The Blacklist missed out on a fall launch for the first time in its five-year history, but NBC has confirmed when fans can expect the sixth season of the drama series to get underway.
It will launch with a two-hour special on Friday, January 4, 2019, at 8/7c before settling into the 9/8c time period the following week.
Yes, The Blacklist Fanatics, the series is making the movie to the lower-rated Friday nights. In the past, such a move has been seen as the death knell for a show, but it could be a sign that NBC believes in the series.
Since its launch, it has been a magnet for delayed viewing, but the on-air ratings have softened considerably.
Related: The Blacklist Renewed for Season 6!
The Blacklist Season 5 averaged 5.7 million total viewers and a 0.9 rating in the advertiser-craved 18-49 demo. Those numbers swelled to 8.6 million total viewers, and a 1.6 rating with delayed viewing factored in.
The Friday move means it will be paired up with fellow Warner Bros. TV Group produced series, Blindspot.
"Following the startling revelation that Raymond “Red” Reddington (Spader) isn’t who he says he is, Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) is torn between the relationship she’s developed with the man assumed to be her father and her desire to get to the bottom of years of secrets and lies," reads the official logline.
"Meanwhile, Red leads Liz and the FBI to some of the most strange and dangerous criminals yet, growing his empire and eliminating rivals in the process. All throughout, Liz and Red engage in an uneasy cat-and-mouse game in which lines will be crossed, and the truth will be revealed."
The Blacklist also stars Diego Klattenhoff, Harry Lennix, Amir Arison, Mozhan Marnò and Hisham Tawfiq.
NBC started firming up its midseason schedule earlier this week with the announcement that Brooklyn Nine-Nine would be taking over from Will & Grace in January, with the comedy returning in a later time slot.
Related: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Gets Season 6 Premiere Date at NBC!
In an effort to bolster ratings on the modestly rated Thursday night schedule, the network confirmed that comedy block would be trimmed to one-hour, allowing The Titans Games to lead off the night at the start of 2019.
Freshman comedy, I Feel Bad will wrap its run in December after NBC revealed that the plan was always to go with a shorter run for the series.
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Remember you can watch The Blacklist online right here via TV Fanatic.