All I can say after word came out today that they AMC renewed Breaking Bad is FINALLY! What the hell took so long? Every bit as critically acclaimed and amazing as the already renewed Mad Men, this meth and cancer dramedy defies description and blows away expectations. After the strike-shortened seven episode first season, AMC has committed to a full thirteen-episode run for its sophomore effort; no word yet on when the new season will film or air.Bryan Cranston is a veritable tour de force in the role of Walter White, the high school chemistry teacher who begins producing meth to procure the funds necessary for his family to get by after he dies. Aaron Paul is equally strong as his half-witted cohort in crime, and the two of them are the grimmest comedy duo since ... well, maybe ever. Each week the series surpassed expectations by getting better and better, and that was only seven weeks. I can't imagine nearly twice that!
[via Ain't It Cool News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-07-2008 @ 9:53PM
Midnight13 said...
That's great news, but would like it even more if they extended the second season to twenty episodes to make up the difference. "Breaking Bad" is another example, liking "Pushing Dasies" that had so much buzz and potential that was not fully realized due to the writer's strike. These are great shows that might struggle to regain the momentum and ratings come season 2 even with the critcal praise they've recieved.
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5-07-2008 @ 10:02PM
Bill said...
I have the same concerns as Midnight13 about the momentum, but for the most part I'm just happy any time a not-super-successful show I like gets renewed.
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5-07-2008 @ 11:18PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
AWESOME! Too bad the SAG strike will screw up season 2. I could go for 30 eps a season with this show.
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5-07-2008 @ 11:51PM
Kronos said...
This is great news - though initially I wasn't watching it, I caught two uncut episodes on IFC one night by pure chance and was hooked. All I'd ever seen Bryan Cranston in was "Malcolm in the Middle" so I was surprised at seeing him in such a serious, dark role. He better get at least a nomination come awards time.
Hopefully they've still got the writers close by because they were putting together some amazing episodes.
I don't know how AMC picked up such two great shows ("Mad Men" being the other - though I heard HBO passed on it initially?) but between FX and AMC there's some seriously good television going on.
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5-08-2008 @ 12:00AM
nattyff said...
GREAT NEWS!!! i really liked these show, can't wait!!!
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5-08-2008 @ 8:52AM
Danielle said...
Great news! My DH will be excited too. He orginally got me hooked on this show!
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5-08-2008 @ 10:43AM
Jimmy said...
I'm surprised to see Jason describe this excellent show as a "dramedy." Do others see it that way as well?
I mean, "The Shield" might have some funny lines once in a while, but it's still a drama. I see "Breaking Bad" the same way.
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5-08-2008 @ 12:02PM
moreartplease said...
That is a great point. How can both Monk and Breaking Bad be dramedies? The interweaving of comic and dramatic elements is so common, that it is hard to know where to draw hard lines in what is undeniably a spectrum of varying tones from dark to light. After all, all the Shakespeare tragedies have clowns, and most great comedies have tragic, sad or serious elements (Seinfeld's harsh "No Learning, No Hugs" being notable as an exception).
So what the hell am I saying? I guess that I would call it a drama, but it definitely has elements of dark comedy. The term dramedy usually (repeat, usually) seems to have a connotation of a lighter theme (Ally McBeal, Monk, etc). Maybe we should take a page from Shakespeare and call them "romances" like Tempest, Winter's Tale, etc?
5-08-2008 @ 12:33PM
Crow said...
Yes! I hope they get on it soon 'cause I am jonesing for some new episodes!
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5-08-2008 @ 1:14PM
D-Bo said...
I'm glad to hear it's coming back.
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