AMC has picked up a 10-episode third season of Better Call Saul five episodes into the Breaking Bad prequel’s sophomore run. Creators Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould will return as executive producers/co-showrunners.
The drama, whose series premiere set a cable ratings record, has continued to be a strong ratings performer in Season 2, pulling in 2.7 million adults 18-49 in Live+3 for its Season 2 premiere on February 15. That was a 22% increase over its the series debut. The Season 2 debut of Better Call Saul surged 83% in total viewers in L+3 to 4.7 million. The four-episode Season 2 Live+3 ratings averages are 4.4 million viewers per episode, including 2.7 million adults 25-54 and 2.5 million adults 18-49.
Better Call Saul is set six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. Back then, Saul is known as Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny and hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside and often against Jimmy is “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut, a beloved character first introduced in Breaking Bad. The series tracks Jimmy’s transformation into a man who puts the criminal in “criminal lawyer.”
“What Vince, Peter, Bob and the entire team have accomplished with Better Call Saul is truly rare and remarkable,” said AMC president Charlie Collier. “They have taken one of the most iconic, immersive and fan-obsessive (in the best possible way) shows in television history and created a prequel that stands on its own.”
Better Call Saul comes from Sony Pictures TV, which also recently saw its WGN America series Outsiders get renewed for a second season, Underground break premiere ratings records for WGNA and new AMC drama Preacher open at SXSW.
Gilligan and Gould executive produce Better Call Saul with Mark Johnson, Melissa Bernstein and Thomas Schnauz.
Here’s a clip from the most recent episode:
Best show on television
Agree. Nuanced writing, impeccable casting, spot-on editing (including the music). Love. This. Show.
and more importantly the acting Some of the best proformances I seen on T.V
Can’t see this going past 4 seasons. It is a great show and I really like it and it is one of the best shows on, but a lot of the characters from Breaking Bad will probably be introduced by then with their major origin storylines.
But once the story is caught up to the Breaking Bad storyline, it could go on and on…and on…with Saul in WITSEC/hiding.
I think you’re probably right, *unless* a fifth season is set post-WW.
Didn’t the first episode of the first season open post Breaking Bad– managing the donut shop?
Both seasons have opened with Jimmy post-Breaking Bad, managing a Cinnabun in his witness protection life.
Oh God YES !!! More please…
Gently paced, smart television. A far cry from the glossy, formulaic network cop and hospital procedurals. That said, season 2 doesn’t have the grounding of season 1 and the show feels padded in places. The montage of Kim making phone calls is an example where it feels like they are having trouble meeting their hour format. They need to open the show up a bit more.
The show is more than a prequel. It bookends Breaking Bad, so there could also be more story set in the present time frame. With Jesse.
My guess: 2 seasons pre-WW, 1 season DURING Breaking Bad (parallel/in the background) and 1 Post-BB (redemption/failure)
Finished the first season and I’m hooked like a sea bass
The best show on TV is ACS:OJ. It’s as if every segment before a break contains a “wow” moment. In contrast, Saul is sleepy. Saul has declined in the ratings that matter: C3/C7.
Trust me everyone Better Call Saul will pass 3 season’s I say it will go up to 4 season’s with the fourth season being a 16 episode run beause Breaking Bad’s Final season went up to 16 episodes so it will work if they need more story to tell AMC will just increase the fourth’s season episodes….It will be perfect like that :)
On this I’ll agree. AMC needs it for variety alone. I’ll make any even bolder prediction. The series finale of Saul will beat the finale of FTWD.
Why not 13 episodes instead of just 10? I’m much preferring Season 2 to Season 1, which was kinda dull in episodes 2, 3, and 4.
Wonderful show…but don’t outstay the welcome. Would be marvelous to close it out on a high note (after season 3? season 4?) and then segue into a pickup series that follows BB. The performers can play their actual ages, relieving the strain on Makeup, and doing a prequel and then sequel around a series has never been done on TV before.
This show is one of the best. It hooks you, then you can’t wait for the next episode.
Aah, the days of a 24 episode season – how we long for you
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I loved BB. I push myself to watch BCS, I love the characters of Jimmy and Mike so much from BB. I am hoping amongst hopes that the story lines will be more interesting. Come on writers, give us something to look forward too!!!
I think WW is still alive just badly wounded