The hit AMC series Breaking Bad had its farewell panel at Comic-Con 2013 yesterday, just weeks before the final eight episodes start airing on Sunday, August 11 with "The Decision". The network revealed a special countdown mashup trailer just for the SDCC crowd, and we have that video for you right here, along with the full panel video. In addition, the network announced that Talking Dead's Chris Hardwick will host the new live after-show entitled Talking Bad, airing after each of the final eight episodes. Take a look at this SDCC video, then read the press release for more details about Talking Bad.
AMC announced today that Chris Hardwick will host Talking Bad, a weekly, half-hour live after-show and companion piece for its Emmy Award-winning series, Breaking Bad. Talking Bad will analyze and examine every detail of Breaking Bad's final eight episodes beginning Sunday, August 11 at 11pm ET/PT, and is produced by Michael Davies' Embassy Row in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Talking Bad features Hardwick spending time with fans, actors, producers and TV enthusiasts, recapping the most recent Breaking Bad episode, and taking questions and comments from viewers. Fans may continue to engage with the after-show following the on-air conclusion, online, at AMC.com for more videos, weekly polls and photo galleries of the guests featured on the series.
Here's what AMC's EVP of original programming, Joel Stillerman, had to say in a statement.
"We have had so much success with Chris Hardwick and Talking Dead, the show-talking-about-a-show that attracted more than five million live viewers after last season's The Walking Dead finale. An after-show hosted by Chris seemed like the perfect way to pay homage to and countdown the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad, giving fans the opportunity to come together and talk about the end of this iconic series brought to life by creator Vince Gilligan and his amazing cast and crew."
Chris Hardwick had this to say in his own statement.
"Breaking Bad will go down as one of the best shows in television history. Obviously, it's tonally much different than The Walking Dead, and I will strive to give Breaking Bad the send off it deserves. I am honored to be able to give fans a peek behind the curtain for the last eight episodes so we can all say goodbye to it together. AMC will tell you that it's because of the success of Talking Dead or my friendship with the BB cast that they asked me to host this, but I maintain it probably has more to do with my unmistakable resemblance to Jesse Pinkman, BITCH."
On Sunday, August 11 at 9 PM, Breaking Bad kicks-off its final eight episodes. From acclaimed writer, producer, director Vince Gilligan, the series is produced by Sony Pictures Television with Mark Johnson (Gran Via) and Michelle MacLaren serving as executive producers. Breaking Bad has garnered seven Primetime Emmy Award wins and a Peabody, and been named to the American Film Institute's (AFI) list of the "Top 10 Programs of the Year" (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012). Recently, Breaking Bad received 13 nominations -- the most in the series' history-for the 2013 Emmys. The explosive series that The Hollywood Reporter called "one of the greatest dramas in TV history," returned to AMC for the first part of its final season on July 15, 2012 with its most watched episode to date with 2.9 million viewers (up 14% over the season four premiere). Breaking Bad stars three-time Emmy Award-winner Bryan Cranston; two-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul; Anna Gunn; Dean Norris; Betsy Brandt; RJ Mitte and Bob Odenkirk.
Following Breaking Bad is the premiere of AMC's newest original series, Low Winter Sun at 10 PM ET. Throughout Low Winter Sun, the network will air interstitials about the upcoming episode of Talking Bad, which will culminate at 11 PM with the live premiere. Starring Mark Strong (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Zero Dark Thirty) and Lennie James (The Walking Dead, Jericho, Snatch), Low Winter Sun is a contemporary story of murder, deception, revenge and corruption in a world where the line between cops and criminals is blurred. The series is a co-production from Endemol Studios and AMC Studios. Chris Mundy (Criminal Minds, Cold Case) serves as Executive Producer and Writer.