Shows like code black

One way or another, every network medical drama lives in the looming shadow of ER, but CBS' Code Black was the rare series that actually met the high bar set by the NBC classic in the '90s.

Set in an understaffed, overcrowded emergency room in Los Angeles, Code Black's title is the code used when a hospital staff is overwhelmed by the sheer number of patients. As a result, each episode was at once adrenaline-fueled and deeply emotional, which made it all the more shocking when CBS axed the hospital set drama after three seasons in May 2018.

From a quality standpoint, Code Black was top notch.

Between the constant action in the ER and the talented cast that included Rob Lowe, Marcia Gay Harden, and Luis Guzmán, the show never failed to be gripping TV. Unfortunately, it simply couldn't find a big enough audience to justify a season 4 renewal.

In terms of CBS' ratings, the drama only performed better than Scorpion (which was also canceled in 2018) and Elementary, as reported by TVLine.

But while the audience was small, Code Bl