I love how Vince stood by his original idea and never compromised, even if it meant walking away from getting his show on air straight away. If more people did this we'd have other quality shows instead of the same old procedural shite.
If it is that hard to get a show like Breaking Bad on the air then how do all these reality shows and so much other shit get on the air!? It boggles my mind.
Wow. I learned a lot about the pitching process, and I don't even have an association with hollywood. This should be required viewing for anyone interested in freelance writing.
Oh god. Imagine if Walt was an economics teacher or something. "You see, it's simple supply and demand, Jesse. We control the supply, and there's always a demand, FOR MONEY"
HBO said no to Breaking Bad. But said yes to Veep, Silicon Valley, The Newsroom, True Blood, and The Leftovers? Boardwalk Empire is almost over. All HBO has left is Game of Thrones.
It's not just about pitching it to the right network. It's about pitching it to the right person at that network. I wonder if that woman still works at HBO.
Predicting the potential for a show based on some scripts and a short presentation is difficult. Many external factors had to come into alignment to make BB what it is today. Any great show is half miracle.
I have never said this before. But Vince Gilligan is a very honest, frank, straight shooting, humble, modest, good man. Extremely likeable. Extremely. Keep at all writers and future ones! Keep blowing our minds!!
I'm fairly certain HBO doesn't have that 'woman' anymore... because anyone that can listen to a pitch like Breaking Bad and truly believe no one would be interested in it is beyond me... Every viewer has a dark side deep down inside where they can relate to Walter White.. would love to quit their regular job and do something criminal... but we don't, so we live through Walter. HBO simply failed here... glad they did too.
i honestly do think it's reaching..to assume that a show about a chemistry-teacher turned meth-cook, going through chemotherapy, is going to be one of the best shows ever written structurally
FX is a great channel. Two of the best shows ever were on FX, Nip/Tuck (first two seasons anyway) and all of The Shield. I could see BB being on that channel.
He says a lot of interesting and relevant things about the way the industry works. It might even change things because if FX gives over a script that makes AMC a lot of money, AMC will be more likely to pay it forward if/when FX wants something from them. Then it will be less about politics and more about where the story fits best.
yea that was a mistake. but hbo still has had the sopranos, the wire, boardwalk empire, band of brothers, deadwood, entourage, the pacific, oz, game of thrones etc... BB is one of my favorite, and top 3 greatest shows all time. but HBO still has made most of the greatest shows ever made.
Hey, although I mostly agree with you, I have to say that pitching something like this must not be easy. Just think about it, you're talking about the show as you know it, the actors, the locations, the genius plot twists, the effects, etc, but when Vince was pitching this idea, he had none of that. There was merely a concept that needed to be visualized. With that being said, I'm glad HBO didn't get it simply b/c of the woman that Vince pitched to.
Well, AMC has the two best shows on TV right now in Mad Men and Breaking Bad, both of which HBO took a pass on(the former of which is one of only three shows to have won four consecutive Emmys, and the latter won three consecutive Emmys for best actor). That's got to sting. HBO has made most of the best shows ever though, and will probably have the best shows on TV once those two are finished, so they'll survive.
Did he mean that HBO passed on "Breaking Bad" or on another show he pitched? Anyway, I'd love to see a version of "Breaking Bad" in which Jesse was allowed to curse properly.
Yea fuck HBO for taking on shows like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm and True Blood. And some (now past) shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, The Sopranos, The Wire, Entourage, etc. etc. So what they turned down a few shows that went on to be successful. They got higher quality shows than any other network. With that said though, I love Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead so I'm glad that AMC picked them up.
The thing that counts is integrity - it shines out of him. I find in the underlying mood of this and other recent series the despair of a society overtaken by a corrupt heartless system - just as the flavor in the 50's and 60's was painfully over optimistic about America. I really like cynicism and compassion all mixed up in a stew.
Since his success with Breaking Bad, I imagine Vince has a better chance now of having his script bought in the room. I'm also excited to see how Battle Creek turns out.
i find it's even more enjoyable because they have to get more creative about some of the more provocative aspects of the show. being able to cut and curse your way through a series lends itself to laziness, IMHO.
I am disgusted that TV companies would keep scripts under lock and key just so shows won't be a success for other companies. It makes sense from a business perspective, but it strikes me as totally amoral.
I love how Vince stood by his original idea and never compromised, even if it meant walking away from getting his show on air straight away. If more people did this we'd have other quality shows instead of the same old procedural shite.
