Today, Amazon confirmed a second season pickup for its first comedy series Alpha House starring John Goodman as well as official series orders for four of its five primetime pilots - The After, Bosch, Mozart in the Jungle and Transparent as well as two kids pilots to series - Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street and Wishenpoof!.
"We had a tremendous response to Amazon Studios' latest pilots - in fact, double, the number of customers watched these pilots compared to our first season and they posted thousands of heartfelt reviews with pleas for us to continue these shows," said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. "Now the fun really begins - Amazon will be working with some of the most talented casts and creators in the business to bring six new shows exclusively to tens of millions of Prime members worldwide. These series, along with our summer kids programming, will give customers a lot of viewing choices."
The After - from The X-Files creator Chris Carter - follows eight strangers who are thrown together by mysterious forces and must help each other survive in a violent world that defies explanation. The cast includes Aldis Hodge, Andrew Howard, Arielle Kebbel, Jamie Kennedy, Sharon Lawrence, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Adrian Pasdar and Louise Monot.
"The great news is we get the chance to continue working with such a talented group of people," said Carter. "Amazon has been incredibly supportive in their approach to telling original stories and making great television. This is an exciting time to be a storyteller.
Michael Connelly's best-selling book series about a relentless LAPD homicide detective who also come to life in the drama series Bosch starring Titus Welliver, Annie Wersching and Jamie Hector. Connelly and Eric Overmyer will co-write the series.
"I'm excited beyond words," said Connelly. "This has been such a long time coming. But by waiting I think the right people and partnerships came together at the right time. Amazon and its creative team; ditto Fabrik Entertainment, Henrik Bastin, Eric Overmyer and of course, Titus Welliver. We're now off to make something really good."
Mozart in the Jungle is a half hour comedic drama about sex, drugs and classical music, that shows what happens behind the curtains can be just as captivating as what happens on stage. It stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Saffron Burrows, Lola Kirke, Malcolm McDowell, Bernadette Peters and Peter Vack. The series will be written by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers and Paul Weitz.
"We are delighted that Amazon chose to pick up Mozart in the Jungle," said Coppola. "They've been such a great partner in the creation of the pilot and we know that we'll have their tremendous support to make a full season's worth of episodes. We are especially pleased to have such a fantastic cast, knowing that the things that we write and will be brought to such vivid life by this cast of players. Can't wait to dig in and do all we can to make a captivating, interesting and fun show."
Transparent will round out the primetime lineup. It's a dramedy about a Los Angeles family and an exploration of sex, gender and family that begins when a dramatic admission causes everyone's secrets to spill out. Jill Soloway created the series and it stars Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker and Jay Duplass.
"It's honestly a dream come true to make nine more episodes of Transparent," said Soloway. "I feel so lucky to be working in this moment when innovation in distribution allows for the most free flow of creativity I've ever experienced professionally. These characters are bursting in my mind waiting for the palette of the set and the flesh and blood and voices and comedy of the actors. More to come..."
