# Breaking Bad spin-off - what we know about Better Call Saul! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478 "2013-10-17T13:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/1 "2013-10-17T13:44:25Z")
Including that it doesn’t have an official name yet: > **[» Things We Now Know About the Breaking Bad Spin-off, Thanks to Vince Gilligan](https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/things-we-now-know-about-the-breaking-bad-spin-off-thanks-to-vince-gilligan/)** Some of the points made in the write-up I linked to: > [@](#): > > - Courtesy refresher: The show will star Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, crooked lawyer, American patriot, local TV commercial superstar, and fashion maven of the Southwest. It’ll be on AMC. Peter Gould, the BrBa writer and executive producer who created Saul Goodman, will act as showrunner.\* The title is still not officially decided.\* \ > - It’ll be shot and set in Albuquerque. > - Vince Gilligan will direct the pilot and plans to be a full-time member of the writers’ room for the first season at the very least. > - Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have said they’re willing to make cameos, which obviously leads me to abuse my exclamation point key to the point of dysfunction. “Personally, I’d have a hard time resisting putting all these guys in for a cameo or two every now and then,” Gilligan says. AND HE SMILED WHEN HE SAID IT. Yay. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/2 "2013-10-17T14:16:30Z")
I’m looking forward to the show because I think it’s going to be fun, but I’m not sure how I feel about that cameo thing. I think our last look at Walter White was the right one, so I don’t need to see a pre-Breaking Bad version of the character as a semi-joke. I’m not that eager to see a 35-year-old Aaron Paul play a 22-year-old Jesse either. They’ve done more than enough to earn my trust, but in this show I’m more interested in Saul than callbacks to Breaking Bad. On the other hand it seems like they could easily fit Hank into a couple of episodes if they want to. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/3 "2013-10-17T16:38:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m looking forward to the show because I think it’s going to be fun, but I’m not sure how I feel about that cameo thing. I think our last look at Walter White was the right one, so I don’t need to see a pre-Breaking Bad version of the character as a semi-joke. I’m not that eager to see a 35-year-old Aaron Paul play a 22-year-old Jesse either. They’ve done more than enough to earn my trust, but in this show I’m more interested in Saul than callbacks to Breaking Bad. On the other hand it seems like they could easily fit Hank into a couple of episodes if they want to. What you are saying makes sense on a lot of fronts. Aaron Paul does have a very baby face, but that would start to look skeevy and pull me out of the show. Walt would have to be a “drive by cameo” situation - by definition he didn’t know Saul prior to the ep where Jesse discusses the need for a _criminal_ lawyer, not a criminal lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/4 "2013-10-17T16:42:41Z")
It’s easy to see how they can work Pinkman in; that’s a no-brainer. The entire criminal underworld of Albuquerque knows Saul Goodman. Jesse, Badger, Spooge, and Skinny Pete can be in practically every episode. Maybe even Tuco. And certainly Mike. But Walt is going to be a toughie, unless Junior maybe got picked up for shoplifting a box of Raisin Bran Crunch from the local A&P prior to the events of season two of BB. All things considered, though, I’m amped for this. I know it will be quality product. Maybe not 99.2 percent Breaking Bad, but I have faith that Gilligan and his exemplary writing and production team are not going to let us down. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/5 "2013-10-17T16:52:33Z")
I’m committing to at least one episode. Odenkirk is too cool to miss, and as long as the writers stay faithful to the guidelines they used in BB, it can’t help but be a fun ride – for a while. I just wish a similar treatment for Mike could be greenlighted. Banks had me as far back as [Beverly Hills Cop (1984).](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086960/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_97) Probably those dead eyes and that cold-blooded vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/6 "2013-10-17T17:02:40Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I just wish a similar treatment for Mike could be greenlighted. That’s the beauty of it. There’s plenty of material for them to milk before it runs out of steam. A Mike backstory could easily span four or five episodes. Ditto with Fring. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/7 "2013-10-17T17:10:03Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > It’s easy to see how they can work Pinkman in; that’s a no-brainer. The entire criminal underworld of Albuquerque knows Saul Goodman. Jesse, Badger, Spooge, and Skinny Pete can be in practically every episode. Maybe even Tuco. And certainly Mike. Realistically, Aaron Paul is going to be too busy with bigger projects to make a lot of appearances. He has a new series right now and a much higher profile than he did when Breaking Bad started. It’d be easy enough to find ways to fit these guys into the story, but what I was saying is that this is a prequel, so the age of the actors would be kind of an issue (moreso than with Odenkirk). > [@Washoe](#): > > That’s the beauty of it. There’s plenty of material for them to milk before it runs out of steam. A Mike backstory could easily span four or five episodes. Ditto with Fring. There’s backstory to be milked if they want to, but I want this show to stand on its own. As I see it, a bunch of greedy idiots and barely competent criminal lowlifes walks into Saul’s office every day of the week. I want to see how he deals with them and gets involved in their illegal enterprises while staying ahead of the law. Oh, and I assume he has a sarcastic talking dog. If not, I’m out. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/8 "2013-10-17T17:12:50Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > That’s the beauty of it. There’s plenty of material for them to milk before it runs out of steam. A Mike backstory could easily span four or five episodes. Ditto with Fring. Now that you mention it, the aspect of _Breaking Bad_ that moves it into solid competition for All-Time Best Crime Drama with the likes of _The Wire_, _The Sopranos_, _The Shield_, and (for me anyway) _Justified_ is the depth and 3D nature of the characters. Not just types, people. What other shows even deserve mention in that company? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/9 "2013-10-17T17:14:07Z")
The talking dog is key for me as well. I’d also settle for a puppet alien. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/10 "2013-10-17T17:28:54Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > The talking dog is key for me as well. I’d also settle for a puppet alien. Only if he has a cutesy but insulting nickname for Saul. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/11 "2013-10-17T17:30:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Oh, and I assume he has a sarcastic talking dog. If not, I’m out. Why does he talk? Is his barking bad? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/12 "2013-10-17T17:56:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Only if he has a cutesy but insulting nickname for Saul. And is voiced by Seth MacFarlane. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/13 "2013-10-17T20:32:00Z")
I wouldn’t mind seeing the spinoff take place after Breaking Bad. It starts as kind of a fish-out-of-water type deal, but then Saul could start building his underworld connections again in the new environment with his new identity. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/14 "2013-10-17T20:56:50Z")
For cameos they could easily for Marie in as needed a lawyer to quickly get her out of a shoplifting charge. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/15 "2013-10-17T21:04:10Z")
We’re gonna need a laugh track. And a sardonic receptionist. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/16 "2013-10-17T21:10:02Z")
I’m going to ignore it is coming until it gets here and hope that I’m wrong and it is good. While I love the Saul character within the context of the show I’ve just never thought “wow, I wish I could have a full episode of this.” Saul is, except in comparison to the meth business a truly horrible person. When he’s the center of things I don’t see how what he does will be funny. But I hope I’m wrong and pleasantly surprised. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/17 "2013-10-17T23:32:25Z")
Except for the Norman Lear franchises and A Different World, I can’t think of a spin-off that has been successful. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-spin-off-what-we-know-about-better-call-saul/671478/18 "2013-10-17T23:41:51Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Except for the Norman Lear franchises and A Different World, I can’t think of a spin-off that has been successful. Frasier was somewhat popular. Law & Order had several lasting spinoffs.