That HBO executive disliked this video.
I like Gilligan, he seems so positive and unphased by the inevitable rejection. I'm adding him to my list of inspirations
If it is that hard to get a show like Breaking Bad on the air then how do all these reality shows and so much other shit get on the air!? It boggles my mind.
TNT: We love it, but we don't think it can outperform the 16th hour straight of Law & Order.
one thing i especially like about this interview is the way he spends so much time talking about the people who were nice during all that
How did HBO miss that one? They make such great shows.
Wow. I learned a lot about the pitching process, and I don't even have an association with hollywood. This should be required viewing for anyone interested in freelance writing.
I could listen to this guy for days,he is just so amusing and so well spoken.Props to you Mr.Gilligan
The things I would do to be a fly on the wall of that show's writing room.
Oh god. Imagine if Walt was an economics teacher or something. "You see, it's simple supply and demand, Jesse. We control the supply, and there's always a demand, FOR MONEY"
What's weird is that Breaking Bad seemed like the perfect show to be on FX, and having it on AMC actually makes it feel a little out of place.
HBO said no to Breaking Bad. But said yes to Veep, Silicon Valley, The Newsroom, True Blood, and The Leftovers? Boardwalk Empire is almost over. All HBO has left is Game of Thrones.
I love what he says about basic human courtesy...
It's not just about pitching it to the right network. It's about pitching it to the right person at that network. I wonder if that woman still works at HBO.
Predicting the potential for a show based on some scripts and a short presentation is difficult. Many external factors had to come into alignment to make BB what it is today. Any great show is half miracle.
5 Years of Emmy Nominations and Winnings! Take that HBO!
that woman at hbo mostve got fired after this interview came out
Painfully funny and bracingly honest. Great interview with one of the most brilliant and down-to-earth people in Hollywood.
I have never said this before. But Vince Gilligan is a very honest, frank, straight shooting, humble, modest, good man.
Extremely likeable. Extremely.
Keep at all writers and future ones! Keep blowing our minds!!
I'm guessing this interview caused an interesting meeting to happen at HBO headquarters. :D
"What the fu-... hell is this guy telling us?" Hahaha.
This man is a genius.
I love FX's shows but on AMC episodes are longer so I'm glad it ended up on AMC
I will watch every show this guy comes up with
cant believe anyone actually turned this one down....
No other network passes down something good to some other network. Fx is a badass for doing that.
I'm fairly certain HBO doesn't have that 'woman' anymore... because anyone that can listen to a pitch like Breaking Bad and truly believe no one would be interested in it is beyond me...
Every viewer has a dark side deep down inside where they can relate to Walter White.. would love to quit their regular job and do something criminal... but we don't, so we live through Walter.
HBO simply failed here... glad they did too.
I think that now, HE'D be the one saying "Yeah, I think I'll go to another network if you're not showing me the love for my idea."
i honestly do think it's reaching..to assume that a show about a chemistry-teacher turned meth-cook, going through chemotherapy, is going to be one of the best shows ever written structurally
If Breaking Bad we're about counterfeiting it would've been weak as fuck haha
wow the people at HBO are so arrogant, disrespectful and utterly unprofessional
What kind of man turns down Breaking Bad? No man. No man at all.
Seems to me people like Vince Gilligan should be an exec. Guy creates gold.
Imagine how many Breaking Bad's are sitting in drawers somewhere. Disgusting stifling of art.
If I worked for HBO and someone pitched Deadwood to me in the abstract, I probably wouldn't have been able to imagine how good it turned out to be.
HBO turned down Breaking Bad, AND Mad Men. I bet now those executives feel foolish.
damn. there could be a whole movie made on how this show became a show. so much damn drama in hollywood.
FX is a great channel. Two of the best shows ever were on FX, Nip/Tuck (first two seasons anyway) and all of The Shield. I could see BB being on that channel.
So HBO passed on this but took on Girls and The Newsroom instead.
In HBO's defense, they get it right more than they get it wrong.
WHAT IS WEEDS???? :O
Interesting fact: CBS has given Vince the green light on BattleCreek for the 2014-2015 season.
Looks like they learned their lesson after 11 years.
Vince good luck can't wait to see what's next!!!!
He says a lot of interesting and relevant things about the way the industry works. It might even change things because if FX gives over a script that makes AMC a lot of money, AMC will be more likely to pay it forward if/when FX wants something from them. Then it will be less about politics and more about where the story fits best.
