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?
During the last episode of Code Black they flashed up one of those ads for a new show they are putting on this Fall – God Friended Me… are you f’n kidding me? They cancelled Code Black to make way for something like this?! Screw you CBS.
You should not have cancelled the show. It was great.
Please bring back Code Black! I love this show! The show makes me feel good how they work so hard to save people’s lives. I love Rob Lowe as an actor and will miss seeing his smile. I’m so upset I just watched the last show and it made me cry. The stories lines were so good.
No, I don’t believe the show should have been cancelled. I’m sick to the fact that all that seems to be on is some reality show or sick comedy. Why do they cancel the shows that are more true life? Bring it back.
I hate this show was cancelled. With so many other medical shows this one stands alone. I put it in the same circle as ER with amazing talent, fresh material, find relatable material, and the draw to love the characters. Canceling this show is a sad and emotional to so many that truly connected to it.
No! I love this show. It was one of the best shows on. Stupid decision!!!
This show helped me make in through the loss of my beloved husband by letting me know there was a name for what I was feeling, Broken Heart Syndrome. It saved my life. Please please don’t cancel.
No, no, NO!! This was one of the best dramas on TV. How can we be left with nothing but mindless sitcoms when this was so excellent?
I love this show. Please do not cancel it. Very good actors and good stories.
HUGE MISTAKE. Was a very heartfelt and healing show that was much needed now days. So sad to see it end.
I really like this show and just found it! Really hoping another network will pick it up!!
I think this is one of the 2 or 3 best shows on broadcast TV and I truly hate seeing yet another excellent seroes get the axe. Hopefully there will be some sort of reprieve.
I think it was a great show. Hate to see it let go. One of the best medical dramas I have ever watched.
I love this show. I’m very upset it’s been canceled, and hope another network will pick it up.
I really liked the show. Much better since Rob Lowe was put on this last season. How come every time a show is really good CBS has to cancel it?