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?
no, it never should have been canceled! the cast was great and the story lines very real..My daughter is an ER trauma nurse and knew how real it really was..We would tape any episode and watch later…..we very upset to see it go.
I’ve watched Code Black from day 1 & I absolutely love this program every time there’s a wonderful cast and good stories it seems to get cancelled why. Very sad to lose a show that I invested 3 years in. And puts a lot of people out of work.
NO! It’s a great show, keeping you involved in each story!
No it shouldn’t have been cancelled. It has a great cast and great story lines. I don’t understand why it was cancelled. It’s just as good as grays anatomy or Chicago med.
Code Black had great storylines and gave doctors, nurses and medical staff a human side as you don’t see in a hospital. It’s nice to know that they do really care about their patients. It was a big mistake to cancel a show like this with this fantastic cast.
Should not have been canceled..this was an awesome show …with great actors..Hope another network could pick it up …
This was a great show. Sometimes it a bit too fast paced but the characters and how they were all interconnected made the show. I hope it’s picked up again by CBS or some other channel.
I’m sorry I missed the first two seasons honestly. I think it’s a great show and I think they should renew it definitely!
This show was a family favorite and we are all really upset that it was canceled. It seems like most tv is smut and sex based, whereas this show was realistic and covered a lot of real life issues and pain. The character development was incredible and you felt like they were family or friends. I am frustrated that there is not a lot of programming that we can watch together as a family and when we found one that was awesome, it gets thrown away. Not cool.
Should have BEEN renewed
SHOULD BE RENEWED FOR SURE!! GREAT SHOW!!
what CBS should’ve done instead of cancelling the show, just like they did this season, they should’ve left as a summer show for next summer and see how it does and then decide
Again, a good show and its cancelled. CBS you are such a disappointment. I personally can think of many shows that should be gone.
BRING IT BACK.
I am so sad that Code Black has been cancelled. Finally a show with substance, real life experiences we can all learn from. As a Registered Nurse I love the compassion shown by the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers. But also awareness of different health issues & trends. I hope CBS reconsiders & renews this series.
Absolutely not! Was one of the best dramas currently offered!
We’ve watched all three years. It’ a very good show