The debut episode of “Better Call Saul” Season 1 set the record for the highest-rated scripted series premiere in basic cable history, generating 4.4 million viewers among 18 to 49 years old, and 6.9 million viewers overall.
Vince Gilligan first broached the idea of the spinoff series to “Breaking Bad” in 2012 when he said in an interview then that he liked the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law, including settling on the courthouse steps.
During the development of the series, the producers considered making the show a half-hour comedy, but ultimately chose an hour-long format more typical of drama.
Sometime in October 2014, Bob Odenkirk actually described “Better Call Saul” as 85 percent drama and 15% comedy. During his appearance on “Talking Bad,” a show about the “Breaking Bad” TV series, Odenkirk noted that Saul was one of the most popular characters of the mother series, saying that the audience likes his character because Saul is the series’ hypocritical figure and is quite good at his job.
Aside from the storyline, “Better Call Saul” also utilizes the signature time jumps of “Breaking Bad.”