HBO Passed on Breaking Bad

[Cave Savage]

AMC actually could have all the swearing they want, they just choose not to

FX and USA Network have shows with tons of profanity. Snowfall for instance, has as much cursing as an HBO show would

 

[Ohene]

Show would have been indisputably goat on HBO

 

[Tasha And]

Maybe the pitch was wack. Lot of creatives are great writers/directors but shiity salesman.

 

[Lootpack]

They also passed on The Walking Dead which was a mistake because AMC ran it into the ground

HBO riding the high of TWD and those first four seasons of Game of Thrones. shyt wouldn't be fair.

 

[Ziggiy]

Everybody passes on everything.

I've never heard of a story about a show or a movie where the 1st place they took it to picked it up.

Creators gotta luck up on the right exec, at the right time, working at the right place.

There are a few instances but it IS rare.


FX picked up at Atlanta at the first chance partly because of his cache on being a writer for 30 Rock, his music career burgeoning, and from his pitch they thought they were getting something wildly different that what it turned out to be.


Also FX picked up that Better Things show because Louis CK already gave them a hit with Louie and he was the Exec Producer.


there are a few other examples I can’t think of off my head.

 

[SuburbanPimp]

I would assume that most good shows get pitched to HBO first before other networks...

Also to be fair, the initial concept and previews of Breaking Bad didn't really make me think it was going to be a great show and I struggled getting through the 1st season. It hit its stride on season 3

 

[hex]

Yeah I've seen this mentioned a few times.

To be fair the premise sounds terrible. Broke high school chemistry teacher has cancer and sells meth. The shyt damn near sounds like a trolling pitch.
I remember Vince Gilligan said the HBO people was sitting there like during the whole pitch and then politely but firmly asked them to leave.

Fred.

 

[ZILFIN]

HBO kept the GOAT show (The Sopranos) so they won.

 

[KevCo]

Literally every network passed on breaking bad. Think vince made some deal for season 1 with amc to where he got paid very little, to get the show greenlight.

 

[Peter Popoff]

They also passed on The Walking Dead which was a mistake because AMC ran it into the ground

Walking dead would've been Game of Thrones level fukkery had HBO taken it. Sadly, most your favorite characters would've been ......

 

[MenacingMonk]

HBO passed on Mad Men, too. You just KNOW they woulda had Joan let the titties out

Son, knowing this has me

All that succulent pale titty meats.

FX passed on BREAKING BAD too.

They actually bought it, but went with the show Dirt instead. How did that go for them?

Everybody passes on everything.

I've never heard of a story about a show or a movie where the 1st place they took it to picked it up.

Creators gotta luck up on the right exec, at the right time, working at the right place.

Oh, I know. But this show was definitely right up HBO’s alley. I’m just surprised they didn’t take a chance. I’m at reading these popular shows were turned down by them and went on to Be successful.

Maybe the pitch was wack. Lot of creatives are great writers/directors but shiity salesman.

I think it had to do with the way Vince talks. He’s a very mild mannered man who speaks very calmly.

@hex , you think the pitch sounds wack?

“A recently fired straight laced chemistry teacher finds out he has cancer. He decides To cook meth to make money.” I woulda been like, “go on. “

 

[steadyrighteous]

There are a few instances but it IS rare.


FX picked up at Atlanta at the first chance partly because of his cache on being a writer for 30 Rock, his music career burgeoning, and from his pitch they thought they were getting something wildly different that what it turned out to be.


Also FX picked up that Better Things show because Louis CK already gave them a hit with Louie and he was the Exec Producer.


there are a few other examples I can’t think of off my head.

Yeah, there are exceptions to every rule.

 

[valet]

Um, with how goofy the 1st season was (not a dis) I cant see that on HBO. Again, Im referring to the 1st season.

 

[steadyrighteous]

Oh, I know. But this show was definitely right up HBO’s alley. I’m just surprised they didn’t take a chance. I’m at reading these popular shows were turned down by them and went on to Be successful.

HBO's development pipeline is also stacked because they only air major originals on Sunday + once something goes into the pipeline, it can take up to 5 years to get through, and even then it isn't a guarantee. HBO picks up and "develops" more shows that don't air than most other premium networks and streamers.

Vince probably wanted his show to be on HBO, but from what I've heard, even big names aren't guaranteed a thing, so getting a pass from them isn't exactly the worst thing in the world. In fact it probably saved his show.

Steve McQueen won an Oscar, got a show, shot a couple episodes, HBO didn't think it was strong enough to compete with Netflix @ the time so canned it instead of re-developing it.

David Fincher apparently shot damn near a whole season of an 80s music video company dramedy, wanted more money, they said fukk it, and even with what they invested already, they canned it.

Steven Soderbergh went to HBO with an idea for a show, they told him they'd do it but they would hold off for a couple of years since they had no Sunday space, he said fukk that and walked away because apparently he wants to do shyt when he wants to do it. They came back and offered him the chance to make it on Cinemax, even though it wouldn't get big pub. He said as long as I can do it NOW. They did. So he made it (The Knick)

HBO isn't the be all end all IMO

 

[Numpsay]

To be fair the first season was slow and boring. It took me multiple attempts to push through the first season and get into the show. Also the majority of people that I know didn't start watching the show until it was on its last season or already finished. So I can understand networks passing on it initial pitch. Most didn't even bother watching until they knew there was a big payoff.