Amazon adds pilot from 'Super Troopers' creator
Amazon Studios orders a new original comedy for its third pilot season, which lets customers vote on which shows gets made.
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Amazon on Friday added a half-hour comedy from the creator of "Super Troopers" to its slate of pilots debuting later this year.
As part of Prime Instant Video's third pilot season, which lets Amazon customers watch a lineup of shows and vote on which should be ordered for a full season, the program "Really" from creator Jay Chandrasekhar will join a half-hour dramatic comedy called "The Cosmopolitans" and an hour-long drama named "Hand of God."
Amazon aims to have a "="" every="" year"="" shortcode="link" asset-type="article" uuid="32549bdc-67d4-11e3-a665-14feb5ca9861" slug="amazon-plans-waves-of-pilots-to-tap-crowd-input-and-hook-you" link-text="couple of pilot " section="news" title="Amazon plans waves of pilots to tap crowd input -- and hook you" edition="us" data-key="link_bulk_key" api="{"id":"32549bdc-67d4-11e3-a665-14feb5ca9861","slug":"amazon-plans-waves-of-pilots-to-tap-crowd-input-and-hook-you","contentType":null,"edition":"us","topic":{"slug":"online"},"metaData":{"typeTitle":null,"hubTopicPathString":"Tech^Services and Software^Online","reviewType":null},"section":"news"}"> as it develops its own stable of original content for its subscription video service Prime Instant Video, which is included in its $99-a-year Prime membership program. Amazon's goal is to keep up an ongoing discussion with customers about new content to keep viewers -- and potential Amazon Prime subscribers -- interested. The approach differs from that of Netflix, its biggest competitor in online streaming video, which also plumbs its data for types of program that hold appeal but selects, orders, and releases its programs a whole season at once.
So far, Amazon's original programming push -- which has consisted of two pilot seasons and a freshman round of original full series -- hasn't generated the same kind of buzz and Hollywood cachet as Netflix, which has been nominated for multiple Emmys and other awards.
"Really" is about four suburban Chicago couples coming to terms with their dwindling youth, according to the company. It stars Chandrasekhar, who also writes and directs the show; Sarah Chalke from "Scrubs;" Selma Blair from "Anger Management;" Travis Schuldt from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia;" and Lindsay Sloane of "Psych."