The good news is: AMC's "Better Call Saul" is now in production, aiming for air in the first quarter of 2015

In this powerfully dramatic Better Call Saul "first-look photo," we see the man himself, Albuquerque shyster Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), with co-showrunners Peter Gould (who created the character) and Vince Gilligan (who's directing the premiere).

"Production on Better Call Saul is underway, and we could not be more proud of, nor more excited about, the work to date. We join the fans in eager anticipation for this series, and today we happily confirm that our initial Saul order is for two seasons and a total of 23 episodes."

-- AMC president Charlie Collier

by Ken

Oh sure, I could be fulminating about that thieving fat bastard NJ Gov. Kris Krispy and the latest teams of investigators circling his smelly butt, focusing on some of his more colorful fiscal hi jinx with the Port Authority of NY and NJ. (I even have a title slotted in: "Is it time yet for that thieving fat bastard NJ Gov. Kris Krispy to pack his toothbrush for prison?") But NJ Fats isn't going anywhere, alas -- at least not till it's time for him to take up (hopefully permanenet) residence in prison.

But let us turn instead to breaking news about another lawyer, the kind Governor Kris probably would have liked to be if it didn't involve so much hard work and a certain deep-rooted but nevertheless present bare-bones human decency. Yes, we have the release by AMC TV of its first "first-look photo" for Better Call Saul, the "Breaking Bad prequel" that began production this month under the watchful eyes of co-showrunners Vince Gilligan (who's directing the premiere episode) and Peter Gould.


A "reel" of Saul Goodman testimonials and commercials

Vince G, of course, was the creator and start-to-finish mastermind of Breaking Bad, and Peter G, it turns out, is the BB veteran who created the character of Saul Goodman, the world's most unprincipled -- or should we say "flexibly principled"? -- lawyer, played so memorably by the one and only Bob Odenkirk. (We took an up-close and personal look at Saul G in August 2011, noting that the Albuquerque shyster was not to be confused with the New York Philharmonic's longtime and legendary principal timpanist of the same name.)

Not surprisingly, Peter and Vince are tapping the Breaking Bad talent pool. As today's AMC blogpost reports:

In addition to Gilligan and Gould, several Breaking Bad writers have returned to work on Saul, including Thomas Schnauz and Gennifer Hutchison. Bradley Paul has also joined the writing team, along with Gordon Smith, who was a writers' assistant on Breaking Bad.

Better Call Saul is executive produced by Gilligan, Gould, Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein (Breaking Bad, Rectify, Halt and Catch Fire) with Breaking Bad alums Stewart A. Lyons and Schnauz as co-executive producers for Sony Pictures Television.

Presumably important parts of the Albuquerque team, not to mention the various other components of the behind-the-scenes team that did so much to make Breaking Bad what it was, have been reassembled for Better Call Saul. As network president Charlie Collier went on to say in the statement from which I've quoted at the top of this post, "We have a strong history with Vince, Peter, Bob, the studio, and so many involved with this production; we are enjoying the process on Saul and all share a focus on making it a true television event. No half measures."

It's official now that the 10-episode first season, currently penciled in for the first quarter of 2015, will be followed by a 13-episode second season, penciled in for the first quarter of 2016.


Movieline posted this Better Call Saul update five months ago. Already the cited premiere date, November, is history -- talk now is of first quarter 2015.


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