Breaking Bad Television Program

It's a tough job, and Bryan Cranston is more than glad to do it -- playing Walter H. White, the frazzled antihero at the center of AMC's "Breaking Bad," that is. Though playing White, a meek chemistry teacher who gradually transforms into a hard-core drug dealer after he finds out he has life-threatening cancer, is "a dream come true," Cranston pointed out that the character and the series' increasingly dark tones have taken an emotional and physical...

It's a tough job, and Bryan Cranston is more than glad to do it -- playing Walter H. White, the frazzled antihero at the center of AMC's "Breaking Bad," that is. Though playing White, a meek chemistry teacher who gradually transforms into a hard-core drug dealer after he finds out he has life-threatening cancer, is "a dream come true," Cranston pointed out that the character and the series' increasingly dark tones have taken an emotional and physical...

Here at the Universal Hilton, it was good to see the star of AMC's "Breaking Bad" looking healthier than he did when he won an Emmy for the role in September. Bryan Cranston, former star of "Malcolm in the Middle," had lost 16 pounds then, trying to look the part of a high school chemistry teacher who has only 18 months to live because of lung cancer. Viewers will see the thinner Cranston, and his bald head, when the show's second season premieres March 8. But today, now that production has ended, the TV press here at the TCA Press Tour gathering got to see Cranston "in beefing up" mode.

A few months ago, I found myself in the middle of a rather surprising debate over the merits of "Breaking Bad," which opens its second season on AMC Sunday night. The folks involved were critics, scholars, writers, producers and other representatives of the generally mouthy and highly opinionated. So the surprise was not that we disagreed but what we disagreed about. No one took issue with the general brilliance of Vince Gilligan's show, the terrific writing, acting, direction or cinematography.

A few months ago, I found myself in the middle of a rather surprising debate over the merits of "Breaking Bad," which opens its second season on AMC Sunday night. The folks involved were critics, scholars, writers, producers and other representatives of the generally mouthy and highly opinionated. So the surprise was not that we disagreed but what we disagreed about. No one took issue with the general brilliance of Vince Gilligan's show, the terrific writing, acting, direction or cinematography.

Here at the Universal Hilton, it was good to see the star of AMC's "Breaking Bad" looking healthier than he did when he won an Emmy for the role in September. Bryan Cranston, former star of "Malcolm in the Middle," had lost 16 pounds then, trying to look the part of a high school chemistry teacher who has only 18 months to live because of lung cancer. Viewers will see the thinner Cranston, and his bald head, when the show's second season premieres March 8. But today, now that production has ended, the TV press here at the TCA Press Tour gathering got to see Cranston "in beefing up" mode.