CBS’ ‘Code Black’ Earns Five-Episode Pickup

The news comes after the network previously ordered six additional scripts for the freshman medical drama. Courtesy of CBS

The news comes after the network previously ordered six additional scripts for the freshman medical drama.

CBS likes what it sees in Code Black.

The network announced Friday that it has picked up the freshman medical drama for five additional episodes. The news comes nearly a month after CBS ordered six additional scripts for the Marcia Gay Harden drama.

When factoring in seven days of DVR returns, the drama — produced in-house by CBS Television Studios — sees its adults under 50 rating grow from a 1.1 to a 1.8 rating. Among total viewers, the series most recently jumped from 6 million to 9 million, or 53 percent. With the returns, Code Black has won its Wednesday at 10 p.m. slot.

Code Black joins fellow CBS rookies Life in Pieces and Limitless, both of which have earned additional episode orders. That leaves only Supergirl — its last fall series debut and also likely to earn a full-season — awaiting word on its future. 

Broadcast networks have been more patient this season as live viewership continues to become only part of the equation when determining if a series is a success. Fox on Friday also announced that it would abandon reporting same-day ratings come 2016 as the focus becomes more on three-, seven- and 30-day DVR returns and streaming. While most networks have opted to "trim" the episode counts for struggling freshman, only one series (ABC's Wicked City) has been outright canceled.

Code Black

Lesley Goldberg