I want Vince Gilligan and Christopher Nolan to write a movie together.
i wonder if that woman at HBO is regretting it now as well as other networks are. amc is rolling in the dough forever
God Bless Vince. Good man right there.
proof the top guys can sometimes be idiots
like google said no to facebook
Thanks FX!
I'm looking forward to seeing what VG does after Breaking Bad ends. Maybe another collaboration with Bryan Cranston....
Best series ever made!
yea that was a mistake. but hbo still has had the sopranos, the wire, boardwalk empire, band of brothers, deadwood, entourage, the pacific, oz, game of thrones etc...
BB is one of my favorite, and top 3 greatest shows all time. but HBO still has made most of the greatest shows ever made.
Hey, although I mostly agree with you, I have to say that pitching something like this must not be easy. Just think about it, you're talking about the show as you know it, the actors, the locations, the genius plot twists, the effects, etc, but when Vince was pitching this idea, he had none of that. There was merely a concept that needed to be visualized. With that being said, I'm glad HBO didn't get it simply b/c of the woman that Vince pitched to.
where can you see the full interview???
HBO did fuck up this time but they still had The Wire AND The Soprano's :P
Vince looks like Peter Baylesh from game of Thrones.
Does anyone know where the next clip is? Namely what he has to say about weeds?
Well, AMC has the two best shows on TV right now in Mad Men and Breaking Bad, both of which HBO took a pass on(the former of which is one of only three shows to have won four consecutive Emmys, and the latter won three consecutive Emmys for best actor). That's got to sting.
HBO has made most of the best shows ever though, and will probably have the best shows on TV once those two are finished, so they'll survive.
when buying it ,who sets the Price ,anyone knoow
Did he mean that HBO passed on "Breaking Bad" or on another show he pitched? Anyway, I'd love to see a version of "Breaking Bad" in which Jesse was allowed to curse properly.
Yea fuck HBO for taking on shows like Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm and True Blood. And some (now past) shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, The Sopranos, The Wire, Entourage, etc. etc. So what they turned down a few shows that went on to be successful. They got higher quality shows than any other network.
With that said though, I love Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead so I'm glad that AMC picked them up.
They also had The Wire at the time.
exactly.
You are right. It was a woman who turned it down at HBO :-D
HBO - what a fail!
me too
The thing that counts is integrity - it shines out of him.
I find in the underlying mood of this and other recent series the despair of a society overtaken by a corrupt heartless system - just as the flavor in the 50's and 60's was painfully over optimistic about America.
I really like cynicism and compassion all mixed up in a stew.
relax with the hate for HBO...it's good to have competition
I'm trying to imagine if the powerbrain named Vince Gilligan could've turned that into thrilling drama...
damnit i wanted to hear what he said about WEEDS
Since his success with Breaking Bad, I imagine Vince has a better chance now of having his script bought in the room. I'm also excited to see how Battle Creek turns out.
Vince Gilligan - I am the one who has Paashion
I agree with you......on the surface it sounds like it would be terrible
Awesome comment! :)
These nudity in the Pilot of Breaking Bad, and much more nudity in "No Mas". I guess HBO were just looking for something different at the time.
But they did have Sopranos, the wire and now game of thrones... so they are safe ha.
i find it's even more enjoyable because they have to get more creative about some of the more provocative aspects of the show. being able to cut and curse your way through a series lends itself to laziness, IMHO.
man imagine breaking bad on HBO that would have been great.
I am disgusted that TV companies would keep scripts under lock and key just so shows won't be a success for other companies. It makes sense from a business perspective, but it strikes me as totally amoral.
Its Little finger
You're right. That is fucking reprehensible.
WEEDS WHAT
I bet FX are kicking themselves
Good thing, I don't have HBO :P
I wanted to hear what he had to say about Weeds.
*paysion*. He's so midwest
HBO passed on this but put out garbage like 'How to Make It in America" and "Hung".
Easy: they are profitable.
so what your telling me is... this show almost didn't exist. Fuck that, that scares me
TNT does not know drama!
The studio will make an offer. Then you negotiate from there.
Crazy that Walter White came out of this guy's brain
Paaaaaaaaaaashion
HBO turned his pitch down because there was not enough nudity or sex in show
Couldn't they just put nudity in the show since the show wasn't done yet?? Also, HBO have "Curb your enthusiasm" which has no nudity.
seriously? is that true?
the hbo executive should have at least been respectful....pretty ridiculous.
...Badger?
I'm sure they're crying behind all there emmy's.