The highly anticipated Breaking Bad prequel has recieved a second season order of 13 episodes, bringing the grand series total to 23.  There is no note of specific air dates for either season, but AMC has said that the drama will join The Walking Dead in the first quarter of the next two years.

Breaking Bad creator and showrunner Vince Gilligan is directing the show’s premiere, and co-showrunning the series alongside fellow Breaking Bad alum Peter Gould, who inititally created the Saul Goodman character.

The series follows Bob Odenkirk as the tricky New Mexican criminal lawyer.

“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,” said AMC president Charlie Collier.

“When introducing any series, especially one with the DNA of ‘Breaking Bad,’ there are countless factors to consider in making sure the show gets the launch it deserves. 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.”

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Deadline is reporting that Patrick Fabian (Veronica Mars), Rhea Seehorn (Franklin & Bash) and Orphan Black‘s Michael Mando have all signed on to star in the spin-off.

The show features Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman, and Fabian and Seehorn will play fellow lawyers Burt and Beth (last names unknown), while Mando will play a career criminal named Eddie.

These three join Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, who will be reprising his role as Mike Ehrmantraut.  Michael McKean will also appear on Better Call Saul as Dr. Thurber, and attorner who is “restricted by an unusual affliction.”

Better Call Saul is currently slated to premiere in November on AMC.

The post ‘Better Call Saul’ Adds ‘Orphan Black’ Alum, Two More Actors appeared first on TVHackr.

The first half of Mad Men‘s final season will begin its run on Sunday, April 13 at 10 PM.  One week earlier, on April 6, the network’s new Revolutionary War drama Turn will get a 90-minute premiere at 9 PM.

Better Call Saul, which focus on Saul Goodman before he became Walter White’s attorney on Breaking Bad, will debut some time in November – a specific date has yet to be determined.

The Chris Hardwick-hosted talk show The Talking Dead, which airs following new episodes of the network’s hit, The Walking Dead has unsurprisingly been renewed for a fifth season after delivering a series high among total viewers with the first half of its fourth season.  Hardwick told critics earlier this week that he’d continue hosting the series as long as AMC would have him.  Both The Walking Dead and The Talking Dead will begin their new seasons in October, with a concrete premiere date likely to be announced at this year’s Comic-Con.

Freshman series Halt and Catch Fire, which revolves around the personal computing era in the early 1980s will launch this summer- a specific date to be determined.  Hell on Wheels will also return later in the summer. The unscripted  Game of Arms will premiere Tuesday, February 25 at 10 PM, followed in May by the returns of Freakshow and Small Town Security.

“We are extremely excited about the 2014 lineup,” AMC president and General Manager Charlie Collier said.  “Both the returning and new series reflect our commitment to serving passionate audiences with compelling, character-driven storytelling.”

What are you most excited to see from AMC this year?

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Netflix scored two slots on the list with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, while other new entries included FX spy drama The Americans, Showtime period drama Masters of Sex, ABC political soap Scandal, and HBO political comedy Veep, the latter of which is coming off Emmy wins for Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tony Hale. The rest of the AFI Top 10 of 2013 list was made up of the most recent seasons of Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Good Wife, and Game of Thrones.

It’s been a particularly award-heavy time for the TV industry, as the Writers Guild, Producers Guild, and International Press Academy have all announced nominations for their respective awards in recent weeks. Freshman series that have made noise include Masters of Sex and Orange is the New Black, both of which stand a reasonable chance of breaking into Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy races later in the season.

Do you think that AFI made good selections for its list this year? Are you surprised that Homeland and Modern Family aren’t represented this year? If you could remove one program and replace it with another, what would it be?

AFI Top 10 Programs of 2013
The Americans
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Mad Men
Masters of Sex
Orange is the New Black
Scandal
Veep

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Gilligan will be acting for the very first time in this spot, playing a smooth-talking gold digger who ends up provoking a fight between Abed (Danny Pudi) and Annie (Alison Brie).  The episode, being filmed this week, will most likely air in the late winter or early spring stint of the season.

Gilligan won’t be the only Breaking Bad alum to appear on the comedy this season – Jonathan Banks will also be playing a criminology professor in 11 episodes.

Other guest faces in season 5 of Community include Nathan Fillion, Walton Goggins, Robert Patrick, Kumali Nanjiani, Paget Brewster, Brie Larson, and Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz, among many others. 

Community begins season 5 on January 2nd.

The post Community: Vince Gilligan to Guest appeared first on TVHackr.

Mad Men

Per The Huffington Post, AMC will be splitting Mad Men‘s 14-episode seventh and final season into two pieces.  The first 7 episodes, titled as a group “The Beginning,” will air in spring of 2014, and the second, ‘The End of an Era” will air in spring 2015.

