Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad spin-off) Debuts Tonight!

Since the Super Bowl is over, television is returning to original programming and tonight is the debut of Better Call Saul, the spin-off from Breaking Bad starring Bob Odenkirk's character, the morally challenged lawyer Saul Goodman. The first (ever) episode airs tonight and then the second one airs tomorrow.

I never saw the original Breaking Bad on television, instead The Other Half and I streamed the entire 5 seasons on Netflix. But I am excited to see if Better Call Saul can match Breaking Bad in its brilliance.

Also returning with new episodes tonight is The Walking Dead, which is television's most-watched drama, and will serve as the lead-in to Better Call Saul. Both air on AMC.

2014 EMMYS: Nominations Announced! Game Of Thrones Leads With 20!

The Prime Time Emmy awards are out and Game of Thrones is leading the pack with 20 nominations (in 19 categories) and nods for several of the acting cast: Lena Headey (1st nomination as Cersei Lannister), Dianne Rigg (2nd nomination as Olenna Tyrell) and Peter Dinklage (4th consecutive nomination as Tyion Lannister).

WinterisComing.net lists the nominations the series earned for its recently concluded fourth season:

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Supporting Actress – Lena Headey
• Outstanding Supporting Actor – Peter Dinklage
• Outstanding Guest Actress – Diana Rigg
• Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (“The Children”)
• Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Neil Marshall (“The Watchers on the Wall”)
• Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series- Nina Gold and Robert Sterne
• Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)- Ramin Djawadi
• Outstanding Art Direction For A Contemporary Or Fantasy Series (Single-Camera)
• Outstanding Cinematography (2 nominations):
  • Jonathan Freeman (“Two Swords”)
  • Anette Haellmigk (“The Lion and the Rose”)
• Outstanding Costumes for a Series (“The Lion and the Rose”)
• Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series (“The Lion and the Rose”)
• Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series-Non-Prosthetic (“Oathkeeper”)
• Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (“The Children”)
• Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series (“The Watchers on the Wall”)
• Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series – One Hour (“The Watchers on the Wall”)
• Outstanding Special and Visual Effects
• Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Miniseries Or Movie
• Outstanding Interactive Program – Game of Thrones Premiere : Facebook Live and Instagram

The key interest was in the large categories of Best Drama Series and Best Comedy series, where the nominees were:

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES:“The Big Bang Theory”
“Louie”
“Modern Family”
“Orange is the New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Veep” 

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES:“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
“House of Cards”
“Mad Men”
“True Detective”

The interesting entries are the surprising inclusion of Silicon Valley (in the place of Girls) for Best Comedy Series and the inclusion of True Detective and Downton Abbey squeezing out The Good Wife even though that network series had three of its principals nominated (Joanna Margulies, Christine Baranski and Josh Charles).

The awards are given out Monday August 25 in a ceremony hosted by Seth Meyers.