As magazines begin to compile their "best of 2009" features, it should come as no surprise that Breaking Bad is ending up on everyone's mind. Esquire's "Best & Brightest" December issue features Aaron Paul among four Breakout Actors this year. Referring to the Season 2 scene where Jesse wakes to find Jane dead, the magazine states, "During a few moments of raw, unwatchable anguish, Paul does the damnedest thing: He makes you want to watch..."

Not to be outdone, The A.V. Club compiled a list of the best television series of the '00s, in which Breaking Bad stole the No. 6 spot (just below AMC's Mad Men at No. 5). "Few shows have proven as skillful as Breaking Bad at stringing together memorable scenes," the article explains. "The actors help imbue the life and times of a dying man with the sort of powerful drama that keeps viewers rapt between big moments that can take a whole season to play out. But as Breaking Bad showed with its masterful second season, it's always worth the wait."

AMCtv.com awards the Talk forum commenters quoted in our weekly "What You're Saying" post with prizes like a Breaking Bad hat (limit one per person).

Fans this week dissected the three new teaser trailers for Season 3, made some predictions about their favorite characters and dissected the relationship between Walt and Hank.

"Just saw the teaser promos for season 3 of Breaking Bad! First of all, who are the Mexican guys? The ones who found Tuco's grille? Or Tuco's cousins perhaps? Or members of the cartel? And secondly, why would Walt burn his money?" -- James26

"I think Skyler and the baby died in the crash, hence the focus on the pink bear and crash aftermath in the intros throughout the season. Walt may eventually bring Walt Jr./Flynn on board since he started breaking by drinking. Hank seems to be pretty set on being good, but he allowed Jr. to have a couple and is getting dissatisfied in his new post." -- Narstification

"This show has profoundly human characters who are continually forced to make tough choices over and over again. The character dynamics of Walt and Hank within the family going from Alpha Male to a Calm Follower is a specifically interesting role reversal -- one I only recently picked up on." -- Brian

Log onto the Talk forum to join in any of these conversations or start a Breaking Bad topic of your own.

Got any burning questions for two of the stars of Breaking Bad? Well, now's your chance to ask. Two-time Emmy-winner Bryan Cranston and Emmy nominee Aaron Paul are taking some time out from their Season 3 shoot to chat with their online fans. Leave your queries in the comments section below by Thursday, Nov. 19 at 11:59 PM. We'll select a few for the dynamic duo to answer. (If you're lucky, you may hear Bryan or Aaron read your question aloud in an upcoming web video!) It's all building up to the Season 3 premiere in March 2010. So put your thinking caps on, and in the words of Walter White, "Apply yourself!"

March 2010 feels a long way away. Until then, you can make do with these three teaser promos for the Season 3 of Breaking Bad. Get a glimpse of the fiery path that lies ahead for Walt when one business partner makes him an offer that's tough to refuse. It's just the thing to whet your appetite for another season. Now if only March would get here already.

The actor explains what it takes to be a cleaner, dishes on his kiss with another (male) Breaking Bad cast member and hints at the biggest mess he's ever had to clean up in AMCtv.com's exclusive interview.

Q: Your character is a pretty mysterious guy. What did Vince Gilligan tell you about him?

A: Well knowing me, Vince has wisely told me very little. [Laughs] Obviously he's a cleaner who comes in to take care of the mess. I don't know much more than that. But in the footnotes it did say we will learn more about him in the next season. That's all I know at this moment.

Q: One of the most famous cleaners in pop culture is Harvey Keitel's character in Pulp Fiction. Did you take any notes from him?

Continue reading "Q&A - Jonathan Banks (Mike "The Cleaner")" »

With the Season 2 encores of Breaking Bad underway, remember to check out all the episode-related material we have online.