“We plan to take advantage of this chance to have a more elaborate story told in two parts, which can resonate a little bit longer in the minds of our audience,” said the show’s creator Matthew Weiner in a statement.  “The writers, cast and other artists welcome this unique manner of ending this unique experience.”

AMC has followed a similar strategy with Breaking Bad, successfully, and also airs The Walking Dead in split seasons for fall and spring.

Mad Men premiered on AMC in 2007, and has been the winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four times.

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Said Charlie Collier in the official press release,  building on the success of the drama – “the most popular show on television for adults 18-49” was a “no-brainer.”  After all, The Walking Dead season three out-performed The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Voice, and Game of Thrones.

It appears that the new world being created isn’t necessarily tied to the comic book that The Walking Dead, is based on, though it would come from creator Robert Kirkman and the show’s executive producers Gale Anne Hurd and Dave alpert.

The announcement follows that of Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, and two other new drama series for 2014; Halt & Catch Fire and Turn.

Season four of The Walking Dead will return to AMC on October 13.  The spin-off  will launch in 2015 – check back for updates.

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This week on TVHackr, we talked about boffo Sons of Anarchy ratings, the cancellation of The Killing, and the 10th season of Grey’s Anatomy, while the internet touched on fall television, Congressional blackout intervention, and soccer telecasts.

Keith David to voice Once Upon a Time in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat
The Cape alum, who also has a regular role on FOX’s Enlisted, will voice the classic literary character on the ABC spinoff.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 10 trailer out now!
Ahead of its 10th season premiere, which will air September 26th on ABC, you can check out a Grey’s Anatomy preview here, which hints at a lot of drama to come.

Comedies Hold Steady with Move to FXX
In their first week on FXX, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League managed to hold most of their audience, signaling that the network might be further along in development than even its executives expected.

Alec Baldwin to Host MSNBC Talk Show
Now that 30 Rock has gone off the air, Emmy winner Alec Baldwin will host a MSNBC talk show. Will you be watching?

Aftershow Coming for Sons of Anarchy
The Sons of Anarchy post-show will air three times this season, all of them taking place online and hosted by Chelsea Lately‘s Chris Franjola.

The White Queen Episode 4 Recap: Why is She Sitting on My Throne?
While Margaret of Anjou tests Warwick’s commitment to their new alliance, Margaret Beaufort faces a major loss and Elizabeth is forced out of the tower.

X Factor’s average ratings beaten by Strictly Come Dancing
X Factor UK found itself in second place on the night, as Strictly Come Dancing beat it in the ratings recently. Is it a sign of things to come?

True Detective Trailer: The World Needs Bad Men
HBO has released the first trailer for upcoming crime drama True Detective, primarily taking place during a 1985 serial killer investigation and being framed by 2012 testimony taking place when the case gets reopened.

Atlantis Trailer: Whoever Heard of a Hero Called Jason?
BBC/BBC America coproduction Atlantis had its first trailer released this week and in it, we meet young hero Jason, who comes to the mythical city and gets exposed to more than he imagined.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Promos: Welcome to the 99th Precinct
FOX has released new promos for cop comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which stars the likes of Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, and Joe Lo Truglio.

Tina Fey to Host Saturday Night Live Premiere
The Emmy winner will return to the sketch comedy series for its season premiere, her fourth time hosting since leaving the seires in 2006.

Spoiler Alert: Lisa Edelstein Guest Stars on Castle
House alum Lisa Edelstein will guest star on the upcoming season of Castle. But who will she be playing and how long will she stay?

Hello Ladies Trailer: Just a Little Boy Lost
HBO released the first official trailer for Hello Ladies, a comedy created by and starring Stephen Merchant, who will play a gangly Englishman who moves to Los Angeles looking for love.

Katherine Heigl to star in NBC’s CIA Drama
Katherine Heigl may be returning to television next season, as NBC has acquired a CIA drama she’s attached to star in.

Which Private Practice Doctor Is Joining Scandal Season 3?
Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes has dipped into her pool of actors once again, as a Private Practice doctor will join the fixer drama this season.

Lucky 7: The Butler’s Stephen Rider Joins the Cast
Upcoming ABC drama Lucky 7, based on British series The Syndicate, has added Stephen Rider to its cast in a recurring role.

Penny Dreadful: Harry Treadway to Play Frankenstein
Harry Treadway is the latest to join the psychosexual thriller, signing on to play Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Mistresses Season Finale Recap: Who Is the Father of Savi’s Baby?
On the season finale of Mistresses, the father of Savi’s baby is revealed and Karen has one final standoff with Elizabeth Grey.

NBC: Watch the First Episodes of Ironside and Welcome to the Family Here
NBC has put the first episodes of Blair Underwood vehicle Ironside and multi-racial family comedy Welcome to the Family online.

