Click here to visit the new home of AOLTV!

Hot on HuffPost TV:

See More Stories
EDITION: U.S.
CA Canada US United States UK United Kingdom
Powered by i.TV
February 9, 2012
 
CONNECT    

Fire up the bunsen burners, Breaking Bad renewed

by Jason Hughes, posted May 7th 2008 9:27PM

Breaking BadAll 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]

Link Squad

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

10 Comments

Filter by:
D-Bo

I'm glad to hear it's coming back.

May 08 2008 at 1:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Crow

Yes! I hope they get on it soon 'cause I am jonesing for some new episodes!

May 08 2008 at 12:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

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.

May 08 2008 at 10:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jim's comment
moreartplease

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?

May 08 2008 at 12:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Danielle

Great news! My DH will be excited too. He orginally got me hooked on this show!

May 08 2008 at 8:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nattyff

GREAT NEWS!!! i really liked these show, can't wait!!!

May 08 2008 at 12:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kronos

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.

May 07 2008 at 11:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MERVE-THE-PERVE

AWESOME! Too bad the SAG strike will screw up season 2. I could go for 30 eps a season with this show.

May 07 2008 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BillS

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.

May 07 2008 at 10:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
divineparasite

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.

May 07 2008 at 9:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Follow Us

TV Squad Hot Topics

From Our Partners