Because now, as always, it's important to practice understatement and civil discourse, let's put it this way: If you're not watching Breaking Bad you're a dope; and if you have watched it, but didn't like it, you're worse than a dope--you're a cretin, part of an army of such who threaten to bring down what's left of western civilization.
But enough about the audience, let's talk about the show. Has there ever been a better TV series? Better acting? Directing? Writing? Cinematography? Is it possible that Bryan Cranston, the actor, is more compelling in real life than he is as Walter White, the character he plays? Very doubtful.
There are those of us who, in despair, have wished that the whole of Hollywood might be given to the British, such is the superiority of much of their TV, stage, and theatrical productions. Breaking Bad puts the lie to that notion.
Americans are every bit as capable as their British cousins. The problem is that our industry operates on commercial principles that have the unfortunate effect of "dumbing down" the product. That's the bad news. The good news is that the program abundance that has accompanied the growth of cable and satellite are now mating excellence with popularity, with the result being that a network like AMC can showcase original programs like Breaking Bad and Mad Men.
For those of us who incline toward libertarianism, the lack of quality TV fare has been a source of a fair amount of ideological angst. The marketplace, after all, is supposed to provide variegated products, including those that are marked by quality and excellence.
Breaking Bad and a handful of other TV programs may be the early fruit of this very development. Time will tell. In the meantime, if you find yourself weary of programming inspired by demographics, and suffused with political correctness, give Breaking Bad an hour of your time. You've missed a lot already.
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Patrick Maines is president of The Media Institute, a nonprofit organization supported by media and communications companies. The views expressed are his alone, and not those of the Institute, its Board or contributors.
Follow Patrick Maines on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WYSIWYG
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