Cool News
Cranston Confirms BAD Sched:
Eight This Year, Eight Next Year!!
From Entertainment Weekly:
“We’re splitting it,” says [“Breaking Bad” star Bryan] Cranston, who’s currently shooting the fifth season premiere in New Mexico. “We’re going to shoot the first eight, then take a four-month production break, then the rest will air next year.”
The new season is expected to start airing on AMC in July.
I’m pleased to hear about the production break. If I recall correctly, “Rescue Me” shot its last two seasons back to back, and that schedule seemed to sap “Rescue” of fresh ideas, energy and will.
Find all of Entertainment Weekly’s story on the matter here.
Readers Talkback
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Best news I've heard all day.
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April 6, 2012, 3:43 p.m. CST
Of course everyone over on the EW comments thinks this is terrible news
by Gene Cowan
No, this should guarantee that the show goes out on top. Like Herc said, that production break will help ensure it. After all, the first season ended up being 7 eps, and all of that is pretty much classic television.
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Two mini seasons? FUCK AMC
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Boom.
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any show that goes beyond 5 seasons starts to get repetitive and boring
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I'm thinking Mike has to come back in season 5. Right?
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April 6, 2012, 4:27 p.m. CST
the break will help the production, but i was hoping for 16 unrelentless episodes in a row :)
by therootstheroots
but who cares.
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its bad enough a network will split up such tiny seasons for no reason but its not just the network this time? they are literally gonna take a break from filming? doing 8 episodes must be harder than the 20-24 many others have done and still do in a few months.
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April 6, 2012, 4:47 p.m. CST
I knew it would be split, but I had hoped the second half would be shown this year
by supertoyslast
Hopefully the second eight will be early next year. But I think I would have preferred a single final run of 13 episodes to having this split.
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It was never fun waiting on battlestar and their endlessly fucked with schedule. This isn't so bad, but 8 episodes will feel brutally short, and then waiting for the finale 8 will be killer. BUT, of course, if it helps the show be the very best it can be, I really don't care at all. This show deserves every bit of time of it can to get to deliver the best finale season possible. It'll be worth it in the end.
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First few seasons were gold. After that, steamy shit.
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did they shoot the two seasons back-to-back. But even though the timing was wrong, the result was correct. The4 double season sucked the remaining life straight out of it.
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...I'd watch it in eight minute segments. So yeah, I can live with this.
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not if there is going to be a 1 year gap in between...air 8 episodes...take 4-6 months off and air the remaining 8 episodes...don't make these front 8 episodes into a full season and wait till July 2013 to air the rest film the entire 16 episodes back-to-back...all they're doing by waiting so long is milking the show for more awards and ratings
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It's the best show on television. If they say they need to take a 4 month break, for whatever reason, let them. Bitch.
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then we hear a year later what his original "season premier" story would have been... probably a back story on how Gus came to arrive where he was when we first met him
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and i dont give a crap about the show itself, i've never watched it and dont plan to ever. it just doesn't interest me. (cue the stereotypical fan moaning because i dare oppose their opinion and/or taste :P) my "complaining" is just against the idea itself. if a show will only have 13-16 episodes a season, there's no reason or excuse to cut the season in half. HBO dont seem to have a problem airing their short shows in one long uninterrupted block. but its made worse in this case because its not just the network airing it in such a crappy way, the show is actually taking a break from being made. seriously, its that hard and taxing to film 8 episodes? and as far as "giving the show time", thats why you plan your season and its stories in advance. as i said, many shows dont have any problems producing and airing 20-24 episode seasons.
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April 6, 2012, 6:43 p.m. CST
Darabont? (ahem) talking about Breaking bad, not Walking Dead...
by Squinty CGI Flynn
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the cliffhanger midseason will probably break my bad brain. I'm looking forward to it immensely.
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and watch all 16 then. Fuck AMC and their greedy bullshit trying to turn ONE season into two.
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April 6, 2012, 7:45 p.m. CST
If they just eliminate all the repetitions and dead ends, it'll only total 8 eps anyway
by CountryBoy
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April 6, 2012, 7:50 p.m. CST
Remember when seasons where 26 eps each and hour long dramas were 52 mins without commercials?
by Longtime Lurker
Anybody? True, this ain't Bonanza, but I'm just sayin'...:)
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but the wait between seasons will be excrutiating
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April 6, 2012, 8:51 p.m. CST
Sounds like a cheap ass con to make you buy 2 sets of DVD's...
by dj_bollocks
And then the deluxe complete box set once they've finished... I say Booo !
