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Amazon.com Will Develop New TV Series

According to a USA Today story, online retail giant Amazon.com, which has made its name selling books, CDs, DVDs and other items, is getting into the programming business. Its first weekly series, Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher, a variety show hosted by the HBO satirist (and former host of ABC's Politically Incorrect), begins airing on the website June 1.

Highlights of a preview episode, to be filmed this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, will begin showing on the site Tuesday. The first guests include Stephen King, whose new book, Cell, hits stores Tuesday; musician Rob Thomas; and screenwriter Armistead Maupin and actress Toni Collette from the film The Night Listener, which is showing at the festival.

The 30-minute program, when it begins airing for 12 consecutive Thursday nights, will be streamed live. Afterward, it can be watched on demand.

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