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Amazon turns down comedy pilots

Glenn Close starred in Amazon pilot Sea Oak

Amazon will not take any of its comedy pilots this season to series following a tumultuous time at the US-based streamer.

The decision to pass on The Climb, Sea Oak and Love You More comes after an exodus of staff from the streamer’s studios operation, which ordered the pilots.

Amazon Studios boss Roy Price resigned in October following allegations of sexual misconduct while Joe Lewis, head of comedy, drama and virtual reality, left a week later.

Amazon is also refocusing its efforts on less niche programming, highlighted by its acquisition of rights to Lord of the Rings last month, at a reported cost of US$250m.

The Climb starred Diarra Kilpatrick as a woman seeking internet fame; Sea Oak, from director Hiro Murai, followed a woman who comes back from the dead; and Love You More was about a young adult counsellor.

All three were presented to subscribers on November 10 as part of the streamer’s strategy to get viewer input on pilot decision-making but will not be moved forward, according to Deadline.

Prior to his exit, Price said the company would be moving away from its public pilot strategy because of the increasingly competitive nature of the TV industry.

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