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It was already running on fumes prior to the last two seasons, so I don't think the blame rests on the production schedule. Splitting up the last bunch is no surprise, and sucks for the viewers, but it opens the door to a an additional cliffhanger, and there's little doubt the latter half will be highly anticipated, heavily promoted and worth the wait. FX made us wait over a year for the last season of The Shield. Anyone who listens to the podcasts knows how tight the production schedule is, so if Gilligan and Co. need a break to do their best work, there won't be any complaints here. In Vince we trust.
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The idea that they need the break to recharge their creativity or whatever is utter bullshit. It's only 16 episodes fer chrisakes. </p> </p> This is a patently cynical move on the part of the network to artificially extend the life of their best property. Maybe even earn an extra Emmy or two. Why bother calling it a 5 season run? It might as well be 6 seasons. I call shenanigans and bullshit.</p> </p> BTW, this only affronts me so much because I love the show s goddamn much. And those people comparing it to the short season 1 run - c'mon, that first season was only truncated because of the writer's strike.
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April 6, 2012, 10:33 p.m. CST
Surely Cranston means 8 TWO hr eps this year, and 8 TWO hr eps next year...right? RIGHT??? :(
by zillabeast
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April 6, 2012, 10:58 p.m. CST
countryboy: the contrarian breaking bad hater who has only seen the most recent season
by Tim
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this is classy and i love it. builds hype, makes you value each hour, as with a certain beloved show back in '07.
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Yes it is more satisfying to get it all in one season, but this is Breaking Bad folks. 8 episodes of Breaking Bad are better than decades of Law & Order or CSI or whatever procedural cop/doctor/lawyer shit the major networks throw at our TV sets. 8 episodes are still substantial enough for a season. Game of Thrones is only 10 episodes per season, and that is also epic television that is leagues better than 99.9% of the crap that clogs the hundreds of useless channels we have to sift through these days. I'd rather get 8 BB's now, then 8 BB's a year later than have to wait as long as we did between Mad Men season 4-5.
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They aren't giving the show time by taking a break. Vince Gilligan already has the story arc planned out in his head. As far as splitting 16 episodes up into 2 parts...im definately for it. Yes, indeed it is to make things easier for everybody...they earned that freedom because the show is so great. And yes, they will probably milk the cow...BUT it benefits everybody, and there is no rush to get the episodes done in x amount of time. I'd rather they take their time so that the final product will be exactly as Gilligan envisions it. The shows on network television that have 20 to 24 episodes a season are formulaic and sloppily produced...Breaking Bad is such a great show, every episode has the production value and creative brilliance as a really good movie. If you ever decide to watch the series, you'll notice that the production quality and the writing are far superior to 80% of the crap that is on television these days. AMC can have all the time they need...they will deliver the goods no doubt.
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April 7, 2012, 5:52 a.m. CST
It does suck. Like someone said.. Just a money play to sell half a season at full price!
by happybunni
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But AMC... pay attention here... do NOT fuck with this show.
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We'll all realize we've just missed episode 9, 10, and 11 or so because it took to long. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
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April 7, 2012, 7:37 a.m. CST
Agreed gotilk. They're in the 9th inning(or 8th depending on how you look at it...) of a perfect game. Whatever it takes, just don't fuck it up at the end.
by lox4444
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Aw hell I don't care. It's too good! When does it start?
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aaron paul said on twitter that he read the script for the the first episode and said that the opening scene before the opening titles is just as shocking as the big season 4 finale gus scene so bring it on
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Kafkaesque.
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No man. Really, I don't care if they split it into quarters. Just BRING IT ON!
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April 7, 2012, 3:03 p.m. CST
I went a good 7-8 years thinking I would never love a show more than The Sopranos
by Tim
but damn, Breaking Bad might be my favorite ever. Way to excited about it to be angry about the split season.
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April 7, 2012, 3:42 p.m. CST
Im cool with this. four extra episodes is a good thing. cant wait.
by dahveed1972
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This has pretty much become standard operating procedure for the cablets. I'm not surprised by this move. The hard core viewers will be there, and it's easier to get the casual viewer to sink into 5-8 episodes, than into a whole season.
