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 has some wonderful actors and is good at getting you wrapped up in the many story lines of all the various characters. I feel cheated that it just ended last night and we won’t get to follow any of them any further. Please reconsider it as another summer replacement if it can’t fit the fall schedule.
Code Black is one of the best shows on TV. CBS lost my viewing.
renewed. i would watch season 4 and beyond. absolute superb and talented cast.
No it should not have been cancelled, why is it every time something is good on TV it gets cancelled cancel the stupid reality shows
NO!!!! IT SHOULD NOT BE CANCELLED !!! CBS IS WRONG FOR DOING THIS!!!! MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE IT!!
I watched the show faithfully every week and I am terribly disappointed to read it is being cancelled. Please re-consider,ABC! I also really enjoyed Designated Survivor!
A Canadian viewer
Code Black was an awesome show .Im so Mad at CBS please put it back on.
Code Black is the best summer show on tv. CBS is wrong to cancel. Please CBS, reconsider.
The ratings for Code Black as a fall show were awful. It is very possible that it was too expensive to be a summer show. The ratings and viewership(according to a friend of mine) were really good this season, but it isn’t a cheap show to make.
no should not be cancelled good show putting on a bunch garbage taking all good shows off
Code black is the BEST medical show I’ve seen in a long time. Deserves a 4th season. Maybe you should try it in the fall or winter so you would have accurate numbers. So many people would watch it then. In this age of “cape” movies and tv shows it’s great to finally have characters you CARE about. Writing excellent actors excellent. DONT BLOW THIS CBS!!! Or maybe FOX would love to have this feeling drama. Wake up folks!
I can not understand why this show would be cancelled> I loved it. It’s real. so upset!
Would like to have seen it renewed especially after last episode. Think its a great show with alot of untold stories to tell.
No it shouldn’t have been cancelled Great Show didn’t cast
No it shouldn’t have been cancelled it was a great show