<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Official website </Td> </Tr> <P> The Blacklist is an American crime thriller television series that premiered on NBC on September 23, 2013 . Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader), a former U.S. Navy officer turned high - profile criminal, voluntarily surrenders to the FBI after eluding capture for decades . He tells the FBI that he has a list of the most dangerous criminals in the world that he has compiled over the years and is willing to inform on their operations in exchange for immunity from prosecution . However, he insists on working exclusively with a rookie FBI profiler by the name of Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). The series also stars Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, and Harry Lennix . The pilot episode was written by Jon Bokenkamp and directed by Joe Carnahan . Executive producers for the series include Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath, and John Davis for Sony Pictures Television, Universal Television, and Davis Entertainment . </P> <P> On October 4, 2013, NBC ordered nine additional episodes, filling out the series' first season . On December 3, 2013, NBC renewed the series for a 22 - episode second season . On May 11, 2014, owing to the series' breakout success, NBC decided to air an episode in the coveted post--Super Bowl timeslot in 2015 . On December 5, 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on September 22, 2016 . A spin - off series, The Blacklist: Redemption, premiered on February 23, 2017 . On May 11, 2017, the series was renewed for a fifth season, while the spin - off was canceled the following day . The fifth season premiered on September 27, 2017 . On May 12, 2018, the series was renewed for a sixth season . </P> <P> The series has received positive reviews, with many critics praising Spader's performance in particular . </P>

How many seasons of the blacklist is there
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