For a network that has only 5 shows on the air, AMC has been in the headlines with series-related issues an awful lot during the past 8 months, first over the difficult and very public negotiations with Mad Man creator Matt Weiner and more recently over the abrupt exit of The Walking Dead showrunner Frank Darabont and the ongoing negotiations for Breaking Bad. I caught up tonight with AMC president Charlie Collier who declined to discuss the specifics surrounding the Breaking Bad talks with producer Sony Pictures TV and Darabont's departure but addressed several other issues that have been the subject of a lot of speculation, including rumored budget cuts on Walking Dead which some have linked to Darabont's exit and reported AMC demands for a 6-8-episode fifth season of Breaking Bad.
Did you cut the budget on The Walking Dead in Season 2?
Collier: If you look at pilot budgets vs. pattern budgets usually the pilot budget is much higher than what ends up being the pattern budget. With The Walking Dead, instead of doing a pilot, we went straight to 6 episodes because we believed in the team and the talent in front and behind the camera. Then we came back with a 13-episode second season, and amortization over 13 episodes is very different than over 6. But we settled into one of the highest pattern budgets for a basic cable series.
Source: Full interview @ Deadline
AMC President On 'Breaking Bad' Order, 'Walking Dead' Budget & 'Mad Men' Deal
4 Aug 2011
Cancelled Shows Mad Men The Walking Dead
Sign Up for the SpoilerTV Newsletter where we talk all things TV!
Having one extended and public negotiation is part of today's TV world....
ReplyDeleteHaving 3 lengthy negotiations with 3 completely different creative teams in a row about budget for the only returning series you have on your network... well that is a pattern!
To deny it is just silly
Such a boneheaded decision to slash the budget on The Walking Dead. It's by far AMC's biggest series and they turn around and punish producers for making a hugely successful show. I guess we know the real reason why Frank Darabont quit now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. His explanation sounds quite plausible by itself, but less so in context of everything else. If this is all random, then AMC is having a very bad year.
ReplyDeleteIt's quality versus quantity. (thank you Sherlock for the delay, they definitely chose quality) #ImJustSaying
ReplyDeleteI have to agree. I only got around to viewing Mad Men this year only to find out about the hassle between creator Matt Weiner and AMC, I even been put off view other AMC shown such as the walking dead because of this.
ReplyDeleteBreaking Bad might have two more 10-episode seasons: http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/breaking-bad-eying-two-season-final-run
ReplyDeleteWow this guy speaks so officially and when you notice, actually avoids giving any straight answers -.-
ReplyDeletemight as well be speaking in elizabethan
I just want a 13 episodes long finale 5th season. Period.
ReplyDeleteNot long ago I read an interview with an AMC executive (maybe it was the president, I can't remember) where he stated that at AMC they are all about show runners' visions and that this is the most important thing for them. Back then I thought how great this sounds. I figured the Mad Men negotiations were just a coincidence and that Darabont and the network worked out the problems regarding budget cuts. But now it looks pretty different and it appears money is more important to AMC than a show runner's vision.
ReplyDeleteDon't like this either. Why the hell Sony and AMC can't just relax and listen to what the CREATOR wants to do with HIS OWN show?
ReplyDelete