Jenn Levy, Amazon's Head of Nonfiction Series, is on a mission to revolutionize the streamer's unscripted content. With a focus on appealing to younger audiences, she's steering the platform towards 'holy sh*t' formats that encourage active engagement. This shift away from 'lean back' television is a strategic move, as evidenced by the success of 'Beast Games', which has a younger demographic and has been renewed for a third season.
Levy's background at Netflix and her experience in the food industry at 32 Flavors have shaped her approach. She emphasizes the importance of character-driven stories and high-quality content, rather than the traditional show format. This perspective is reflected in her decision to move away from game shows, which she believes don't translate well to streaming. Instead, she's eyeing big dating formats, social strategy shows, and docusoaps that offer a more immersive experience.
One intriguing development is the potential reboot of 'The Apprentice' with Donald Trump Jr. as the host. However, this project is not currently in active development, according to Levy. Her emphasis on quality and engagement over traditional show formats is a refreshing approach in the streaming landscape, and it will be interesting to see how Amazon's unscripted slate evolves under her leadership.
