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Do The Critics Say AMC’s
BREAKING BAD Is Any Good??

Allan Melvin (Sam the Butcher) dies at 84. No tribute thread? by Orionsangels	Jan 20th, 2008 12:45:33 AM
No love for character actors AICN? Granted he wasn't a super star, but he may have the record for appearing at least once on every popular TV show from the 60,s and 70s. Alice is a widow now. Will miss ya Sam
the Seattle PI is always wrong... by BadMrWonka	Jan 20th, 2008 01:07:59 AM
I live in Seattle, and I can't tell you how many times the PI fucking blows it in their reviews. the only worse reviewing entity is the black hole of taste and understanding that is Lisa Schwarzbaum from Entertainment Weekly... here's a quick rundown, she gave the original Matrix a C, and Monkeybonea B+...she did rip Passion of the Mel a new one, though...but still
Ditto Suzanne Pleshette. by Iblis_mage	Jan 20th, 2008 01:23:01 AM
One of the classiest and most underused actresses of our time has left us as well. (Now *that hurts.....)
It's Weeds witha disease... by Sledge Hammer	Jan 20th, 2008 03:37:50 AM
...not that that's a bad thing, particularly if the quality is there. I'll give it a shot anyway.
hard to get past it sounding like weeds... by couP	Jan 20th, 2008 05:42:37 AM
but will give it a go.
Mad Men's "bafflingly positive reviews" by Thunderbolt Ross	Jan 20th, 2008 09:19:51 AM
Are due to it being a great show.
It baffles me that a tv critic by INWOsuxRED	Jan 20th, 2008 12:25:42 PM
could be employable and hate Mad Men. I'm going to watch this show, I hope it is close to as good as AMC's first original. It seems like Cranston never got the recognition he deserved on Malcolm. I've been wanting to see this show since the commercials aired when Mad Men was still running new episodes.
I wached MAd men for 2 episodes by mattforce7	Jan 20th, 2008 01:32:12 PM
lost interest after the second half of # 2, sure it was OK, but come on!
How do these shows make money to AMC??? by JackIsLost	Jan 20th, 2008 02:43:26 PM
I mean, I know they can sell the DVDs and maybe syndication to other cable channels? I dunno. Is someone who doesn't have AMC (it's basic cable, right?) going to pick up for 2 shows (this and "Mad Men")?
Mad Men has some sweet advertising synergy by INWOsuxRED	Jan 20th, 2008 03:34:30 PM
Besides the simple fact that it will build the channel's reputation and will likely make decent money after first-run, Mad Men shows commercials that incorporate historical advertising info in a way that actually gets me to watch the commercials, when I don't watch it on-demand. I would guess that they will at some point be able to prove that the average Mad Men viewer is significantly more likely to watch the advertising that on other shows.
Magilla Gorilla is dead. by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jan 20th, 2008 03:54:09 PM
This sucks.
WATLEY!!!!! by Han Cholo	Jan 20th, 2008 05:00:57 PM
This show has me interested, think I'll scope it out.
AMC by Gungan Slayer	Jan 20th, 2008 07:36:29 PM
Remember when AMC actually used to be an awesome channel. You know, one that actually showed CLASSIC movies. sigh
i dont know.. by soup74	Jan 20th, 2008 07:47:22 PM
i've never watched mad men, but this looks pretty inspired. it looks worth AMC putting some money behind, i'll check it out and give it a chance.
Watch TCM for movies by Series7	Jan 20th, 2008 09:13:00 PM
Watch AMC for tv. Made Man started just a little before I got my first office job and I was like MAN! I wish I worked back then. Seriously, when I am at work I am like???? What the fuck did people do before the internet?
Just watch this show by Series7	Jan 20th, 2008 10:27:45 PM
Pretty good first episode. A lot faster then Made Man. It'll be interesting how they spin this into a series. Can't wait to see Cranston try meth.
I don't think "Mad Men" is all that accurate.... by JackIsLost	Jan 21st, 2008 12:49:17 AM
It kind of strikes me as similar in tone to "Desperate Housewives" in it how it tries to be classy and soapy and a bit absurd. But still good (I like both shows, suck it Herc).
Gungan, I agree that the criteria for a movie to get onto AMC... by JackIsLost	Jan 21st, 2008 12:50:40 AM
these days is a bit too lax. "Troy"? All the "Planet of the Apes" movies? Come on...
Damn Good by skoobyx	Jan 21st, 2008 01:00:30 AM
Not quite up to the standard of 'Mad Men' but its the first show I've seen in a long time that isn't entirely predictable and the shaky cam etc. makes for a quality cinematic feel. Bryan Cranston is great as well, I always thought he was funny.
TCM by Gungan Slayer	Jan 21st, 2008 01:05:18 AM
yes, thank god we still have to turn to
Pretty good start by The Selecter	Jan 21st, 2008 07:00:42 AM
I'll keep tuning in to see where it goes. I hope the Dentite finds some new work duds, though.
