Code Black: Season 1 (2015 - 2016)

SEASON:

Season 1
Code Black

Critics Consensus

While not reinventing the stethoscope, Code Black is an above-average medical drama, with appropriately theatrical storylines that make up for sometimes cheesy dialogue.

50%

TOMATOMETER

Critic Ratings: 42

82%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 191
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Episodes

1
Pilot
Air date: Sep 30, 2015
2
We Plug Holes
Air date: Oct 7, 2015
3
Pre-Existing Conditions
Air date: Oct 14, 2015
4
Sometimes It's a Zebra
Air date: Oct 21, 2015
5
Doctors With Borders
Air date: Oct 28, 2015
6
In Extremis
Air date: Nov 4, 2015
7
Buen Árbol
Air date: Nov 11, 2015
8
You Are the Heart
Air date: Nov 18, 2015
9
The Son Rises
Air date: Nov 25, 2015
10
Cardiac Support
Air date: Dec 2, 2015
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Code Black: Season 1 Photos

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Tv Season Info

From creator Michael Seitzman comes this medical drama that follows Residency Director Dr. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) as she manages four first-year residents at the overcrowded and understaffed Angels Memorial Hospital ER Room. Dr. Rorish must also navigate her relationships and occasional differences of opinion with colleagues, including Senior Nurse Jesse Sallander (Luiz Guzman), Dr. Neal Hudson (Raza Jeffrey), and Dr. Rollie Guthrie (William Allen Young), as she attempts to successfully treat patients under often stressful circumstances.