FOX: Watch the Second Season Premiere of The Mindy Project Here
FOX put the second season premiere of The Mindy Project online a week before its television premiere. The episode will be up on September 16th.

Sundance Picks Up U.S. Broadcast Rights to French Zombie Drama The Returned
Critically acclaimed series The Returned will make its U.S. debut this October on Sundance.

Starz Drama Outlander Adds Duncan Lacroix to Its Cast
The latest addition to the cast of Outlander is Game of Thrones actor Duncan Lacroix, set to play Jamie’s taciturn uncle.

USA Renews Graceland for Second Season
USA has given Jeff Eastin drama Graceland a second season. The series stars the likes of Aaron Tvelt and Daniel Sunjata.

The Killing Cancelled by AMC – Again
Meanwhile, AMC pulled the plug on crime drama The Killing for a second time, cancelling the series following its most acclaimed (and least watched) season to date.

So You Think You Can Dance Returning For Season 11
During the season 10 finale of So You Think You Can Dance, Nigel Lythgoe announced that the show would be returning for an 11th season.

The Affair: Bunheads Alum Julia Goldani Telles Joins the Cast
The latest addition to the cast of Showtime drama pilot The Affair is Bunheads alum Julia Goldani Telles, who will play the daughter of Noah (Dominic West) and Helen (Maura Tierney).

Outlander: Caitriona Balfe Cast as Claire Randall on the Starz Adaptation
The Starz adaptation of Diana Galabdon’s Outlander novel series has found its leading lady in Irish actress Caitriona Balfe, who will play World War II nurse Claire Randall.

HBO to Premiere Getting On and Ja’mie Private School Girl November 24th
HBO will premiere two new comedies later this fall: Getting On, from the creators of Big Love and focusing on an extended care unit, and Ja’mie Private School Girl, the latest from Chris Lilley.

Breaking Bad: Better Call Saul Spinoff Greenlit
AMC and Sony have come to terms with a licensing agreement for Better Call Saul, the would-be spinoff of Breaking Bad. A series order is said to be tied up in negotiations.

Watch here: The exclusive White Collar Season 5 trailer!
Ahead of its October premiere, you can check out a preview of White Collar‘s fifth season here.

The Nine Lives of Chloe King Movie Script to Be Released September 13th
ABC Family and Alloy Entertainment have released the script for the proposed Chloe King wrap-up movie, which ended up not being made.

Siberia Season Finale Preview: The Rescue Team Arrives at the Research Facility
While the team at the research facility made contact last week on Siberia, there’s a chance that who they heard from isn’t who they want to rescue them.

Devious Maids 1.12 Preview: Marisol Puts Herself in Harm’s Way
Now that Michael knows about Marisol eavesdropping on him, just how much danger does she find herself in?

Sons of Anarchy breaks through with Series-High Ratings
Sons of Anarchy hit series high ratings this week for its sixth season premiere, outdrawing everything on broadcast the same night and undoubtedly making ABC, CBS, and NBC sweat regarding the upcoming debut of their 10:00 shows.

FOX Pushes Enlisted to Midseason
FOX announced that military comedy Enlisted has been pushed from an early November debut until midseason, reportedly to take advantage of winter sports advertising.

Sleepy Hollow Promos: Some Legends Never Die
Get a look at two new promos for Sleepy Hollow, which stars Tom Mison as a resurrected Ichabod Crane and premieres Monday, September 16th.

Back in the Game Promos: On the Right Track
Get a look at two new promos for Back in the Game, which stars Maggie Lawson as a former softball great who has to move home with her father and premieres Wednesday, September 25th.

News Roundup: Big Brother Renewed for Season 16 by CBS
Among the recent TV headlines are a Big Brother renewal, Community beginning its syndication run, MTV ordering two new drama pilots,  BET renewing Being Mary Jane before its first season premieres, and Eliza Coupe joining House of Lies.

The Frustration of Loving a Show That’s Been on Too Long (Vulture)
Have you watched a show to the bitter end, even though you know it’s been awful for several seasons? Vulture has.

Fall TV preview: The top 10 new shows (USA Today)
Need information on the new shows about the hit your television screen? USA Today gives you a list of 10 to give your extra attention.

Sports TV Mailbag #3: The future of soccer on American TV (SB Nation)
In their latest sports mailbag, SB Nation forecasts the direction of soccer on American television and tries to explain Skip Bayless, NBA Countdown, and ultimate Frisbee.

Will Congress Enter the Fray Over Pay TV Blackouts? (Business Week)
After the recent CBS-Time Warner kerfuffle, Business Week examines the possibility of Congress jumping into the fray on the issue of blackouts.

Do the “ASD” characters on television adequately reflect the reality of autism? (Autism Daily Newscast)
Autism Daily Newscast takes a look at the state of autism’s representation on television and whether those who are portrayed as being on the spectrum are realistic in their personalities/struggles.

