Last year, Amazon Studios debuted their answer to Netflix’s original programming: 14 pilots in which the viewer got to decide what the viewer wanted to watch, rather than the studio executive. The result was two full shows, “Betas” and “Alpha House,” and three animated children’s shows ready for this coming year. This past week, Amazon Studios announced 10 new pilots ready for the public to comment on, where they will decide what will be produced and what will get sent to the shredder.
Three of the pilots stood out from the rest. The first, a sports comedy called “The Rebels,” is the comedy equivalent of “Friday Night Lights.” Centered around a fictional professional football team, the Los Angeles Rebels, “The Rebels” focuses on the life of Julie Levine, played by Natalie Zea (“The Following”), who has recently inherited the team from her deceased husband. Rebuffing pressure to sell the team, she appoints her husband’s assistant Danny Norwood (Josh Peck, “Drake & Josh”) to manage the team. “The Rebels” combines hilarious situations with spot-on acting that gives a lighter look at what it takes to run a professional sports team. The lack of a laugh track does not hurt the show one bit, as it is funny enough for the viewer to laugh on their own. True comedies do not appear every year, but with the right writing, this team of actors could produce a true gem.
The second of the standout pilots, “Mozart in the Jungle,” is inspired by Blair Tindall’s 2005 memoir of the same name. The show centers around the New York Orchestra as the performers attempt to adapt to their new conductor, young phenom Gustavo (Gael Garcia Bernal, “Babel”). With wonderful music provided by the New York Philharmonic and many broadway pit orchestras, “Mozart in the Jungle” fills a hole that no one knew existed in the television market: a musical drama. Even for those who are not music aficionados, the score of the show is simply breathtaking. With a cast that includes award-winning actor Malcolm McDowell (“A Clockwork Orange”), actress Saffron Burrows (“Boston Legal”), broadway actress Bernadette Peters (“Smash”) and newcomer Lola Kirke, “Mozart in the Jungle” will definitely delight those who seek a slightly less dramatic drama.
The third and final of the great pilots comes into an oversaturated genre with a breath of fresh air. Cop drama “Bosch” follows Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver (“Lost”), a Los Angeles homicide detective who must solve the murder of a young boy while defending himself in court for the murder of an alleged serial killer. While certainly not as exciting as many of the other cop dramas available today, “Bosch” still manages to capture your attention without all the cliché case scenes and adrenaline-filled shootouts that seem to fill today’s shows. Based on the award-winning book series by Michael Connelly, the star-studded cast includes Jamie Hector (“The Wire”), Annie Wersching (“24”) and Lance Reddick (“Fringe”), among others. The show is certain to appeal to fans of slower-paced dramas such as “The West Wing” as well as fan of traditional cop shows.
While none of these shows have been greenlit for a full season, the impressive acting and writing should ensure that they are picked up later this year. The three pilots, as well as the seven others released by Amazon, can be viewed on their website to those with a free Amazon account. Amazon Prime is not needed for the pilots, though it is required to view the shows if and when they are taken on for production.