Bryan Cranston by skimn	Jan 21st, 2008 09:53:36 AM
better be picking an Emmy next year, just for the mustache alone. He deserved at least 1 for Malcolm, instead of Brad "one note" Garrett. Heck, I remember the X-Files episode he did about 10 years ago, and he was great there also.
Suzanne Pleshette.. by skimn	Jan 21st, 2008 10:08:08 AM
Thats so sad..I remember her going back to The Birds and those James Garner "Support Your Local Sheriff" comedies. Well now she is reunited with Tom Poston....
I don't remember when AMC was awesome by INWOsuxRED	Jan 21st, 2008 10:33:18 AM
I remember when it showed lots of old movies all edited and cut up with commercials. Now it shows kick ass original programs.
skimn by INWOsuxRED	Jan 21st, 2008 10:37:08 AM
I'd be willing to bet Cranston gets a nomination. He will probably get lots of "make up" or "familiar face" votes for all the work he has done that hasn't been recognized. He'll probably be competing against other AMC shows.
Well, that was impressive. by gotilk	Jan 21st, 2008 10:47:38 AM
Had a very, very cinematic feel to it. Very good, subdued black comedy. Kind of reminded me of american beauty in spots. I hope the plan for the show is finite, and that it lasts until it's intended end. This has so much potential!
I've seen it by Spacekicker2001	Jan 21st, 2008 11:42:32 AM
and I have to say...it's pretty freakin cool. The only thing I had seen the dude was as the dad in Malcolm in the middle and he, my friends is a bad arse actor. When you see him going from Meek to not settling for a compromised existence, man ...it was cool
AMC has got to back up its convictions by skimn	Jan 21st, 2008 11:49:33 AM
by backing off on the audio editing. You're going to feature a two minute undercover jack off scene, but edit "god" from "goddamn"? I can understand omitting fuck, but goddamn? South Park broke that barrier years ago.
Pokey pacing. by Christopher3	Jan 21st, 2008 03:29:56 PM
I agree with the NY Times review. Could cover the same ground in 1/2 hour.
What was this originally made for? by INWOsuxRED	Jan 21st, 2008 04:36:59 PM
With the language that couldn't get by AMC + the blurred nudity, was this always intended for AMC or for premium cable? Is their(AMC) next strategy to push for unedited DVD as an extra to sell more DVDs?
i love the show. by RustyStardust	Jan 21st, 2008 06:29:39 PM
bryan cranston has evolved into a totally original leading man. and, i highly enjoy the story so far. some of those critics are so square...
It IS good... by Clarence Boddicker	Jan 21st, 2008 07:06:58 PM
I love the twisted "not gonna take it from the man anymore" angle...although meth is a despicable drug...perhaps our resident chemist will delve into other drugs later in the season...ecstasy seems less harmful to me. Still harmful, don't get me wrong. Just not as brain rotting...
I understand that meth is good for weight loss by INWOsuxRED	Jan 21st, 2008 09:50:13 PM
just saying...
Node32774 by Penetron	Jan 22nd, 2008 07:02:39 AM
You are such a douche. A guy with his life spiraling down the drain decides to make some real money to help out his family after he's gone. That's called ingenuity. If the premise of the show offends your conservative principles then don't watch it. Go watch your Touched By An Angel DVD's instead. Dick.
Asking to not be taken to the hospital by INWOsuxRED	Jan 22nd, 2008 08:48:59 AM
while you are actually dying at your humiliating 2nd job because you don't have good insurance isn't a life spiraling down the drain?
Edited Profanity and Blurred Boobies! by zer0cool2k2	Jan 22nd, 2008 08:50:15 AM
I found the edited profanity kinda' odd too, especially in this age of The Shield, Nip Tuck, and Rescue Me, not to mention South Park. Even odder, in the original airing of the premiere, the Neighbor in the window was clearly topless, although blurred, but in the next (later) repeat airing, the scene had her wearing a dark brown bra. what the hell? why shoot it topless if you're going o blur it out, and why shoot it with the bra if you're going to air it topless and blurry?
Node by skimn	Jan 22nd, 2008 09:41:51 AM
You're judging the meth angle from just the first episode. And at this point in the series, the meth has been made but not sold or distributed yet. Vince Gilligan said he wanted to travel the arc of turning a meek everyman to "Scarface". So, even though Cranston's character is sympathetic, and selling meth is beyond reprehensible, I'm willing to see where this story goes.
I'll Watch It by Flem_Snopes	Jan 22nd, 2008 03:01:41 PM
Yeah, it's flawed...I did think the pacing was a bit excruciating especially when combined with the guy's downspiralling life. It made me and my wife a little uneasy because we have been dangerously close to being that desperate and it was painful to watch. It WOULD be humiliating for that college educated guy to wash cars. It WOULD be awful for him to have to worry about not having enough money to go to the hospital. I mean, people with medical insurance in this shitty day and age can go bankrupt. Especially with the special care his child evidentally needed.****It was darker than I expected, I think my wife is going to probably check out because of that, but what I really appreciate is that this show has a sensibility that you just don't see very often on TV and that will have me coming back. Plus there were a few times I really didn't know what was going to happen next. And I liked the fact that Cranston's character knew his shit. It was amusing when he was schooling Captain Cook on how to do it right. I guess I might be upset about the Meth angle, but I think most would agree this show does anything but glorify "the life". The New Mexico locations are a nice touch. Beats hell out of L&O and CSI type shows. I liked it better than Mad Men, too, although I appreciate the originality of that show, too.
