Amazon Studios announced seven pilots for its 2015 Pilot Season, with shows that will feature several famous stars and major creative talent working behind the scenes.
The new season will include four new hour-long shows, two half-hour shows and a half-hour docu-series called The New Yorker Presents. As with all previous Amazon pilot seasons, shows will be available for free on Amazon Instant Video and they get picked up to series based on customer response.
Up first is Crooked from Sam Baum (Lie to Me) and Sam Shaw (Manhattan). True Blood vet Sam Trammell stars as Richard Paxson, a family man who tried to make his life right in the big city, but has to return to the rural part of Virginia where he grew up. Jason Lee (My Name is Earl) stars as his older brother, along with The Good Wife’s Brian Dennehy.
Down Dog stars Josh Casaubon (I Just Want My Pants Back) as a guy who runs a successful Southern California yoga studio with his girlfriend, played by Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds). They break up and his life suddenly gets tough. It was written by Robin Schiff (Are You There Chelsea?). Kris Kristofferson also stars.
Dark comedy Mad Dogs was created by The Bill’s Cris Cole. It’s based on a hit U.K. sitcom about underachievers in their 40s and stars Billy Zane and Steve Zahn.
The Man in the High Castle is a high-concept project based on the Philip K. Dick novel about an alternate world where the Allies lose World War II. Ridley Scott is among the producers.
the New Yorker Presents is a half-hour docu-series from the famous magazine. The pilot will include Alan Cumming and Brett Gelman in a short film by Simon Rich; and a Jonathan Demme-directed documentary about biologist Tyrone Hayes.
Set during the Civil War, Point of Honor stars Nathan Parsons (True Blood) as the head of a Virginia family torn apart. It was written by Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Randall Wallace (Braveheart).
Lastly, Salem Rogers is a half-hour comedy starring Leslie Bibb (About A Boy) as the title character, a supermodel back in the real world after a decade in rehab. Saturday Night Live album Rachel Dratch stars as her former assistant. Newcomer Lindsey Stoddart wrote the script.
image of Jason Lee courtesy of Dara Kushner/INFevents.com