NBC Upfronts: More on ‘The Blacklist: Redemption,’ ‘Emerald City,’ ‘Taken’ prequel, and more

While there were only so many new shows that made it onto the NBC fall schedule, there are many more that the network has on the pipeline for later in the season. Ultimately, this is a network that has the flexibility to save a lot of shows for midseason, mostly because their Sunday nights free up after the NFL season is over, and this allows for opportunities to air some sort of programming there. Also, it’s got a chunk of time in January without “The Voice” on the air, and they can take advance of that as well.

We may not have video previews for several of the shows below, but we can at least give you loglines of many of these upcoming shows, including some much-hyped spin-offs for “The Blacklist” and also “Chicago PD.”

“The Blacklist: Redemption” – “In this thrilling new spinoff of NBC’s breakout hit series, undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen), the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.”

Obviously one of the most-hyped new shows of the season, and one that is going to be fascinating to see just to learn more about who Tom Keen really is.

“Chicago Justice” – “Powerhouse creator Dick Wolf delivers a captivating new installment to the hit Chicago franchise. Just like their brethren in the Chicago P.D., the State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigate heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice. As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law. It all starts with a gut-wrenching case when one of Chicago’s finest is shot in the line of duty.”

If it’s anything like the excellent backdoor pilot, Philip Winchester, Carl Weathers, Joelle Carter, and the rest of the cast are in good hands.

“Emerald City” – “In the blink of a tornado’s eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 police dog are swept into a world far removed from our own — a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. Starring Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil,” “Jurassic World”) as the guileful Wizard and directed by the visionary Tarsem Singh across three European countries, this is Oz completely reimagined — a place where familiar characters show up in fresh, unexpected ways, and where an unsuspecting young woman holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world and uncovers her true destiny, we’ll see there’s no place like… Oz.”

The part of this show that’s the most intriguing to us is the presence of Vincent D’Onofrio, who has been excellent in the role of Fisk on Netflix’s adaptation of “Daredevil.”

“Midnight, Texas”  – “Welcome to a place where being normal is really quite strange. From Niels Arden Oplev, the visionary director of “Mr. Robot,” and based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”), comes a journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family.”

The author’s pedigree is in some ways here more noteworthy than the cast, but you do have “Orphan Black” alum Dylan Bruce around as well as Arielle Kebbel (“The Vampire Diaries”).

“Taken” – “From executive producer Luc Besson (“Taken,” “The Fifth Element”) comes a modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows the origin story of younger, hungrier former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen, “Vikings”) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills. In 30 years, this character became the Bryan Mills that we’ve come to love from the “Taken” films.”

Basically, the entire series is based around Standen being a badass. Should be just fine.

New comedies

“Great News” – “Getting along with some colleagues can be rough, but working with your mom? That’s a whole other story. When Katie, an up-and-coming news producer, finds out her overbearing mom (Andrea Martin, “SCTV,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) has rejoined the workforce as an intern at the station where Katie works, it might just be the worst news ever. But, with her biggest cheerleader at her side, Katie might finally get the recognition she deserves. The laughs hit close to home in this new office comedy from executive producers Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and the producers of “30 Rock.””

The presence of Fey and Carlock, coupled with Martin being on board, should be enough to get people watching.

“Marlon” – “Loosely inspired by the real life of star Marlon Wayans (“In Living Color,” “Scary Movie”), this update to the classic family comedy centers on a loving (but immature) father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife. While his misguided fatherly advice, unstoppable larger-than-life personality and unpredictable Internet superstardom might get in the way sometimes, for Marlon family really always does come first — even if he’s the biggest kid of all.”

This is probably the most traditional comedy that NBC has for this upcoming season.

“Powerless” – “In the first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease Live,” “High School Musical”) plays Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult “hero” in her own right … even if it’s just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.”

With Danny Pudi and Alan Tudyk in the cast, the cred is certainly here.

“Trial & Error” – “In this outrageous fish-out-of-water comedy, bright-eyed New York lawyer Josh Segal heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, “rollercizing” poetry professor (John Lithgow, “3rd Rock From the Sun”) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty. “Making a Murderer” can be funny!”

Nicholas D’Agosto, Sherri Shepherd, and Jayma Mays are all a part of the cast of what may the riskiest, but potentially funniest, midseason comedy NBC has.