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Better Call Saul

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For the Breaking Bad episode of the same name, see Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad).
Better Call Saul
File:Better Call Saul (TV Series) LOGO.jpg
GenreCrime drama
Black comedy
Created byVince Gilligan
Peter Gould
StarringBob Odenkirk
Jonathan Banks
Rhea Seehorn
Patrick Fabian
Michael Mando
Michael McKean
Theme music composerLittle Barrie
ComposerDave Porter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersVince Gilligan
Peter Gould
Mark Johnson
Melissa Bernstein
ProducersBob Odenkirk
Nina Jack
Diane Mercer
Production locationAlbuquerque, New Mexico
CinematographyArthur Albert
Running time42–47 minutes
53 minutes (pilot)
Production companiesHigh Bridge Productions
Crystal Diner Productions
Gran Via Productions
Sony Pictures Television
Original release
NetworkAMC
ReleaseFebruary 8, 2015 (2015-02-08) –
present
Related
Breaking Bad

Better Call Saul is an American television drama series created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. It is a spin-off of Breaking Bad, which was also created by Gilligan.[1] Set in 2002, Better Call Saul is about small-time lawyer James "Jimmy" McGill (Bob Odenkirk), six years before his appearance on Breaking Bad, though events during and after the original series are also explored.[2]

The first season, which premiered on AMC on February 8, 2015,[3] consists of ten episodes. In June 2014, a second season of 13 episodes was ordered, with the episodes expected to air in early 2016.[4] The debut episode set the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history, with 4.4 million viewers in the 18–49 demographic, and 6.9 million viewers overall.[5]

Production

Conception

In July 2012, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan hinted at a possible spin-off about Saul Goodman.[6]

In April 2013, the series was confirmed to be in development by Gilligan and Gould; the latter wrote the Breaking Bad episode that introduced the character.[7] In a July 2012 interview, Gilligan said he liked "the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law" including settling on the courthouse steps.[8]

Development history

By July 2013, the series had yet to be green-lit.[9] Netflix was one of many interested distributors, but ultimately a deal was made between AMC and Breaking Bad production company Sony Pictures Television.[10] Gilligan and Gould serve as co-showrunners and Gilligan directed the pilot.[4] Former Breaking Bad writers Thomas Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison joined the writing staff, with Schnauz serving as co-executive producer and Hutchison as supervising producer.[11] Also on the writing staff are Bradley Paul, and Gordon Smith, who was a writer's assistant on Breaking Bad.[4]

In developing the series, the producers considered making the show a half-hour comedy,[7] but ultimately chose an hour-long format more typical of drama.[8] In October 2014, Odenkirk called the show "85 percent drama, 15 percent comedy."[12] During his appearance on Talking Bad, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the most popular characters on the show, speculating that the audience likes the character because he is the program's least hypocritical figure, and is good at his job.[13] Better Call Saul also employs Breaking Bad's signature time jumps.[14]

As filming began on June 2, 2014,[15] Gilligan expressed some concern regarding the possible disappointment from the series' turnout, in terms of audience reception.[16][17]

On June 19, 2014, AMC announced it had renewed the series for a second season of 13 episodes to premiere in early 2016, with the first season to consist of 10 episodes, and that the series premiere had been delayed to early 2015.[4] The first teaser trailer debuted on AMC on August 10, 2014, and confirmed its premiere date of February 2015.[18] In November 2014, AMC announced the series would have a two-night premiere; the first episode aired on Sunday, February 8, 2015, at 10:00 pm (ET), and then moved into its regular time slot the following night, airing Mondays at 10:00 pm.[3]

Several Breaking Bad directors returned to direct episodes, including Michelle MacLaren, Terry McDonough, Colin Bucksey, and Adam Bernstein.[19][20] Bryan Cranston is scheduled to direct an episode in 2015.[21]

Better Call Saul is filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Breaking Bad was also filmed.[22]

Casting

Bob Odenkirk stars as Saul Goodman, the eponymous character of the show. In January 2014, it was announced that Jonathan Banks would reprise his Breaking Bad role as Mike Ehrmantraut and be a series regular.[23] Aaron Paul announced having had "serious talks" with Gilligan for possible guest appearances,[24] but later told The Huffington Post it was not going to happen.[25] Dean Norris, another Breaking Bad alumnus, announced that he would not be appearing, partly due to his involvement in the CBS series Under the Dome.[26] Anna Gunn also mentioned a "talk" with Gilligan over possible guest appearances.[27]

