Code Black (TV series)

Code Black
Genre	Medical drama
Created by	Michael Seitzman
Starring	Marcia Gay Harden Raza Jaffrey Bonnie Somerville Melanie Chandra William Allen Young Harry Ford Benjamin Hollingsworth Luis Guzmán
Composer(s)	Clinton Shorter
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	18 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Michael Seitzman David Semel Marti Noxon Linda Goldstein-Knowlton David Von Ancken Molly Newman David Marshall Grant Brett Mahoney Ryan McGarry
Producer(s)	Scott Printz Steve Sassen
Running time	40–44 minutes
Production company(s)	Michael Seitzman's Pictures Tiny Pyro Productions CBS Television Studios ABC Studios
Distributor	Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network	CBS
Picture format	1080i (16:9 HDTV)
Original release	September 30, 2015 (2015-09-30) – present
External links
Website

Code Black is an American medical drama television series created by Michael Seitzman which premiered on CBS on September 30, 2015. It takes place in an overcrowded and understaffed emergency room in Los Angeles, California, and is based on a documentary by Ryan McGarry. On May 16, 2016, the show was renewed for a second season.

Plot

The show centers on the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital, where four first-year residents and their colleagues must tend to patients in an understaffed, busy emergency room that lacks sufficient resources.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Marcia Gay Harden as Dr. Leanne Rorish, the ER Residency Director at Angels', known to her current and former students as "Daddy". Her husband and two children were killed after their car was hit by a drunk driver; this sometimes influences her medical decisions. In "Diagnosis of Exclusion" Leanne is promoted to Director of Emergency Medicine, following the death of Gina Perello.
• Raza Jaffrey as Dr. Neal Hudson, an ER attending physician. A British-Indian former surgeon, his approach is quieter and more people-oriented. He connected with Christa during her first year of residency. In "Hail Mary", Neal becomes a surgical attending, and is once again assigned to the ER.
• Bonnie Somerville as Dr. Christa Lorenson, a mature first-year resident. She was married with a son who died of a brain cancer. Her experience and her divorce motivated her to attend medical school.
• Melanie Chandra as Dr. Malaya Pineda, a first-year resident. She went to medical school and did her internship at Angels Memorial, and is therefore more familiar with the ER. She is a lesbian, who was once involved with a resident when she was a medical student.
• William Allen Young as Dr. Rollie Guthrie, an ER attending physician with a very nurturing style; he takes Angus under his wing in his first days in the ER. Guthrie's wife killed herself, straining his relationship with his son, a surgeon.
• Harry Ford as Dr. Angus Leighton, a first-year resident. His father is on the hospital board, and feels overshadowed by that and by his older brother, a former resident, but slowly grows in confidence.
• Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dr. Mario Savetti, a first-year resident. He grew up poor and sees emergency medicine as his only way out. He was previously a bartender.
• Luis Guzmán as Jesse Salander, known as "Momma". A senior nurse who manages the residents, Jesse is tough on the outside but a caring and supportive of the students. He and Rorish have a long-term, close friendship.