Cast

Marcia Gay Harden
as Leanne Rorish
Bonnie Somerville
as Christa Lorenson
Melanie Chandra
as Malaya Pineda
Benjamin Hollingsworth
as Mario Savetti
Harry M. Ford
as Angus Leighton
Luis Guzman
as Jesse Sallander
Raza Jaffrey
as Neal Hudson
William Allen Young
as Rollie Guthrie
Angela Relucio
as Risa Park
Melanie Kannokada
as Malaya Pineda
Kevin Dunn
as Dr. Mark Taylor
Gabrielle Carteris
as Nurse Amy
Ellia English
as Isabel Mendez
Jillian Murray
as Heather Pinkney
Christina Vidal
as Gina Perello
Emily Nelson
as Hannah
Tommy Dewey
as Mike Leighton
Cress Williams
as Cole Guthrie
Jeff Hephner
as Ed Harbert
Shiri Appleby
as Carla Niven
Maggie Grace
as Leanne Royer
Boris Kodjoe
as Will Campbell
Meagan Good
as Grace Adams
Aris Mendoza
as Paramedic
Theo Breaux
as Paramedic
Adina Porter
as Susie
Jesse Bradford
as Gordon
Maggie Elizabeth Jones
as Lily
Andres Perez-Molina
as Paramedic
Amy Stewart
as Katherine
Lindsey McKeon
as Sienna
Chase Ellison
as Elliot
Haley Brooke Walker
as Roseline
Daniel Gerroll
as Dr. Peter Hudson
Odell Beckham Jr.
as Himself
Kevin Dunn
as Dr. Mark Taylor
Shinelle Azoroh
as Jocelyn
Terrence Edwards
as Medic #1
Vanessa Martinez
as Flora Saracho
Roma Chugani
as Asra Hudson
Don Creech
as Mr. Cleery
J.F. Davis
as Stanley
Neil Hopkins
as Gary
Beau Bridges
as Pete Delaney
Aaron Christian Howles
as Kevin O'Brien
Emily Alyn Lind
as Ariel
Greg Collins
as Sheriff
Jill Andre
as Mrs. Cleery
Christopher Cousins
as John Harris
Gail O'Grady
as Margaret O'Brien
Nicole Steinwedell
as Angela
Matthew John Armstrong
as Dylan Michael Ross
José Zúñiga
as Chef Holder
Edwin Kho
as Medic #1
Mark Atteberry
as Anesthesiologist
Glenn Morshower
as Dennis
Iris Almario
as Det. Carmody
Bruce Nozick
as Jack Irons
Lilli Birdsell
as Susan Harris
Dana Davis
as Laura
Sadie Stratton
as Kelly Rockman
Amy Shelton-White
as Medic #3
Ashanti Brown
as Jody
Michael Reilly Burke
as Frank Irvin
Regan Burns
as Jake
Skyler Day
as Vernoica Franco
Sigrid Owen
as Tina
Luke Donaldson
as Ethan Watney
Zach Bostrom
as Killian
Kenneth Mitchell
as Cory Rockman
Joe Piccuirro
as Medic #2
T.J. Linnard
as Brian Wellborn
June Squibb
as Dorothy
Michael Trucco
as Tom Moreno
Linn Bjornland
as Basti's Mother
Jackson Pace
as Pete Irvin
Sara Paxton
as Sophie
Nikhil Pai
as JJ Coyle
Stacy Chbosky
as Joan Wright
Lamont Thompson
as Stan Oberlin
Zuleyka Silver
as Kamilla
Alicia Coppola
as Karen Irvin
Rebecca Lowman
as Becca
Lyn Alicia Henderson
as Medic 1
Julian Zane
as Pablo Saracho
Angela Lewis
as Shanni Platt
Michael A. Goorjian
as Emanuel
B.J. Clinkscales
as Deputy Sam Pace
Casey Printers
as Scott
Amy Tolsky
as Mrs. Curtis
Kati Salowsky
as Lizzie Barnett
Melissa Bickerton
as X-Ray Tech
Ajiona Alexus
as Keesha Platt
Curt Mega
as Aaron Jacobson
K Callan
as Ruth
Cathryn de Prume
as Nancy Smith
Shanti Lowry
as Tiffany
Hal Ozsan
as Karo
Erica Gimpel
as Alice
Scott Michael Campbell
as David
Mary Matilyn Mouser
as Tia Benton
Myndy Crist
as Susan Stein
Tory N. Thompson
as Orderly
Aylam Orian
as Basti's Father
Stephen Chang
as Medic 2
Christopher Gartin
as Robert Stein
Veronica Diaz-Carranza
as Angela
Alton Fitzgerald White
as Lawrence
Gregory Marcel
as Miles
Cozi Zuehlsdorff
as Aubrey
Benito Martinez
as Steve Jasso
Virginia Tucker
as Elena Hunter
Dan Martin
as Donald
Deniz Akdeniz
as Manny
Ogy Durham
as Diana
Marlene Forte
as Lucia
Elaine Mani Lee
as Phlebotomist
Stoney Westmoreland
as Rick Biddenger
Bryce McBratnie
as James Barnett
Doug Haley
as Darrell Bridges
Bodhi Elfman
as Kenny
J. Mallory McCree
as Jamal
Elisha Henig
as Luke Barton
Tangie Ambrose
as Kayla Phelps
Jamie Luner
as Candace
Mark Engelhardt
as Rick
Ezekiel Bridges
as Graham
Linara Washington
as Rebecca
Tim Guinee
as Adam Benton
Matthew Jones
as Cop
Shelley Robertson
as Mali
JD Cullum
as Edward Darius
Graham Hamilton
as Henry Randall
Christopher Meyer
as James
Craig Welzbacher
as Ben Barton
Sayeed Shahidi
as Randell
Lisa Kaminir
as Lindsey Calhoon
Thomas Kopache
as Edwin Parker
Gabriel Bateman
as Jason
Arriane Alexander
as Aunt Linda
Grace Van Dien
as Friend One
Rebecca Field
as Lori
Emily Bridges
as Mia Delaney
Christopher Meyer
as James
Charles Carpenter
as Stan
Courtney Ford
as Danielle Randall
Kelly Michaels
as Medic
Matthew Von Der Ahe
as Eli
Annie Wersching
as Katie
Sprague Grayden
as Leslie Garcia
L.J. Benet
as Jeremy Parker
Landon Ashworth
as Dane
Stephen Spinella
as Ted
Ericka Kreutz
as OB Nurse
Steven Shaw
as Henry
Suzanne Erickson
as Ella
Melia Renee
as Holly
Erin Way
as Debbie
C.J. Hoff
as Caesar
Jelly Howie
as Eva
Shelly Benedict
as Nurse
Jesse Wang
as Sang Han
Halbert Hernandez
as Priest
Rico E. Anderson
as Cop
Wes Ramsey
as Matt
Sal Lopez
as Drunk Man
Dave Power
as Craig James
Steven Culp
as Desmond
Jessica Leigh Gonzales
as Medic
Peter James Smith
as Dermatologist
Becky Wu
as Fannie Lee
Ariana Molkara
as Vanessa
Diego Rodríguez
as TJ
Lincoln Castellanos
as Kurt
Rick Garcia
as News Anchor
Tracy Kay
as Debra
Cameron Boyce
as Brody
Carmella Riley
as Kim
Will Rothhaar
as Henry
Ursula Burton
as Nurse
Michael B. Silver
as Dr. Paul Weatherly
A.J. Castro
as Ambulance Driver
Dru Mouser
as Sandy
Kim Whalen
as Rachel
Daniel González
as Hector
Pat Harvey
as News Anchor
James T. Williams II
as Medic #1
Shannon McClung
as Axe Man
Cantrell Harris
as Fire Rescue
Lonny Aufrie
as Zoe Bower
Taylor Zakhar
as Ari
Tait Fletcher
as Biker
Thai Douglas
as Sheriff
Ann Marie Lee
as Charge Nurse
Joshua Keller Katz
as Medic #3
Juan Monsalvez
as Event Medic
Monnae Michaell
as OR Nurse
Corey Mendell Parker
as Officer Combs
Daniel Robaire
as Radiology Tech
Johnny Kostrey
as Medic #2
Monica Lawson
as Pediatric Nurse
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News & Interviews for Code Black: Season 1