I liked it. And usually I don't like anything. by Uncle Stan	Jan 22nd, 2008 07:47:22 PM

Having insurance isn't the same thing by INWOsuxRED	Jan 23rd, 2008 09:42:53 AM
as being able to afford health care. My wife just had back surgery on my insurance, and it wasn't cheap. Just because we have insurance didn't make that trip free. Cranston's character bearly had enough money working two jobs to cover his own funeral, let alone a special needs young adult and care for a pregnant wife. I can easily see how his chracter would make that choice, especially considering how many times the outside world reminded him of how easy it would be. It was like getting signs from the universe to make drugs. Many people wouldn't choose to make and sell drugs, but if every character on TV was a pure hearted AICNer like you, every TV show would be an hour of watching a grown man polybag their comic books in grandma's basement. Next week, Johnny runs out of backing boards and has to choose between backing X-Men or Superman...oh the drama!
AMC making money... by DanielKurland	Jan 23rd, 2008 11:50:38 AM
Well, for example, the Canadian channel CTV just bought the rights to air the first season of Mad Men, and the second, when it's made. So wheels ARE in motion. I'll give this a shot, and hope it's somewhere near as good as Mad Men, with some awesome monologues. Here's to hoping that AMC becomes the next HBO/Showtime.
debut info by INWOsuxRED	Jan 24th, 2008 10:52:12 AM
"Bad," which stars Bryan Cranston, averaged 1.4 million viewers at 10 p.m. Sunday, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's in line with AMC's first scripted drama, "Mad Men," which debuted in July to 1.6 million viewers and got a second-season pickup in September. The series -- which centers on a high school teacher who weathers his midlife crisis by turning to crime -- faced strong competition with the conclusion of the NFC championship game on Fox, which drew 54 million viewers. In the key adult demos, "Bad" averaged 796,000 adults 25-54 and 785,000 adults 18-49. The show also grew in its second half-hour -- after the football game ended -- in the 18-49 demo by 48 percent and in men 18-34 by 90 percent. http://news.yahoo.com/ s/nm/20080124/tv_nm/cable_dc;_ ylt=AkrfWEnxMpBjnHfpk.okckRxFb 8C
AMC no longer means "American Movie Classics." by Lenny Nero	Jan 25th, 2008 12:18:39 AM
I had to do a write-up for a freelance producer a couple years ago, and they are officially AMC, dropping the actual title. Theoretically, they can be thought of more as "American Movie Channel." Oh, and they had original programming during the 90s, but nobody seems to remember that anymore.
Good second episode by INWOsuxRED	Jan 28th, 2008 01:32:26 AM
although I get the feeling as he gets deeper and deeper into shit, this is going to be much more painful to watch.
Just saw the first episode DVR'd. . . by Nice Marmot	Jan 28th, 2008 11:33:37 AM
I'm hooked. W/ the 2nd episode, I'm really hoping to find out that his wife, the "writer", who's pregnant but barely showing actually has a fucking job and has been contributing somehow. In the first episode I didn't see her on any kind of level 3 bed-rest, so she it appears she could be bringing in a paycheck on top of his 2.
Agree....good 2nd episode. by Ninja Nerd	Jan 28th, 2008 11:34:36 AM
Going out on a limb here, but this has a Hitchcock vibe to it. When the wife dialed Capn Cook and ended up at his house with the body in the driveway...very much felt like a moment from a Hitchcock film. Overall, it's not always that good, but it definitely has its moments. Also brings to mind the Michael Douglas film "Falling Down"; this guy is no longer smoking from the reality pipe. I read or heard this is only 7 episodes long. With the previews for next week showing the DEA brother-in-law, the drug distributor, and so on, this is going to get worse in a hurry. Horrifying and fascinating at the same time. So far, I'm impressed.
Anyone watching the HD OnDemand? by INWOsuxRED	Feb 12th, 2008 01:26:24 AM
I've always watched first run, but I could go for some better video quality. Anyone know if they make the same edits on the OnDemand version?
Marmot by INWOsuxRED	Feb 12th, 2008 01:28:18 AM
I get the feeling she will sell her writing eventually and it will turn out he never needed to get involved in attempting to get rich quick. I just hope the show isn't actually her writing in some kind of "all a dream" cop-out.
IFC by INWOsuxRED	Feb 18th, 2008 11:22:26 AM
IFC is airing the first two episodes back-to-back Friday Feb 22nd, and they are advertising they will be uncut & unedited.
C'mon now by Manatee	Mar 5th, 2008 12:37:02 AM
There needs to be a talkback for this show. It is quickly becoming one of the best shows on television. Get into it, people!

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