Better Call Saul

I have the most embarrassing confession to make:  I never watched Breaking Bad.  Never saw a single episode.  [cowers in shame]  And I don't even have any excuses.  I haven't been in solitary confinement at Gitmo for the past five years; haven't been living in a cave in the Himalayas.

When AMC premiered this new show called Breaking Bad, whenever that was, the description just didn't call me.  By the time I started hearing and reading that Breaking Bad was the most brilliant riveting kickass TV series EVER, the series had already had so many episodes, I figured it would take me forever to catch up on all the plots, who's who, who did what to who, etc.  So I didn't bother.  That ship had already sailed.  The train had left the station.

I've loved these first two episodes of Better Call Saul — a prequel to Breaking Bad.  Reviews have been pretty mixed.  It's just a gimmick to keep Breaking Bad viewers tuning in; it can't possibly last; series spinoffs usually fail; etc.

No doubt I've missed a lot of inside references to Breaking Bad on these first two Better Call Saul episodes, but that's OK if I don't know what I'm missing.

Bob Odenkirk — who plays Saul — was also in Nebraska, and he played the sheriff in Fargo (the TV series, not the movie).

Anyway, check out Better Call Saul — Monday, 10 p.m. on AMC.  AMC has always been one of my favorite channels, but lately they've been sinking into an endless orgy of zombie shows and Breaking Bad reruns, IMHO.  I'm glad they have another cool show on.  And in April, Mad Men will return for its final banzai mini-microscopic season.