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?
This show should NOT have been cancelled. It is one of the most dramatic and humanizing (and time agonizing) shows this season. Acting is great, stories lines great, don’t know about the ratings but there a lot of folks out there sitting at the edge of their seat each week. You laugh, cry, and root for the low person on the totem pole. I for one one am sorry ..the wrong choice was made. And yet crappy shows go on.
Code Black was one of my favorite shows. It absolutely should not have been cancelled
At least bring it in for the second season. CBS may be struggling with some loss of viewership due to paid AllAccess. Cable is on it’s way out and CBS isn’t available to stream on Hulu, etc. So….too bad to lose a good show.
I absolutely know this show should not have been cancelled! Great actors, good story line. It is one of my favourite shows! Please don’t cancel it
CBS made a bad decision, this was one show I always set the DVR for and the only reason we kept the Dish network. Hopeful that NETFLIX picks it up..
Yes, the series should be renewed. You have a diverse group of issues that could span many years to come.
I wish they would reconsider and keep the show. I loved it and thought it was a lot better than Chicago Med.
Please renew code black
This was one of my favorite shows. I wish it was not cancelled.
I love the show! Wish it was renewed
Yes, cancel code black. I hate the story line. Once again, it becomes about personal relationships between cast members. Why don’t you all follow the long time series and stop doing anything but what the title implies.
Bring back code black please!!!!
I, too, watch a lot of medical shows and this one by far is the BEST. I also believe this was the best season. Consider bringing it back please, The cast was amazing!!!
I couldn’t wait for the next episode each week. I love this show.
NO! It should not have been cancelled. This archaic ratings methodology is ********! There is no provision to count all of us that RECORD our favorite shows to watch later. And there are a lot of us. They only look at “last night’s viewers and make their ridiculously skewed decisions. Code Blake is one one of the best shows to air in a while. But hey, just ask shows like Penny Dreadful, Goliath, or Longmire. They know.
Agree, I record EVERYTHING!
I love Code Black, such a fantastic show. I’m in love with the cast, it tugs at my heart strings I cry a lot during the show it is simply the best show! Please reconsider and bring it back!