle-of-the-road performer for CBS that year and was firmly on the bubble.
It ended up getting a second season renewal but that came with a price. In an attempt to boost the ratings, some cast changes were made and Rob Lowe (whose FOX comedy, The Grinder, had just been cancelled) joined the cast.
Unfortunately, those changes didn’t seem to help the ratings. Season two of Code Black averaged a 0.97 in the demo with 5.98 million. That was down by 23% and 16%, respectively.
The CBS series once again squeaked out a renewal but the show didn’t earn a spot on the fall schedule this time. CBS held the season three premiere of the medical drama until very late in the season.
It’s very tough to launch a season so late in the broadcast season when viewers are either wrapped up in the final episodes of existing shows or starting to shift their attention to warmer month activities. CBS might have done better to hold season three until after Memorial Day or July 4th but, they didn’t.
Season three has averaged a 0.70 rating in the demo with 5.69 million viewers. For a summer CBS show, that’s not too shabby. Compared to season two, that’s down by 27% in the demo but down by just 5% in viewership. That’s pretty rare to have such a moderate year-to-year decline in viewers. Like most CBS programs, this one tends to skew older.
Compared to CBS’ other summer shows, Code Black is doing quite respectably. In the demo, it’s outperforming scripted series Salvation and Elementary. In viewership, it’s beating all of CBS’ summer shows, including all three nights of Big Brother.
While Code Black’s ratings have not ever been stellar, it’s hard to understand why the network didn’t renew Code Black for a fourth season. They could air it during Summer 2019 so they could amass enough episodes for syndication. Perhaps that scenario didn’t make sense financially. Alas, we may never know.
What do you think? Do you think CBS should have cancelled Code Black or renewed it for a fourth season?
I know I’m late with this post but I just found this page. I REALLY wish that CBS would change their mind about this show and bring it back. To me, it IS/was THEE Best medical show on TV in a very long time. There wasn’t any “bull” like they have on Chicago Med. PLEASE CSB or FOX or some other Channel, bring this back…..and have possible crossovers with SWAT. Sometimes you need to take a chance on an underdog.
Thank you
Please. Renew. Code. Black. I loved it. I’m so tire of the shoes I like best always being cancelled and I am considering only watching Netflix originals or showtime originals and quit paying for local channels where it doesn’t matter when we like the show
I absolutely loved the show. It would be great as a summer show. There is nothing except The Code they interests me so I have been watching Netflix for the most part. Please bring Code Black back!!
Code Black was an awesome show why it was cancelled I will never understand people don’t know a good show when they see one just because a few people get to do neilson ratings that doesn’t speak for the rest of us send me one of them and let me rate my favorite shows
Code Black was truly one of the few really good shows, especially over the summer when nothing else is on. If viewership was the best of other programs for summer TV, why in the world would it end? Exciting, realistic, “sit on the edge of your seat” story line with incredible individuals playing the characters.
Code Black was a really good show, why was it canceled??? PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!! I loved that show!!!
Please give this brilliant show more seasons. It’s one of the greatest ever medical dramas and has bren cut way too short.