Michael McKean, who previously guest starred on an episode of Odenkirk's Mr. Show, was cast as Saul's brother Chuck.[2][28] The cast also includes Patrick Fabian as Hamlin, Rhea Seehorn as Kim, and Michael Mando as Nacho.[2] In October 2014, Kerry Condon was cast in an unknown role.[29] In November 2014, it was announced that Julie Ann Emery and Jeremy Shamos had been cast as Betsy and Craig Kettleman, described as "the world's squarest outlaws."[30]

Cast and characters

Bob Odenkirk plays title character Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul.

Main cast

Recurring cast

  • Jeremy Shamos and Julie Ann Emery as Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a county treasurer and his wife, accused of embezzlement.[30]
  • Kerry Condon as Stacey Ehrmantraut, Mike's daughter-in-law and the mother of Kaylee Ehrmantraut. The character previously appeared in the season 3 Breaking Bad episode "Full Measure" played by a different actress.
  • Steven Levine and Daniel Spenser Levine as Lars and Cal, twin skateboarders and small-time scam artists.
  • Míriam Colón as Tuco's grandmother.
  • Eileen Fogarty as Mrs. Nguyen, owner of a nail salon which houses Jimmy's law office (and home) in its back room.

Guest Breaking Bad character reprises

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Uno"Vince GilliganVince Gilligan & Peter GouldFebruary 8, 2015 (2015-02-08)6.88[32]
In the present day, after the events of Breaking Bad, Saul Goodman is working at a Cinnabon in Omaha, Nebraska. At home, he watches a VCR cassette of his old television advertisements. In 2002, James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill (Saul's birth name) is a struggling defense lawyer. Jimmy comes across Mike Ehrmantraut, who is working the parking validation booth at the courthouse. Jimmy, low on money from a lack of lucrative cases, lives and works out of a small storage room in the back of a nail salon. He there receives a letter and a cheque from Hamlin Hamlin & McGill, a law firm where his brother Chuck McGill is a partner. He rips up the cheque after reading it, initially without explanation. Jimmy, trying to act in his brother's best interests, wants the firm to cash out his brother's share. At the HHM offices, Jimmy gets into a heated argument with Howard Hamilin, one of the partners. He then visits Chuck, who is revealed to be suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity and is unable leave his house. Jimmy tries to convince Chuck to cash out from the firm, which Chuck opposes to. At a diner, Jimmy unsuccessfully tries to convince potential clients Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a county treasurer accused of embezzlement and his wife, to hire him to defend their case; the Kettlemans are later seen at the offices of HHM, to Jimmy's disappointment. Later, Jimmy tries to set up a scam with Lars and Cal—twin skateboarders who run scams themselves—in order to secure the Kettlemans as clients. The twins accidentally target someone else, and the episode ends with Jimmy taken hostage in the house of gangster Tuco Salamanca.
2"Mijo"Michelle MacLarenPeter GouldFebruary 9, 2015 (2015-02-09)3.42[33]
3"Nacho"Terry McDonoughThomas SchnauzFebruary 16, 2015 (2015-02-16)3.23[34]
4"Hero"Colin BuckseyGennifer HutchisonFebruary 23, 2015 (2015-02-23)2.87[35]
5"Alpine Shepherd Boy"Nicole KassellBradley PaulMarch 2, 2015 (2015-03-02)2.71[36]
6"Five-O"Adam BernsteinGordon SmithMarch 9, 2015 (2015-03-09)2.57[37]
7"Bingo"Larysa KondrackiGennifer HutchisonMarch 16, 2015 (2015-03-16)2.67[38]
8"RICO"[39]Colin BuckseyGordon SmithMarch 23, 2015 (2015-03-23)N/A
9"Pimento"[40]Thomas SchnauzThomas SchnauzMarch 30, 2015 (2015-03-30)N/A
10"Marco"[40]Peter GouldPeter GouldApril 6, 2015 (2015-04-06)N/A

