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?
Very sad to see this cancelled. Love this show and it was just getting really good. The characters were starting to develop.
Very disappointed to see Code Black is cancelled. Too many reality TV shows on and not enough quality shows! Sad!
Code Black is such a well written drama. Instead of cancelling such a great show, it should be a standard used to promote similar good and thought provoking entertainment. Most of the shows I watch are on CBS. Too bad they REALLY dropped the ball by cancelling this one and hopefully will reconsider and renew for at least another season (and many more).
Please bring Code Black back. We love that show!
I AGREE. BRING IT BACK!
Code Black is a high quality drama that is associated with real time medical
Professionalism. The humanism is what really makes it a worthwhile watch.
The actors pull you inside this world they have created in each segment, where you actually can relate.
Why would CBS cancel such a program?
There is such less quality programming compared to Code Black.
It is sad business for viewers.
CBS CARRIES stupid things like Big Brother crap, but a good high quality show like Code Black they cancel. Many people probably tape this show and watch it at a later time because of other shows on at the same time. When baseball starts I watch my Detroit games, and tape everything else.
I think it is one of the best shows in a long time. It brings out so many emotions in each episode
We’ve seen the article about the exec who fired actresses for not sleeping with him. That’s the only reason I can think of to have canceled CODE BLACK. So, since the molester has been revealed, can’t we have our show back?? It is an excellent and entertaining program and I hate losing it because some talented actress would not sleep with a dirty old man!!
Best show on tv i love code black cant believe they canceled im so pissed
It’s one of the best shows on.
I liked code black , but the shows downfall for me was the very ending of every show when some sappy song began playing and all the actors look at each other with phony looking faces.
lease do not cancel Code black
please do not cancel Code Black
Code Black is an awesome and well acted show! It is my favorite show. Please renew it!!! There is so much junk on TV…this show was one of the few gems!!!
Please bring back more SEASONS of CODE BLACK I truly enjoyed this show and looked forward to seeing it. Rob Lowe did an excellent job as well as all the other actors. I think that you will be glad if you decide to renew this excellent show,
If the network cancels Code Black, I guarantee, I know they don’t care, but I’ll never watch you again. This Network have a habit of canceling great shows. What idiots
Loved Code Black and would love it to be continued.