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?
Code Black needs to be resuscitated. Bring it back! My whole family loves this show. That’s 15 adults and a multitude of children ranging from teen to 8yrs. The 8yr old wants to be like Roxy and work on an ambulance.
So disappointed that another good show is being cancelled… please bring back code black
should not have been cancelled.
Such an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SHOW. With a talented writer who’s written other great shows(still on the air), how does this one get canceled??!!!! It’s the BEST OF ALL. Please bring it back but do it fairly so that it can get more viewers( not summer) since it sounds like that was a part of the issue.
Every episode of Code Black has something tender and heartwarming in it which is rare and desperately needed.
PLEASE BRING IT BACK
This show was fabulous! Every week was as exciting and the acting was superb! Please bring it back!
Bring Code Black back!!
Wonderful show, tremendous actors, should definitely NOT be cancelled!!
The show should be renewed. it is a good show with action packed weekly stories. Not sure why this show would be cancelled. too many bad shows still remaining
It should have been renewed the show has never been better than this season
No. PleSe Renee Code Black for a fourth season. Love that show and story lines.
PLEASE RENEW CodeBlack for a season 4.
Me and my wife are very upset and sad about no renewal.PLEASE reconsider!!!!PLEASE
No this should never have been cancelled. I love this show. Best hospital drama series I’ve ever watched.
NO, NO, NO! This is one of the best hospital dramas ever. Do not understand it being cancelled. I loved the characters and the stories. Please bring it back.
Nooo! We look forward to this show every week! As an RN i love the action, the emotional aspect and all of it! Love the actors and the characters they portray! Please bring it back!
There are so many shows that should be cancelled, Code Black was not one of them. The cast was excellent. Enjoyed each episode. Please CBS reconsider.