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Better Call Saul breaks US cable TV record helped by mid-season return of The Walking Dead on AMC

The Breaking Bad spin-off was given a kick start by the AMC zombie drama

Jess Denham
Tuesday 10 February 2015 10:24 GMT
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Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in AMC original series Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in AMC original series Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul has made a big first step in rivalling its Breaking Bad origins by breaking the record for the biggest cable TV series debut in the major demographic.

The much-hyped AMC spin-off led by Bob Odenkirk as sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman attracted 4.4 million viewers aged between 18- 49, about five times as many as Breaking Bad's debut in 2008, with the total amounting to 6.9 million.

While many Breaking Bad fans were counting down to Saul’s air date, its lead-in by zombie drama The Walking Dead certainly gave it a helpful kick start.

The show’s mid-season return drew a massive 15.6 million viewers at 9pm and many of those hung around to check out what all this Better Call Saul chat was about.

The Walking Dead broke a record, too, to be named AMC’s biggest regularly-scheduled programme of the year so far, excluding the Super Bowl and big awards ceremonies.

However, even the show’s latest impressive number did not beat its ratings best of 17.3 million viewers for the season five premiere last October.

Episode two of Better Call Saul airs later tonight in the US, and it will be clearer after that how large its own audience is.

The first episode won widespread rave reviews and ended on a cliffhanger that did Walter White, Jesse Pinkman and co proud.

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