As online television becomes more acceptable, more quality shows are being created that appear only on an online platform. I think this is great and may lead to true growth in this market. Online channels are dependent on networks and cable for content, and often become little more than an advertising outlet for the content provider. Amazon.com, while still connected to advertising, has created what seems to be a quality internet platform talk show.
Amazon Fishbowl is a streaming talk show hosted by Bill Maher. The guests mainly appear to be plugging things for sale on Amazon, but because Bill Maher is a good host and the guests are appealing it doesn’t feel like a commercial and is actually interesting. Instead of a full show, each guest gets a stream so you can watch who you want. The premiere episode was filmed during the Sundance Film Festival and features interviews with Stephen King and Armistead Maupin and a musical performance by Rob Thomas. You can catch it on this site.
After enjoying the pilot episode in the player below, come back tonight at 8 p.m. Pacific / 11 p.m. Eastern for the season premiere of Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher, presented by UPS. Every week throughout the summer, this new show will feature the brightest stars in film, music, literature, and television. The lineup for tonight's show includes Dean Koontz, the Dixie Chicks, Ward Serrill, Darnellia Russell, and Steve Schirripa.
New episodes will be shown every Thursday this summer and can be viewed anytime here at www.amazon.com/entertainment.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
This is certainly an interesting trend, and I think Maher is an intriguing candidate to become a "cross-over" success as a net broadcaster. Tom Green is also going back to his roots, broadcasting out of his living room. Someone somewhere wrote recently that the net is the new public access.