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?
Please reconsider canceling Code BlCk ! Real drama
Please reconsider canceling Code Black !! Every emotion possible in this show !! Real drama
Can’t believe Code Black is canceled! This show has ever emotion possible .. please reconsider .. seriously please reconsider . Can’t stand reality shows . Need real drama !
No. I look forward to it each week. The characters are very real and the medical part is interesting. They feel like family to me. Please renew
this was a fantastic show. It was so much better than some other shows. CBS made a wrong decision in cancelling this show. Cancel Big Brother instead
I am very disappointed that Code Black has been cancelled. That and Elementary are the only programs I watch right now. What passes for entertainment in most other programs is incredibly boring and asinine. I want something that grabs my emotions and my intelligence. Code Black did that. At the rate the TV channels are putting out garbage, I won’t be watching TV at all next year
It ABSOLUTELY should NOT have been cancelled!!!! I love this show and waited eagerly every week to watch it. Please reconsider, and at least make new episodes to show during the summer.
Bring back Code Black, it is a great show. We always watch it. I can’t believe the shows that are still on….Please bring it back….
It never should have been cancelled. It is a feel good show. Heartwarming.
IF some of you out there do not see that, you have problem.
Please don’t cancel!!!! Bring it back!!! Such a great show!!! PLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEEEE!!!!!!
I wish that code black would still be showed. It a great show. My husband and I always watch it. It is a family favorite even for my neighbors.
Please reconsider canceling Code Black, it is a great show, it should stay on the air!!!!!
I thought it was getting better each episode. But oh no let’s cancel & leave more crappy reality & game shows on
So unhappy you cancelled Code Black! You should really consider bringing it back, but maybe at a different time in the year. Please bring it back!
This is a fantastic show. Please don’t cancel! It is one of the only good tv programs left!