Recurring cast

• Kevin Dunn as Dr. Mark Taylor, the Director of the Emergency Department at Angels Memorial, who is on leave during an investigation into potential mismanagement.
• Shiri Appleby as Dr. Carla Niven, a former resident at Angels Memorial, Malaya's ex-girlfriend.
• Christina Vidal as Dr. Gina Perello, the replacement Director of the Emergency Department at Angels Memorial, who takes over when Dr. Taylor is put on leave. She was murdered by Malaya's stalker, Gordon Heshman, in "Diagnosis of Exclusion".
• Gabrielle Carteris as Amy Wolfowitz, R.N., a nurse in the Emergency Department.
• Jillian Murray as Dr. Heather Pinkney, a surgical resident who becomes involved with Mario.
• Cress Williams as Dr. Cole Guthrie, a surgeon and Rollie's son. His relationship with his father is strained by his mother's suicide.
• Tommy Dewey as Dr. Mike Leighton, Angus' older brother, and a recently hired ER attending physician. He becomes the Director of the Residency Program following Rorish's promotion.
• Jesse Bradford as Gordon Heshman, a psychotic stalker.
• Jeff Hephner as Dr. Ed Harbert, Angels Memorial Hospital CEO and Gina's boyfriend. He and Leanne clash frequently, but their mutual respect is obvious.
• Boris Kodjoe as Dr. Mike Campbell, Chief of Surgery.
• Meagan Good as Dr. Grace Adams, Neal's ex-girlfriend.
• Ellia English as Isabel Mendez, a nurse in the Emergency Department.
• Emily Nelson as Hannah Reynolds, a nurse in the Emergency Department.
• Angela Relucio as Risa Park, a nurse in the Emergency Department.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"Pilot"	David Semel	Michael Seitzman	September 30, 2015 (2015-09-30)	CB101	8.58
The new residents at Angels Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles are introduced to the ER and deal with a series of patients ranging from a dropped-off gang member, and a foreign child with a collapsed lung, to an organ donor and his daughter who were in a car crash, a stroke patient, and a nine-month pregnant woman with unexplained flu symptoms.
2	"We Plug Holes"	Christopher Misiano	Michael Seitzman	October 7, 2015 (2015-10-07)	CB102	6.83
The ER deals with car crash victims, a hockey player suffering from seizures who is unwilling to acknowledge his illness, and a woman desperate to be able to have her dead husband's baby.
3	"Pre-Existing Conditions"	Lee Rose	David Marshall Grant	October 14, 2015 (2015-10-14)	CB103	6.96
The ER is under a 36 hours of code black and receives two brothers involved in a car accident. Leighton is pushed by fellow resident Savetti to cut open the chest of a patient who had come in with pelvic, chest and rib fractures. Lorenson faces a moral dilemma while treating a prisoner with renal failure.
4	"Sometimes It's a Zebra"	Adam Kane	Brett Mahoney	October 21, 2015 (2015-10-21)	CB104	7.13
Dr. Guthrie's son joins the hospital as a surgeon and often disagrees with Leanne. Meanwhile, Christa struggles to help an infant after the death of her son.
5	"Doctors with Borders"	David Von Ancken	Molly Newman	October 28, 2015 (2015-10-28)	CB105	5.96
The ER is overwhelmed with patients with an unknown respiratory ailment, requiring them to be quarantined. When Dr. Hudson's mother is among them, he clashes with his father over the proper treatment. A man impaled on a piece of rebar is desperate to make up with his daughter.
6	"In Extremis"	Vincent Misiano	Matt Partney and Corey Evett	November 4, 2015 (2015-11-04)	CB106	6.44
The ER must deal with two shot police officers, and the dilemma whether to save one of them or their shooter. A man deals with his gay, brain dead son's lover. Tensions between the two Dr. Guthries heat up. Pineda must deal with her pregnant former lover.
7	"Buen Árbol"	Nick Gomez	Corinne Marrinan	November 11, 2015 (2015-11-11)	CB107	6.90
The ER must deal with the injured after a car ran onto a sidewalk at a street fair, along with the driver who seems to suffer from seizure-induced amnesia. Other patients include a child of an illegal immigrant, a young woman whose eye is bulging out (Skyler Day), an old lady prepared to face her end, and a man with an enlarged organ who puts Savetti in an uncomfortable position.
8	"You Are the Heart"	Alex Zakrzewski	David Marshall Grant	November 18, 2015 (2015-11-18)	CB108	6.59
On a rainy LA night, the ER deals with the victims of a boating accident, an HIV-positive patient which endangers Savetti and causes tensions between him and Leighton, and Guthrie and Rorish butt heads on a surgery. Pineda runs a bone marrow drive for her former lover, much to her dismay.
9	"The Son Rises"	Andrew Bernstein	Michael Seitzman and Kristen Kim	November 25, 2015 (2015-11-25)	CB109	7.45
A family is the victim of a home invasion with a father who was stabbed near the heart, a mother who was repeatedly stabbed, and a son who was injured during his search for rescue by jumping out a window from a building. Mario and Angus clash over the mother who has bruising around her eyes. Taylor is suspended for bringing a child around the ER, and the doctors clash early with his replacement. Meanwhile, a son struggles to get his father off life support.
10	"Cardiac Support"	Oz Scott	Brett Mahoney	December 2, 2015 (2015-12-02)	CB110	8.50
The ER adjusts to the new department head who questions Rorish's decisions. An ambulance arrives with its paramedics knocked out by their patient, who attacks Jesse. Later, Jesse has a heart attack. As the doctors try to save him, other patients include a man hit by a train, the daughter of a controlling Beverly Hills mother, and the wife of a veteran who is struggling with addiction. Meanwhile, Mario leaves the hospital to find the train victim's son with intellectual disabilities, against Hudson's orders.
11	"Black Tag"	Omar Madha	Molly Newman	December 9, 2015 (2015-12-09)	CB111	8.38
Leanne, Neal, Christa, Angus, Mario, Malaya, and Heather are sent to the scene of a multi-car collision on a canyon road above Los Angeles. Leanne clashes with the physician in charge, making a decision he questions. Christa treats an injured family whose car is in a ravine. Angus, Heather, and Mario help a man stuck in cement. Mario and Heather find their lives in danger when a patient's husband holds them at gunpoint to save his wife. Meanwhile, Jesse recovers from his heart attack.
