Amazon Studio’s ongoing experiment in populist programming goes into full swing again tomorrow night when the pilot of Hand of God debuts on the streaming service. We’re excited to see how it all plays out, partly because the innovative approach puts the power in the hands of the people; the shows that draw a big, engaged audience are likely to get made. But we’re also amped up to see the latest work directed by (Film Independent Spirit Award winner) Marc Forster, starring LA Film Fest alum Andre Royo. (We miss Bubbles!) The show also stars Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy).

With Forster at the helm—making his TV debut—and the script by Ben Watkins (Burn Notice), expectations have been high from the start. “The actors circle is very small and it got around that this is this year’s hottest pilot script,” Royo said. “Everyone wanted in.”

Royo told us he was drawn to the project because the character he plays, Mayor Robert “Bobo” Boston, is such a great departure from Bubbles, the heroin addict-turned-informant he played with such finesse on The Wire. “I describe this character as Rudolph Giuliani meets Ralph Lauren placed in the P. Diddy video ‘Can’t Stop Wont Stop.’ He’s a hungry visionary who talks like he has sex—’fast and to the point!’” (He’s got six kids with three ex-wives.) Bobo is the best friend of powerful Judge Harris Pernell (Perlman), a law-bending man with a high-end call girl on the side who has a religious awakening.

Along with Hand of God, starting August 28, Amazon’s third “pilot season” will feature another hour-long drama, Hysteria, as well as three half-hour comedies, The Cosmopolitans, Really and Red Oaks. According to Amazon: “For one month, it will be up to you to watch, rate and comment–ultimately helping us decide which of them get the greenlight.”

Or as Royo puts it, “It’s not American f*#@ing’ Idol, but it wouldn’t hurt if ten million people watched Hand of God and loved it.”

Pamela Miller / Website & Grants Manager