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Amazon replaces Riggs with Schuster

US streamer Amazon has appointed Heather Schuster to head up its unscripted programming following the departure of Conrad Riggs.

Conrad Riggs

Schuster arrived at Amazon last summer following stints with Ryan Seacrest Productions and Shine America, and has previously worked on shows including The Apprentice with Donald Trump.

She has been upped alongside Tracey Lentz, who has been named head of creative for unscripted.

Lentz, who will report to Schuster, has worked on unscripted series at Amazon for several years, having joined from cablenet AMC.

Riggs left Amazon yesterday, joining a growing list of execs to depart the streamer over the past fortnight. He was pivotal to hit motoring series The Grand Tour but much of his slate, including such shows as Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse and docuseries American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, failed to achieve success.

The former Mark Burnett Productions exec’s exit from the company followed the departure of Amazon Studios boss Roy Price, who left last week after allegations of sexual harassment.

In an unconnected move, Amazon head of international productions Morgan Wandell then revealed he was moving to Apple to become head of international creative development.

He was followed out the door by Joe Lewis, Amazon’s former head of comedy and drama, whose remit has been assumed by Albert Cheng, Amazon Studios’ chief operating officer.

Sharon Tal Yguado, who arrived at Amazon to head up event series from Fox Networks Group in January, was subsequently promoted to oversee all scripted series.

Amid the management revamp, the streamer yesterday unveiled a trio of half-hour pilots that will be made available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from November 10.

They include Love You More, featuring New York City cabaret star Bridget Everett (Patti Cake$) as a counsellor at an independent-living residence for young adults with Down’s syndrome.

The pilot has been directed by Bobcat Goldthwait (God Bless America), with Michael Patrick King (Sex & the City) as showrunner. It comes from MPK Productions in association with Warner Bros Television and Amazon Studios.

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