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Critic Reviews for Code Black Season 1

All Critics (42) | Top Critics (21)

Action and the beginning of character development are both good signs.

Sep 9, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Gail Pennington
Top Critic

If you missed ER or would prefer your Grey's Anatomy without so much bed-hopping, this could be the show for you.

Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Vicki Hyman
Top Critic

Harden's unfortunate typecasting is the least of the ailments afflicting Code Black.

Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review…
Mekeisha Madden Toby
Top Critic

If the writers keep showing off Harden and Guzman so well, Code Black should have a good shot at survival. The premiere's emotional payoff offers another reason to hope.

Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review…
Hal Boedeker
Top Critic

Harden is a fine actress, but the show's writers too often give her heavy-handed lines that are the equivalent of cauterizing a head wound with a blow torch.

Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: C | Full Review…
Ed Bark
Top Critic

Code Black is a pretty good show and a pretty recognizable one too.

Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Verne Gay
Top Critic

It's a mishmash of serious ER chaos and manipulative sentimentality and melodrama, which feel forced.

May 7, 2019 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
Allison Keene

Code Black makes you cardiac arrest at the pace of the action, but there's nothing new to see here.

Jun 14, 2017 | Full Review…
Jane Bowron

Code Black is at war with itself, trying to sell its setting's realistically jagged edges even as it files them down to nothing.

Sep 30, 2015 | Rating: 4/10 | Full Review…
Isaac Feldberg

Harden is strong, Shonda Rhimes strong, in her role as a dedicated physician.

Sep 30, 2015 | Full Review…
Mark A. Perigard
View All Critic Reviews (42)