Broadcast

In December 2013, Netflix announced that the entire first season would be available for streaming in the U.S. and Canada after the airing of the first season finale, and in Latin America and Europe each episode will be available a few days after the episode airs in the U.S.[41] In Australia, Better Call Saul premiered on the streaming service Stan[42] on February 9, 2015, acting as the service's flagship program.[43] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series was acquired by Netflix on December 16, 2013[44] and the first episode premiered on February 9, 2015, with the second episode scheduled for release the following day. Every subsequent episode will be uploaded each week thereafter.[45]

The series premiere became the biggest in cable history, drawing in 4.4 million and 4 million in the 18–49 and 25–54 demographics, respectively, and received an overall viewership of 6.9 million.[5]

Reception

The reviews for Better Call Saul have been positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a score of 100%, based on 57 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Better Call Saul is a quirky, dark character study that manages to stand on its own without being overshadowed by the series that spawned it."[46] On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the first season thus far has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[47]

In his review of the two-episode premiere, Hank Stuever of The Washington Post graded it a "B+" and wrote the series "is right in line with the tone and style of the original, now-classic series", and that it "raises more questions in two hours than it will readily answer".[48] Stephen Marche of Esquire wrote that the first few episodes were better than Breaking Bad.[49] Kirsten Acuna of Business Insider declared the initial episodes "everything you could possibly want from a spinoff television series".[50]

