AMC's new talk show Talking Saul to pour over Better Call Saul's premiere

By Christine Persaud Published February 12, 2016

First there was Talking Dead, the talk show all about everyone’s favorite Zombie-apocalypse series The Walking Dead. Then came Talking Bad, which did the same for AMC’s epic drama Breaking Bad. Now, AMC has confirmed that Chris Hardwick will host a Talking Saul show to follow the season 2 premiere of Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.

Before you get too excited, Talking Saul won’t air after every episode of the show. It will only be featured after the premiere (this Monday, February 15 at 11 p.m.) and the finale. And it won’t be a full hour like we’ve come to know and love with Talking Dead, but rather just 30 minutes, as was the case with Talking Bad.

Recommended Videos

That said, the new show will follow the same format as the others, featuring cast members from the show, producers, and celebrity fans discussing the episode and story development, along with viewer interaction from social media, telephone, and the live studio audience.

Joel Stillerman, President of Original Programming and Development at AMC, says the “Talking” franchise began as a “way to serve the fans by harnessing and providing a focal point for discussion around our original programming.” Given that after the first successful season of Better Call Saul has acquired a loyal legion of devoted fans, the network felt it was time to launch the format for the show.

Not surprisingly, both show lead Bob Odenkirk (Saul) and creator Vince Gilligan will sit on the couch for the premiere episode, alongside co-writer and co-showrunner Peter Gould.

Chances are that if the show goes well, it may be upgraded to every episode of next season. Talking Dead airs in the hour following The Walking Dead every Sunday, and has done so since the show’s second season in 2011. The concept continued when Talking Bad launched in 2013.

A special episode of Talking Dead also aired following the finale of Walking Dead spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead last October — AMC clearly loves its franchises. Hardwick noted at the time that the show could be picked up for every episode of the new season.

Here’s hoping that’s the case for Talking Saul so fans and cast members alike can pick apart and debate every aspect of Jimmy McGill’s transformation into Saul Goodman.

Christine Persaud

Contributor

Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…

Topics

Entertainment

Entire Better Call Saul series including season 6 heads to Blu-ray on December 6

Jimmy on the prison bus in Better Call Saul

This past August, Better Call Saul concluded its six-season run with a bittersweet ending. Now, fans will have the chance to own season 6 and the entire series when it heads to Blu-ray on December 6. The final season will also be available on DVD on the same day.

Stemming from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the Blu-ray includes special features, such as deleted scenes, outtakes, Easter eggs, and commentary on every episode. Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew as they discuss the evolution of Saul Goodman and explain specific moments in the show. Below, you'll find an exclusive clip of Bob Odenkirk and co-creator Vince Gilligan discussing Gene Takavic, Saul's alias while hiding from the authorities in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2010.

Entertainment

The Calling cast on what makes their new NYC cop show so special

Four detectives stand around a table and talk in a scene from The Calling.

In most TV shows set in New York City, cops are tough, no-nonsense authority figures. From Law and Order: SVU to NYPD Blue, the hard-nosed officers are an extension of the city's grit and resilience. That's why when a memorable detective like Avraham "Avi" Avraham (Jeff Wilbusch) in The Calling comes along, it stands out.

As a detective in the NYPD, Avi applies empathy and spirituality to a job that's both physically and emotionally taxing. Avi would rather de-escalate a situation with his words instead of his gun. When a missing person investigation takes an unexpected turn, Avi's morals are put to the test, as well as his faith in humanity. While usually working alone, Avi must rely on his unit - Detective Janine Harris (Juliana Canfield), Detective Earl Malzone (Michael Mosley), and Captain Kathleen Davies (Karen Robinson) - to find the answers he so desperately seeks.

Entertainment

Better Call Saul was a profound meditation on the passing of time

Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul.

Note: This article contains spoilers for season six and the final episode.

Better Call Saul could be a hard show to fathom. What, exactly, was it about? Other than an opportunity to extend the shelf life of the cultural juggernaut Breaking Bad by further exploring some of its most well-known characters – the con man/lawyer, Jimmy McGill, AKA Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk); the drug kingpin, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito); and the ex-cop turned cartel fixer, Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) – it wasn’t always clear.