Audience Reviews for Code Black: Season 1

  • Apr 25, 2019
    I love this show so much
    Jennifer D
  • Nov 04, 2018
    A primeira temporada de "Code Black" não teve um impacto grande nos espectadores, no entanto, as histórias contadas e os personagens encantaram, certamente.
    Gonçalo S
  • Aug 22, 2018
    A new tv show that may even challenge ER and Gray’s Anatomy. The best!
  • May 23, 2018
    one of the better medical dramas i've seen, much more realistic than most other medical dramas although season three is obviously trying to appeal to people who prefer more drama than medicine. Still my favorite show because of the complex cases, plotlines, and high intensity episodes!
    Victoria O
  • Jan 12, 2017
    Great acting, directing, and stories
    Mary M
  • Oct 30, 2016
    Like most "Miracle Center" medical dramas, this show had promise when it started. But at Episode 3, I am already disgusted with the characters, especially Boris Kodjoe as Will Campbell, who makes me want to switch channels with his bad management, pathetic empathy, cold hearted attitude. No way an ass like this would ever rise to his level with usch bad judgement and manners. Always good to have a jerk in the cast, but this contrived crap is not entertaining at all. (Kudos to Boris Kodjoe for portraying a character we can hate so well.) And the spineless characters who put up with his BS make me want to puke. Do they not have an HR department in this hospital? Kudos to Luis Guzman and Marcia Gay Harden for excellent acting. So sad that your characters and the writers have no backbone for them. Deleted from my DVR, I'm done.
    Owen R
  • Sep 23, 2016
    it doesn't re-invent the wheel as far as medical dramas go but 'Code Black' is a welcome addition to CBS showing real doctors doing their best to save as many patients as possible the term code black itself refers to massive patients that outweigh the hospital staff and that's certainly the case with this hospital in Los Angeles when the injured and close-to-death individuals start pouring in it really is a huge weight on these doctors' shoulders the cast is amazing from Marcia Gay Harden to Luiz Guzman to Bonnie Sommerville to Jillian Murray some may compare it to 'ER' or 'Grey's Anatomy' yet it still finds a way to find its own stature compelling drama, a sense of realism, so many pouring emotions, and always addictive believe me there is room to make things better so I hope the TV creators can keep their footing this is a good, laid-back program to fill up the slate
    Jon C
  • Aug 12, 2016
    Along with police procedurals and courtroom dramas the one genre that is always represented every season’s television lineup is the hospital series. In recent times the emergency room has been renamed emergency department mostly in order to give it equal representation at the all-important departmental meetings. Despite the real-life name change what goes on in the most hectic part of the hospital remains the same. That is because human nature has not changed and is still people were going to shoot and stab each other or drive drunk or have accidents. Anyone who was actually worked in an emergency department will be quite justified for shaking your head in disbelief how they are represented almost television shows. The patient of the week is taken into a nice curtained off area or into an always available examination the doctor can focus exclusively on the patient. Most emergency departments that is woefully incorrect. Emergency department is in place of chaos, it is messy and loud, confusing and bloodied. The first thing I noticed about the latest offering in this genre by ABC, ‘Code Black’ is that the hectic war zone-esque atmosphere is closer to a real emergency department television audiences accustomed to seeing. Help justify the exceptionally chaotic setting in the title of series. According to the standardized system of hospital color codes a Code Black situation with the influx of patients overwhelmed the available resources. As a title caught explains in the beginning of each episode is only a few such times in the normal emergency department of fictitious Angels Memorial Hospital that condition is called 300 times a year. What first attracted me to the series was the gritty realism of how they portrayed patient care. The doctors and nurses are all dedicated to giving the best care possible but they had to face the often terrible reality that they are in a war against sickness and injury and they are hopelessly outnumbered. The floor is limited discarded needle caps and bandages punctuated by pools of blood. The doctors and nurses do their best to go for one patient to the next but it seems as though there is never an end in sight. In a situation like these examinations are performed in situ, wherever they can fit the gurney. There’s little concern for privacy, that is vastly superseded by the need for immediate action. Those patients were the most critical are sent to a somewhat corndog area known as Center Stage’, rather more difficult emergency procedures are performed. As a series opens a group of new residents are beginning their emergency department rotation. In charge of the program is. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden) projects the persona of a stern but fair or father figure was to be obeyed immediately. In contrast, is the head charge nurse, Jesse Sallander (Luis Guzmán) was respectably referred to by all as Mama. He tells the newbies one thing keep in mind, " In Momma house no one dies". The band sufficiency and respect for each of nurses as well as the doctors working alongside them. Just as initial casting immediately caught my eye but I started watching the show. Mr. Guzmán has been a character actor of exemplary standing for many years. He is a journeyman actor who never disappoints of his performances. A simple observation can be made for Ms. Harden when the decades she has been acting as successfully portrayed an eclectic range of characters. What is most notable about most of her performances is the manner in which she is able to nuances and subtleties, using them in the very core of a character’s personality. It is hinted at by some extraneous comments that are character is not been the same since the ‘incident’. Most of the season will have passed before we all let into the details due to Ms. Harding’s stellar performance witness how it has affected his talented and dedicated physician. I have noticed that some have critical about how this series follows the perennial names and archetypes will be fine by the genre. While I freely admit that comments such as these are true they do not take into account the drive and energy that the writing and acting fuses into each situation. It is this intensity carries a series and differentiates them from others. An example is the new residents; each one fits a checklist found in almost every medical drama on television. First there is Dr. Christa Lorenson (Bonnie Somerville), a bit older than her peers and is now divorced and has a son who died of cancer. Dr. Malaya Pineda (Melanie Chandra), who was quite familiar with the hospital having gone to medical school and served internship at Angels Memorial. Dr. Mario Savetti (Benjamin Hollingsworth) grew up exceptionally poor and had to work at the medical school job such as bartending. It is like this there is always somebody was suspected of having achieved the position of nepotism or favoritism. That slot is built by Dr. Angus Leighton (Harry Ford), whose father is on the Board of Directors. Is also overshadowed by the return of his older brother, Dr. Mike Leighton (Tommy Dewey), who has been hired as one of the ED’s attending physicians. The brothers have always competed and Mike is always turned out on top. A very emotional plot lines the entire first season is our Angus begins to stop competing with his brother just concentrate on being the best doctor he can. There has to be some elements of the soap opera present in most television series. Although denounced as for the masses the format of a soap opera produces shows that Christa psychological challenges keep the viewer coming back episode after episode. The same holds true for this series. One of the main emotional entanglements is when Dr. Carla Niven (Shiri Appleby) reappears. She had been a resident at the hospital previously had been in a romantic relationship with Malaya. Now she is exception sick and pregnant. Another emotional entanglement is between Dr. Heather Pinkney (Jillian Murray) who becomes involved with Mario. Complications occur when it comes out that she’s playing the field why people relationship more monogamous. Most of the storylines are familiar to anyone who’s a fan of the genre but again is a twist afforded by ramping up the intensity and by performances of an amazingly talented ensemble cast. When Dr. Mark Taylor (Kevin Dunn), the Director of the Emergency Department, innocently shows a young boy was left on his own around the department administration does not regard this is just a grandfatherly gesture, he is placed on administrative leave pending investigation or misconduct. Is replaced by Dr. Gina Perello (Christina Vidal) tries to reorganize the emergency department according to own way of doing things. He quickly learns that she may not agree with how things are done but they work. There are some real world moral dilemmas that the doctors have to face. While out in the field during a very serious traffic accident Christa disregards the Doctor in Charge sentiment of the hospital in order to go and help little girl whose mother has been trapped. Although life is saved Christa has to face disciplinary charges for disobeying the chain of command. In all too many hospital shows it seems that the maverick doctor gets away with everything without any repercussions. At least in this series there is an effort made to demonstrate that doctors and nurses are expected to work within the guidelines and rules established by the administration and other governing bodies. There’s plenty of action to go around in the series with a dangerous stalker lurking about the shocking murder that nominee affects the staff emotional level will result in a major change in the hierarchy of the emergency department. Every one of these characters is a three-dimensional, realistically drawn human being with the typical spectrum of strengths and foibles all people are subject to. Thankfully the series has been renewed for a second season is just too good to be relegated to the ‘canceled before it’s time list’. The frantic quasi-control insanity of the emergency department initially caught my eye but it was the depth of the character’s development that made me a dedicated fan.
    Douglas M
  • Aug 03, 2016
    A good watch, with interesting storylines.
    Stephen J
  • Jul 17, 2016
    Very well-written and -directed. Marcia Gay Harden is a joy, and the ensemble cast is very good. Unusual (and great) in the way it is shot. A winner.
    Mj F
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