References

  1. ^ Cornet, Roth (September 11, 2013). "Breaking Bad Spinoff Series Better Call Saul Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Friedlander, Whitney (July 11, 2014). "'Better Call Saul': Cast, Timeline Details and New Photos". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Roots, Kimberly (November 20, 2014). "Better Call Saul Gets Two-Night February Premiere on AMC". TVLine. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d Kondolojy, Amanda (June 19, 2014). "'Better Call Saul' Renewed for Second Season by AMC; First Season Pushed Back to 2015". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (February 9, 2015). "'The Walking Dead' Returns to 15.6 Million Viewers + 'Better Call Saul' is Biggest Series Premiere in Cable History". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "Comic-Con Q&A: Vince Gilligan on 'Breaking Bad'". Deadline.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (April 9, 2013). "AMC Eyes 'Breaking Bad' Spinoff Toplined By Bob Odenkirk". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (September 11, 2013). "'Breaking Bad' Saul Goodman Spinoff A Go At AMC, Will Serve As Prequel To Original". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  9. ^ Molloy, Tim (July 2, 2013). "Breaking Bad Creator Vince Gilligan: Saul Goodman Spinoff Moving 'Full Speed Ahead'". The Wrap. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  10. ^ Guthrie, Melissa; Rose, Lacey (September 18, 2013). "How AMC Almost Lost Breaking Bad Spinoff Better Call Saul to Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  11. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (December 20, 2013). "'Breaking Bad' Writers Join 'Better Call Saul' Staff". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Sandberg, Bryn Elise (October 27, 2014). "Bob Odenkirk on 'Better Call Saul': "It's Total Drama"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  13. ^ Talking Bad. Episode 3. August 25, 2013. AMC.
  14. ^ Snierson, Dan (December 31, 2013). "'Breaking Bad' creator Vince Gilligan on the finale, 'Better Call Saul' and his acting debut on 'Community'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 4, 2014. We think, by and large, this show will be a prequel, but the wonderful thing about the fractured chronology we employed on Breaking Bad for many years is the audience will not be thrown by us jumping around in time. So it's possible that we may indeed do that, and we'll see the past and perhaps the future.
  15. ^ O'Neal, Sean (June 3, 2014). "It's time to begin overanalyzing the first Better Call Saul set photos". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Toomer, Jessica (June 3, 2014). "Vince Gilligan Admits His 'Breaking Bad' Spinoff Might Be A Mistake". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Roberts, Katie (June 3, 2014). "Vince Gilligan Says 'Better Call Saul' Might Be a 'Mistake'". Moviefone. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Hooton, Christopher (August 11, 2014). "Better Call Saul: First teaser trailer shows younger Saul, confirms release date". The Independent. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 11, 2014). "Director Michelle MacLaren Inks HBO Deal". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  20. ^ Hibberd, James (July 11, 2014). "'Better Call Saul': New photos, details from 'Breaking Bad' spin-off". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  21. ^ Stern, Marlow (August 1, 2014). "Bryan Cranston on Walter White's Future, Directing 'Better Call Saul,' and Hillary 2016". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  22. ^ Christine (June 2, 2014). "'Breaking Bad' prequel 'Better Call Saul' begins filming in Albuquerque, NM today!". On Location Vacations. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  23. ^ a b Kenneally, Tim (January 27, 2014). "'Breaking Bad' Prequel 'Better Call Saul' Enlists Jonathan Banks". The Wrap. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  24. ^ Pearson, Ryan (March 9, 2014). "Aaron Paul wants in, Dean Norris out for 'Better Call Saul,' the 'Breaking Bad' spinoff". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  25. ^ Whitney, Erin (June 13, 2014). "Aaron Paul Offers Two Different 'Better Call Saul' Scenarios For Jesse Pinkman". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  26. ^ Dekel, Jonathan (July 3, 2014). "Dean Norris says appearance on Better Call Saul unlikely: CBS, exec Les Moonves 'won't let me do it'". The National Post. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  27. ^ Dos Santos, Kristin (May 13, 2014). "Anna Gunn Coming to Breaking Bad Spinoff? Star Reveals There's Been Talk—Plus, Why We're Dying Over Gracepoint!". E! Online. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  28. ^ Friedlander, Whitney (April 30, 2014). "Michael McKean Joins 'Breaking Bad' Prequel 'Better Call Saul'". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  29. ^ Kelly, Aoife (October 1, 2014). "Irish actress Kerry Condon scores role in 'Breaking Bad' spin-off 'Better Call Saul'". The Independent. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  30. ^ a b Birnbaum, Debra (November 12, 2014). "'Better Call Saul' Adds Julie Ann Emery and Jeremy Shamos to Cast". Variety. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  31. ^ Gilligan, Vince (March 2, 2015). Insider Podcast [105 Better Call Saul] (podcast). Albuquerque: iTunes. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  32. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 10, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Tops Night + 'Better Call Saul', 'Talking Dead', 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  33. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 10, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Better Call Saul' Tops Night + 'Love & Hip-Hop', 'Monday Night RAW', 'Black Ink Crew' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  34. ^ Bibel, Sara (February 18, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Better Call Saul' Wins Night, 'Love & Hip Hop', 'Vanderpump Rules', 'The Fosters'& More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  35. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 24, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Monday Night RAW' Tops Night + 'Love & Hip Hop', 'Better Call Saul', 'Black Ink Crew' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  36. ^ Bibel, Sara (March 3, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love & Hip Hop' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Better Call Saul', 'Vanderpump Rules', 'The Fosters' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  37. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 10, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Monday Night RAW' Tops Night + 'Love & Hip-Hop', 'Better Call Saul', 'Black Ink Crew' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  38. ^ Bibel, Sara (March 17, 2015). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'WWE Raw' Wins Night, 'Better Call Saul', 'Bates Motel', 'Love & Hip Hop', 'The Fosters' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  39. ^ "Episode 8: RICO". AMC.com. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  40. ^ a b "Better Call Saul - Episode Guide". Zap2it. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  41. ^ Gibson, Megan (December 17, 2013). "Netflix Will Stream Breaking Bad Spinoff Better Call Saul". Time. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  42. ^ "Stan launches on Australia Day". TV Tonight. January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  43. ^ "Video streaming service Stan to launch on Australia Day". mUmBRELLA. January 22, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  44. ^ Munn, Patrick (December 16, 2013). "Netflix UK & Ireland Inks SPT Deal For Exclusive Rights To 'Breaking Bad' Spin-Off 'Better Call Saul'". TV Wise. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  45. ^ Munn, Patrick (January 27, 2015). "Netflix UK Unveils Trailer For 'Breaking Bad' Spin-Off 'Better Call Saul'". TV Wise. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  46. ^ "Better Call Saul: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  47. ^ "Better Call Saul : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  48. ^ Stuever, Hank (January 13, 2015). "Midseason TV 2015: Better Call Saul". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  49. ^ Marche, Stephen (January 21, 2015). "Better Call Saul Review: The Last Hurrah of Difficult Men". Esquire. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  50. ^ Acuna, Kirsten (January 21, 2015). "Breaking Bad Fans Will Love Better Call Saul". Business Insider. Business Insider Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
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