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Amazon Greenlights New Original Dramas

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Amazon on Monday announced it has ordered six more original series, including the hour-long dramas Bosch and The After, for its Prime Instant Video service.

Created by X-Files mastermind Chris Carter, The After follows eight strangers who are "thrown together by mysterious forces and must help each other survive in a violent world that defies explanation," Amazon said. Bosch (pictured left) brings to life the best-selling book series by Michael Connelly about a relentless LAPD homicide detective.

The company also greenlit the half-hour comedic drama Mozart in the Jungle, dramedy Transparent, and two kids shows – Wishenpoof! and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street. Mozart in the Jungle explores sex and drugs in the world of classical music while Transparent follows a Los Angeles family with "serious boundary issues."

The selections comes after Amazon called on its customers to watch the pilots of several promising dramas and vote on which ones it should fund. Check out the slideshow below for PCMag's take on which ones deserve Amazon's support.

Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street, which was discovered via Amazon Studios' open-door submission process, is a coming-of-age tale set in an ordinary suburb with "a hint of something magical just beneath the surface." Finally, from Blue's Clues creator Angela Santomero, Wishenpoof! is an animated series revolving around the character Bianca, who uses her magical powers for good.

"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," Amazon Studios Director Roy Price, said in a statement. "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."

Meanwhile, Amazon also announced it has picked up political series Alpha House for a second season. Production on season two is scheduled to begin this summer with John Goodman, Mark Consuelos, Clark Johnson, and Matt Malloy all reprising their roles as Republican Senators living under one roof in Washington, D.C.

The company this week also inked a licensing agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution to add all 192 episodes of the series 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland, to Prime Instant Video. Subscribers can also watch 24: Redemption, a TV movie based on the series.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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