TV Watch: "This show has been a crazy ride for us" ("Better Call Saul" showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould)

Better Call Saul showrunners Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan

"The character of Jimmy McGill has taken us places we never expected. Jimmy's not yet Saul Goodman: he's his own man, and he's messy and struggling and still finding himself."

-- from the open letter from Vince and Peter

by Ken

I realize that I'm risking becoming a PR shill for Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad prequel that AMC is unveiling in a two-part premiere Sunday and Monday, February 8 and 9, at 10pm/9pm CT. But frankly I worry more about the possibility of being let down by one of the few upcoming televisual events I'm actually looking forward to, coming as it does from people who have shown that they really and truly know what they're doing in producing TV drama.

The upshot is that here I am, passing along the latest promotional crumb from the AMC folks, or rather from the Better Call Saul folks, showrunners Vince Gilligan (creating and mastermind of Breaking Bac) and Peter Gould (a BB writer-producer who is credited with creating the character of that lawyers' lawyer Saul Goodman).

Bob Odenkirk as Jimmy McGill

Welcome to the world of James M. McGill, Esq.

For viewers of Breaking Bad, there’s much that will be familiar in this series: the bright Albuquerque skies, the dark humor, and — most of all — the passion and devotion to detail from cast and crew.

Having said that, Better Call Saul is a brand new show. We’re telling a different story here — one with its own rhythm, its own look, its own tone. We’re excited to share it with you.

This show has been a crazy ride for us. The character of Jimmy McGill has taken us places we never expected. Jimmy’s not yet Saul Goodman: he’s his own man, and he’s messy and struggling and still finding himself. One day he’ll transform into Albuquerque’s favorite criminal lawyer, but right now he’s a more or less law-abiding underdog on the bottom rung of the legal system.

We’re loving every moment of Bob Odenkirk’s deeply human performance as unstoppable, inventive Jimmy races through an ethical slalom course, trying to make a name for himself.

We hope you enjoy it.

—Vince and Peter

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