• View photos from Episode 13

• Watch a video recap of Episode 13

• Watch Inside Breaking Bad for Episode 13

• Check out Hank's Blog post, "Happy Trails"

• Take the Season 2 Episode 13 Trivia Quiz

• Join the conversation about this episode on the Talk forum or start a Breaking Bad topic of your own. As always, your comments throughout the blog are most welcome

AMCtv.com awards the Talk forum commenters quoted in our weekly "What You're Saying" post with prizes like a Breaking Bad hat (limit one per person).

Fans this week were discussing Hank's mental strength, wondering how much more realistic Breaking Bad could get, and sharing what they're doing to sate their Bad appetites between seasons.

"Hank's character had all the bravado he needed when it counted. He was up against a machine gun, and he took cover then got his shot. He also had enough courage and presence of mind to tie that guy's leg seconds after that bomb went off blowing up 3 agents." -- kevin o

"I think it would be an interesting experience to be on this show. While they are somewhat accurate in their portrayal of the worst side of 14-dayer life, there is still much to be 'desired.' Wonder how much realism the audience could handle." -- noone2noone

"TOO LONG TO WAIT. It's like I've been off meth for months now and I need a fix BAD. Actually a good book to read to fill in the time is "Methland" by Nick Reding. Pretty eye-opening look at the entire industry and middle America." -- opiedog

Log onto the Talk forum to join in any of these conversations or start a Breaking Bad topic of your own.

The National Cancer Coalition's President Rob Landry and Corporate Relations Manager Jim Hollis discuss the Save Walter White website (which links to their charity's website), their work helping patients battle cancer, and what those patients could learn from Walter White in AMCtv.com's exclusive interview.

Q: What kinds of services does the National Cancer Coalition provide to cancer patients?

JH: We take donated money and make it available to cancer institutes to go to meeting the unmet needs of cancer patients. For example, you have some patients that have to travel a great distance for chemo treatments or radiation. And with the price of gas it's kind of expensive. So a lot of people are not doing their treatments because they can't afford to. So this money goes to help them with gas, with lodging, with some of the medicines that insurance doesn't cover, and just kind of helps them to complete their battle with cancer.

Q: How did you hear about Breaking Bad?

Continue reading "Q&A - Jim Hollis and Rob Landry of the National Cancer Coalition" »

With the Season 2 encores of Breaking Bad underway, remember to check out all the episode-related material we have online.

• View photos from Episode 12

• Watch a video recap of Episode 12

• Watch Inside Breaking Bad for Episode 12

• Check out Hank's Blog post, "An Innocent Man"

• Take the Season 2 Episode 12 Trivia Quiz

• Join the conversation about this episode on the Talk forum or start a Breaking Bad topic of your own. As always, your comments throughout the blog are most welcome

AMCtv.com awards the Talk forum commenters quoted in our weekly "What You're Saying" post with prizes like a Breaking Bad hat (limit one per person).

Fans this week wondered whether Donald would seek revenge on Jesse for his daughter's death, debated Walt's definition of "bad" and discussed the possibility Walt may be getting a new partner in Season 3.

"I think its important to define the difference between what society considers 'bad' and what Walt considers 'bad'. We watch this man as the world corners him and leaves him no other options. People who live a life of crime don't prefer that lifestyle but feel as though its the only option, a necessity. They don't consider it 'bad'. Walt's primary goal has always been to provide for his family. To him, this justifies the lies and deceit." -- clayism

"Interesting to think that Donald might go after Jesse. Let's not forget that it was Jane who dragged Jesse into the heroin bit -- not that a father would want to hear that about his little girl." -- dwt

"Assuming that Walt will keep cooking in S3, he is going to need a source for precursors now that he and Jesse used up all of their methylamine in their 4-day marathon cook session. Perhaps [the assitant] will provide a business connection to purchase/divert the needed chemicals without the risk of another midnight break-in at the local chem supplier?" -- ellisdtripp

Log onto the Talk forum to join in any of these conversations or start a Breaking Bad topic of your own.