KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: "Better Call Saul" Producers and Stars Talk About Their Successful First Season (LISTEN)

On March 26, I moderated a panel for Television Academy members about AMC's new hit series "Better Call Saul." After screening the Season 1 penultimate episode "Pimento," I sat down with the show's stars and creators to discuss the successful "Breaking Bad" spin-off. (Read Deadline's recap of the panel here.

We discussed the show's origins, its timeline (including the possibility that "Better Call Saul" may eventually invade the "Breaking Bad" timeline) and got plenty of hints that Walter White and Jesse Pinkman may eventually show up.

"Better Call Saul" is, of course, the Breaking Bad spin-off about the backstory of how two-bit lawyer Jimmy McGill became Saul Goodman, played by Bob Odenkirk. There are other familiar faces from Breaking Bad in the show as well, notably Jonathan Banks who plays the memorable Mike Erhmantraut in both shows.

Recently, AMC hosted an event for Emmy voters where Michael Schneider moderated a panel discussion with Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, as well as executive producer Vince Gilligan, co-creator Peter Gould and writer Thomas Schnauz. There were other members of the cast there too, including Michael McKean, who plays Jimmy's older brother Chuck, as well as supporting players Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian and Michael Mando.

We turned the audio into a special bonus edition of KCRW's "The Spin-Off." Listen below!

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: HBO Now, Andy Lack's Back, Two Comedies/Two Strategies (Listen Now!)

For our first March episode of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I reunited with Cynthia Littleton for a mini Variety reunion. Here's what we chatted about:

We take a look at one number that gives us a snapshot of the current state of the TV industry. This month's number? $14.99.

Fourteen dollars and 99 cents is what it will cost you every month for HBO's new standalone streaming service, HBO Now, which will launch in April, ahead of the Game of Thrones season premiere. At least for now, the service will be exclusive to Apple devices. Then, we'll soon be saying hello -- or maybe more appropriately welcome back -- to an NBC executive who has some experience getting the Peacock's news division back on track when things have gone awry. We talk about what Andy Lack's return to NBC could mean...or not mean...to Brian Williams' career.

We also say hello to another spin-off on AMC. The network announced a two-season order for a Walking Dead prequel. Add this to Better Call Saul, a Breaking Bad spin-off, and AMC will soon have two prequels on the air.

Then we look at two new comedies that feel more like cable shows, but got their starts at Fox and NBC: The Last Man on Earth and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Both wound up taking different paths and strategies.

There's a lot more too! Listen by clicking below!

KCRW's THE SPIN-OFF: February 2015 Edition (Listen Now!)

It's the February edition of our monthly TV podcast on KCRW, The Spin-Off! This month, Joe and I are joined by Mashable's Sandra Gonzalez. Here's what we discuss:

The Spin-off crew has survived TCA, and they're back in their respective home cities watching lots of mid-season premieres of new and returning shows...thinking those shows will probably dominate the TV-related conversation...and then Brian Williams happened. Or, more correctly, Brian Williams didn't happen…to be shot down in Iraq.

We talk about Williams and his possible fate at NBC, and also take a moment to speculate about what the heck is happening to broadcast news in general.

Then we look at some of the shows doing especially well on network TV right now, Empire, Fresh Off the Boat and How to Get Away with Murder among them. The one thing they'll all got in common is that their casts all look a lot more like the real complexion of America -- a lot more than the prime-time shows of eras past. Is TV diversity finally paying off, and this time, is it here to stay?

And what happens when a new spin-off rises, like a Phoenix, from the ashes of a beloved retired show? As excited as we all are about Better Call Saul, will it turn out to be Frasier… or is it the next AfterMash or Joey? Does the party have to ever end, or is there a time when it's best to say goodbye?

Finally, we go around the horn for our Download segment and share the stories or shows that are top of mind this month.

Listen by clicking below!