NBC has struggled with comedies in recent seasons, but the network is still determined to keep trying by ordering two new comedies for the 2016-2017 TV season about superheroes and murderers.

The network has ordered Powerless, set the DC Comics universe, and Trial and Error, a satire of real-life murder trials, to series. Thus far, Superstore is the only other comedy NBC has renewed for next season.

Powerless stars Vanessa Hudgens as an insurance adjustor in the universe of DC Comics, helping people deal with claims of damage after massive attacks involving superheroes and villains. It also stars Community‘s Danny Pudi and Firefly/Suburgatory‘s Alan Tudyk.

Trial and Error follows a New York lawyer who travels to a small South Carolina town to defend a poetry professor accused of murdering his wife. It stars Nicholas D’Agosto (Gotham‘s Harvey Dent) as the lawyer and John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter) as the accused murderer.

Will either of these new comedies become hits for NBC, turning around the network’s anemic comedy side?

NBC will reveal its full 2016-2017 schedule and line-up on Sunday, May 15.

(Image courtesy of NBC)

John Kubicek

Senior Writer, BuddyTV

John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire DiariesSupernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.