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Bullshit
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Battlestar Galactica split season 2 AND 4. The Sopranos in the final season. Rescue Me in season 5 and the final season, although they refer to it as 2 seasons. Ditto Nip/Tuck, all shows on USA as well as South Park and Futurama. And i am sure there are plenty more.
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There is no cliffhanger. Imagine having to wait. Remember Lost in its prime. Still it's worth waiting for.
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April 7, 2012, 6:26 p.m. CST
Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 Commercial : Cranston Cameo
by Squashua
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqAG8TFp4F4
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Vince Gilligan & Co. have more than earned our unquestioning faith. I'd much rather have two eight-episode seasons than one painfully short 13-episode final season or an overly long 16-episode final season.
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Monk? The Closer?? These are the shows that you are comparing Breaking Bad to??? What fucked up world am I living in? p.s. I could give two shits how AMC decides to program the show. They thankfully have no creative control. The first four seasons are reason enough to have confidence in Gilligan.
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I saw the first 3 seasons on Netflix, fucking great show. I'll see the 4th when it's on Netflix...and i'll see the 5th eventually when it's on Netflix as well. People who pay for cable are dumb.
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April 7, 2012, 10:42 p.m. CST
Apparently I'm dumb because I like to see shows when they first air and watch live sports in HD
by Tim
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April 8, 2012, 12:19 a.m. CST
We're in the golden era of MILKING THE LAST SERIES ENTRY
by BurnHollywood
Even THE HOBBIT isn't immune...what hope does a humble meth cook in Arizona have?
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April 8, 2012, 12:21 a.m. CST
Am I crazy or was this announced officially by AMC four months ago?
by Mono
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I don't even watch this show but splitting it into 2 lots of 4 episodes? It takes a couple of episodes to get back into a show after a break so it seems pointless to me. Fair enough if it was 2 lots of 10-12, but 4? It'll play havoc on international markets. Here in the UK we don't really have gaps inbetween shows and it never fails to annoy me when we have to because of American sweeps etc. especially as most people over here won't even know what sweeps are. We used to get shows a couple of months late so they can play them uninterrupted but the past few years have changed. We usually have an episode the same week, or the next day, presumably to prevent everyone just torrenting everything.
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You can rest assured it's the suits at AMC
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April 8, 2012, 7:53 p.m. CST
Hey superjim, Nothing wrong with bitching and moaning but get it right.......
by tony
Its two seasons of 8. Originally AMC only wanted to give them a 8 episode final season. Honestly they could show one episode every 2 months and I wouldnt care. I just want more Breaking Bad.
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Let's all remember how this happened: AMC FREAKED OUT when Wiener was close to leaving Mad Men, Darabont had just quite/been fired from Walking Dead, The Killing jumped the shark, Hell on Wheels was already being viewed as junk months before its premiere, and AMC's stock was falling fast. The only "solid" show they had left was Breaking Bad (not in quality, but in terms of no drama BTS), and they wanted to lock it up for 7 years. Gilligan told them, NO, it's a 5 year show...Always has been, and was promised to fans so that they wouldn't have the Lost-effect. So, as a compromise to keep the 5 years worth of storytelling, Gilligan agreed to split the final season in 2. So, this isn't a surprise or shock, though I am a little concerned about how much of a gap is going to exist between the two halves.
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April 9, 2012, 11:28 a.m. CST
A break or more time didn't help Lost's writing at all
by Don_Drapers_Acid_Trip
All the good writing was in the first three seasons when they were forced to write 24 episodes a year. Now that show will always be worth watching just as a demonstration of a cataclysmic drop off in writing quality. Not to say that Lost had anywhere near the caliber of writers as Breaking Bad but having more time to write doesn't necessarily always mean something great is going to come out of it.
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Im loving the idea of Walter possibly becoming full villain..i was wondering where the story would go after last season. www.brandnewcool.com
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Best show on TV, I think. I love it. I'll take it any way I can get it. The writing's been so good I think they probably could do seven seasons and maintain the quality.
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I'm tired of waiting! You'd think they'd want the Season 4 DVD to be out for rental before Season 5 starts so that I'll actually watch Season 5 on TV and give them ratiings!
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Season 4 comes out on DVD June 5th. And it is an AMAZING season. You've definitely got something to look forward to.
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