Hot Stuff: ‘Breaking Bad’ Premieres Tonight

Once again, leave it to cable television to step up to the challenge of bringing some much-needed energy to this so very dull season of repeats and reality TV. The writers strike might be working a number on scripted series attached to broadcast networks, but the pay channels are doing a fine job providing an alternative for viewers who can only watch so many people stranded in the middle of nowhere or trying to prove they’re talented enough to be America’s next whatever.

Case in point—hot on the heels of the smashing success of its first original series, Golden Globe-winning Mad Men, AMC (formally known as American Movie Classics) will debut its second original creation tonight. Brought to us by former X-Files and Lone Gunmen executive producer and scribe Vince Gilligan, the dark dramedy Breaking Bad stars Malcolm in the Middle actor-comedian Bryan Cranston.

Cranston’s character Walter White takes an unusual approach to securing his struggling family’s financial future when he learns that he has terminal Stage III cancer, which leaves him with a predicted mere two years more to live. No, the middle-aged high-school chemistry teacher doesn’t purchase a multimillion-dollar insurance policy on his life and then arrange his own suicide.

Instead, he gets irreverently proactive with a little help from a former student named Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul of Big Love). The eventual result of his foresight is a mobile drug lab that cooks up high-quality crystal meth. That’s right—a side job dealing homemade, high-demand drugs becomes the solution to White’s dilemma and the savior of his family’s American dream. Sounds a little Weeds-ish, but still, what’s not to love?

Breaking Bad premieres its seven-episode first season tonight at 10pm EST on basic cable’s AMC. The series also co-stars Anna Gunn (Deadwood) as Walter’s wife Skyler and newcomer RJ Mitte as his teenage son Walter Jr., who suffers from cerebral palsy. If you’re looking for something a little different to watch on Sunday nights in coming weeks now that Desperate Housewives has gone bye-bye for the season, I highly recommend this option.

To decide if the show is your cup of tea beforehand, check out the trailer, which basically consists of a few scenes from the pilot. You can also view still photographs of the cast at the Breaking Bad Episode Summary page and remain up-to-date on future episodes, photos, recaps, and spoilers with the Breaking Bad Episode Guide.