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?
CBS used to be the network I watched the most but with the loss of characters on many shows and the number of reality shows that I hate, I’m loosing my interest in CBS! You get a great show like Code Black with a great cast and good writers and something that kept my interest from the very first episode and you decide to cancel it without really giving it a chance. Its like you wanted it to fail. I hope that Netflix or one of the other networks realize how great of a show Code Black is and take… Read more »
I think that Code Black was an amazing show and as a nurse, I found it very entertaining. If it can’t hold its own in primetime season then transfer it to the summer. As your ratings have found, it really suceeded this summer. Plus, how many medical shows are on in the summer?
Patients don’t always make it which is more realistic and they also focus on the military issues. Please bring it back
I liked Code Black because of the unity of the actors. Please don’t cancel it! Just put on at another time or channel. I worked in a hospital, emergency room, and the whole staff worked like the show to help everyone that came to the ER. This show the dedication of the actors and the human aspect of their personal life. KEEP THE SHOW ON THE TV
Yes! I loved Code Black! The best show on TV! Wonderful heart-warming stories.
Please bring this show back before the actors find another gig, it was one of my favorite shows on the air i had to wait so long for these last 13 episodes. Maybe sandwich on Tuesday between the NCIS and NCIS New Orleans so it could build up a following like BULL
I love this show and hate that it won’t be on anymore. Maybe it should be on in the fall.
No way one of my favorite shows. It really disappoints me that you cancelled it. Cbs was doing so well with the lineup of good shows, & then you cancel what mature audiences prefer to watch. I record every episode. Dont cancel it please.
No way!!!! bring it back!!!!! u will regret later
I can’t understand why this show was cancelled. Good story lines, interesting characters. Just bad timing of showing in summer.
No, Code Black should NOT be cancelled..while other stupid shows go on..this was a great show and a great cast!!
Love this show. With all the crap on TV, an actual good show with great actors and storyline gets cancelled. Shame on you!
Code Black has a wonderful strong cast, that didn’t deserve to be cancelled! The story lines were as strong as the cast. Everybody I talk to says the same thing, “I’m so sick of reality T.V. shows”! This year there are several good shows that have been cancelled , and yet we continue to promote shows that have no morals! I hope another network can see what a great asset Code Black would be to be in their line-up!
This show should be extended. Excellent medical ER drama The dead brother talking was a bit much, but OK for one episode.
I love this show! Code Black is such a favourite of ours. We are extremely disappointed to read of its cancelling. Please bring it back!
Should NOT have been canceled. Great show. Agree with others who point out that rating methodologies are ridiculous. They don’t account for millions of viewers who record and watch at their convenience! Dumb. Should have been renewed for at least another season. Great storylines…Rob Lowe’s insanity about his dead brother and conflict with his Dad, the Rox relationship, the adopted teenage daughter goes homeless, the arrogant but stellar surgeons, etc. What’s not to love?!!
This show should have been extended. It’s about time a cast looks and acts like this: smart, compassionate and complex, men and women- black, Hispanic, all different backgrounds. The writing is so strong. The cast amazing. You care about these people. It may take another season for people to catch on to a show this fantastic. Try it out on another night at another time.
Black Code is a diamond in the rough.
The network ONLY needs to put it in the right light (maybe a good night and time) and it was outshine everyone.