The post The Week in Television Wrap September 7-13 appeared first on TVHackr.

Better Call Saul always had a good chance of getting on the air, considering the popularity of the character and AMC’s desire to continue doing business with Vince Gilligan, but once Breaking Bad shattered its ratings records for the final half of its fifth season, it was a guaranteed pickup, especially considering the cancellation of The Killing, underwhelming ratings for Low Winter Sun, and the impending departure of Mad Men. However, whether the show will be a success or not remains to be seen, as television spinoffs have historically been hit or miss, especially with it comes to spinning off dramas.

There could also be the chance that while Saul’s character is popular and a good source of comic relief in the darkness that is Breaking Bad, it’s not enough to build a series around and even a series of Breaking Bad-related cameos from those who survive the series might not be enough to draw outside interest. Working in the show’s favor, though, is just how beloved its mothership has become during its five season run and the ratings high that it’s going out on, which could bleed over to the spinoff and give it a pretty sizeable launching pad. But who will be joining Saul in the spinoff?

Breaking Bad airs Sundays at 9:00 on AMC, with the series finale scheduled for Sunday, September 29th.

Would you watch a spinoff focused on Saul? Which characters from Breaking Bad would you like to see appear on the series? Can something like Better Call Saul escape the enormous shadow of Breaking Bad and find an audience of its own?

The post Breaking Bad: Better Call Saul Spinoff Greenlit appeared first on TVHackr.

-Fresh off its premiere at the Television Critics Association press tour, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD will be screened during D23 Expo 2013, a Disney fan event designed to give access to Disney films, television, and theme parks. About six weeks ahead of its September 24th television premiere, SHIELD is set to screen on Sunday, August 11th at 3:00 p.m. in the D23 Expo Center. The event itself takes place from August 9th-11th at the Anaheim Convention Center.

-Bravo has greenlit Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, about the author of a self-help book navigating her life as a newly single woman in her 40’s in Los Angeles, to pilot. The pilot was written by Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Glee) and becomes the second project currently in development at the network, who recently passed on Rita, a drama starring Anna Gunn as a teacher struggling to balance her three children and chaotic job.

-Former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavis has been named the next Bachelor by ABC. His season of looking for love, and someone to introduce to his daughter Camila, will air this January. He was eliminated during the home visits that recent Bachelorette Desiree made this past season.

-Emmy winner Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl) has joined TVLand pilot Jennifer Falls, which tells the story of a single mother who gets fired from her job and has to move back in with her mother until she gets on her feet. Pressly will play the title character, a woman who goes from a six-figure position to a waitressing job at her brother’s bar. Her most recent series was FOX’s I Hate My Teenage Daughter, where she co-starred along with Katie Finneran.

-After bowing to its strongest premiere numbers in two years, America’s Next Top Model has bumped two new episodes of Perfect Score, as the second half of its season premiere will be rebroadcast this Friday at 8:00; the first half will now be aired the previous day at 9:00, following a Vampire Diaries repeat. An all-new episode of Top Model, where the first cut is made in the group of 16 contestants, is still set to air Friday, August 9th at 9:00 on The CW. There’s no word on when (or if) the two booted Perfect Score episodes will surface.

-Kanye West will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards for the seventh time this year. The rapper joins Lady Gaga on the 2013 VMA lineup, where he’s scheduled to perform “BLKKK SKKKN HEAD” from his most recent album Yeezus. The 2013 VMAs will air live Sunday, August 25th at 9:00 on MTV.

-CBS midseason drama Intelligence has named Barry Schindel (Law and Order) as showrunner and executive producer. The series, which stars the likes of Josh Holloway (Lost) and Marg Helgenberger (CSI), will premiere Monday, February 24th at 10:00. You can check out a trailer here.

-Netflix has picked up 13th-century adventure series Marco Polo from Starz, the latter having ordered the show straight-to-series in January 2012. However, after little movement following said announcement, Starz released the project, from John Fusco (Hidalgo) and showrunner Dave Erickson (Sons of Anarchy). The nine-episode series, originally slated to film in China, will chronicle the famed explorer’s journey during his early years in the court of Kublai Khan.

–Community‘s Donald Glover is set to write, executive produce and play the lead in a half-hour comedy for FX. The series, tentatively titled Atlanta and currently in development, is set against the backdrop of the Atlanta music scene, which Glover grew up in.

-Issa Rae (The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl) and Larry Wilmore (The Bernie Mac Show) have teamed up for a half-hour comedy currently in development at HBO. The series, starring Rae, is said to focus on the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern day African-American woman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4amNAiAirc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HKw9J5z20A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VRhcYAQU8A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnIhVwQrU6A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1miCoOvL0A

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