12	"The Fog of War"	Rob Bailey	David Marshall Grant	January 13, 2016 (2016-01-13)	CB112	6.66
Neal stays behind at the car crash scene to look for Christa, Mario, and Heather. Mario and Heather continue trying to revive a grieving husband's wife, who later attempts to commit suicide. Leanne and Neal face the consequences of having left a patient in Malaya's care resulting in both doctors being investigated. After Heather hugs Angus, he decides he wants to ask her out, unaware she has a relationship with Mario. Carla gives birth to her son, Philip, before dying.
13	"First Date"	Constantine Makris	Kristen Kim	January 20, 2016 (2016-01-20)	CB113	7.29
When a 16-year-old girl who is from a Christian-Scientist family comes into Angels requiring surgery, the ER must deal with her father who forbids the surgery. Angus' brother begins an observational rotation prior to accepting a new job in the hospital, as an attending surgeon. Christa treats a patient who is experiencing breathing problems who doesn't seem to be improving; when the patient dies following discharge, she blames herself for her death. Later, Neal and Christa kiss, while Malaya treats a patient named Gordon who flirts with her. Meanwhile, Leanne decides to leave her job.
14	"The Fifth Stage"	Oz Scott	Brett Mahoney	January 27, 2016 (2016-01-27)	CB114	7.49
In a shooting accident between two feuding families, one of the victims is required a kidney transplant with their cousin being the perfect match; however, the father refuses. Neal and Christa begin their relationship and Leanne forgives the drunk driver that killed her family. Malaya again deals with Gordon, who seems to be following her more often now. Later, he sneaks into the staff lockers to confront Gina, but he stabs her to death. Christa discovers her body and calls for help.
15	"Diagnosis of Exclusion"	David Von Ancken	Corey Evett and Matthew Partney	February 3, 2016 (2016-02-03)	CB115	6.90
In the aftermath of Gina's death, the doctors are questioned. Gordon had been at the hospital at least 17 times under different aliases and frequently asking for Malaya. Once Gina had been attacked, he followed Malaya to the elevator. She lies to him and takes another floor, but he continues to follow her. He asks her out, but she tells him that she is gay. Angry, he attacks her by slitting her and attempts to rape her. Angus arrives on time and pushes Gordon to the ground. He tells her to go to the ER. During Angus' fight with Gordon, Gordon accidentally stabs a knife into his neck. Angus, who had lied to human resources, heard Gordon telling him that he intended to kill Malaya and Angus lets him to bleed out, ultimately killing him when complications rose. At center stage, while all three were being treated, Gina is pronounced dead when surgery was no longer an option to save her and everyone mourns her death. Meanwhile, Leanne is given Gina's job and Neal is put on probation for surgery. Neal and Christa announce their relationship to human resources.
16	"Hail Mary"	Alex Zakrzewski	Michael Seitzman & Molly Newman	February 10, 2016 (2016-02-10)	CB116	7.13
Christa becomes insecure in her new relationship with Neal when his ex-girlfriend Dr. Grace Adams (Meagan Good), returns to Angels Memorial after spending a year volunteering in Haiti. Also, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. comes to the ER to convince his stubborn high school football coach, Pete Delaney (Beau Bridges), to have life-saving surgery. Neal accepts a job as surgical attending at Angels. Christa and Malaya treat a marathon runner and new single mother, Katie Miller (Annie Wersching), who is having lung issues.
17	"Love Hurts"	Constantine Makris	David Marshall Grant & Ryan McGarry	February 17, 2016 (2016-02-17)	CB117	6.11
Christa and Grace deal with a teenager who claims to have been abused at a camp. Angus begins to take ADHD medication to remain focused, after it is revealed that he deliberately refused to aid Gordon after he removed the knife from his throat, causing Gordon's death. Leanne deals with a VIP patient who had embryos implanted in her without her husband's acknowledgement. Meanwhile, Christa feels at odds with Grace due to her past history with Neal.
18	"Blood Sport"	David Von Ancken	Michael Seitzman & Kayla Alpert	February 24, 2016 (2016-02-24)	CB118	6.91
When the location of a presidential debate suffers an explosion, the ER must work under the scrutiny of the Secret Service to save both candidates and their families. Mario confronts Angus about his drug abuse, which in turn leads to Heather being caught by Campell using his scripts to prescribe the Adderall. The love triangle between Neal, Christa, and Grace becomes more complex. Dr. Rorish asks Dr. Taylor for advice on how to cope with Jesse and the other nurses' impending strike over wages and the addition of nurses to the staff.

Production

On January 27, 2015, the show's pilot episode was green lighted by CBS. On June 4, Brett Mahoney was appointed as executive producer for Code Black.

On October 23, 2015, CBS ordered six new scripts for Code Black. The following month, CBS ordered five additional episodes. CBS renewed the show for a second season in May 2016.

Casting

On February 17, 2015, Marcia Gay Harden was cast as Christa, a soccer mom who lost her son to cancer. On February 23, Melanie Kannokada was cast as Malaya, a doctor beginning her residency. Maggie Grace was cast as Dr. Leanne Rorish, the lead of the show, the following day. On March 3, Luis Guzman was set to star as Jose Santiago, a senior nurse. The character's name was later changed to Jesse Salander. The following day, Raza Jaffrey was cast as Neal, and Ben Hollingsworth was set to star as Mario, a new resident. When Grace left the show before filming began, the role of Leanne was then given to Harden, and Bonnie Somerville was cast in Harden's role as Christa.

Reception

Code Black has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the series has a rating of 54%, based on 39 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, " While not reinventing the stethoscope, Code Black is an above-average medical drama, with appropriately theatrical storylines that make up for sometimes cheesy dialogue." On Metacritic, the series has a score of 53 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

External links

• Official website
• Code Black at IMDb