An Open Letter to You About AMC

Dear Faithful Reader (or Casual Reader),

As you’re aware if you’ve been here before or if you’ve been here for two minutes, you know that I tend to offer a view into my life in pop culture. By that I mean I try to tell you what things I’m currently into whether it be a show, a song, or film. I also give you a look at why I like things and what these seemingly trivial things mean to me and I try, as scary as it is, to give you a view into my crazy brain and a heart as dark as a black hole. Ok, not really. Well, I mean I don’t have a black heart.

Anyways heart color aside, I’d like to tell you today about something that hits both of those tenets, in that I am lovin’ it and it has found a special place in my heart. First why I’m head over heels for AMC. I guess it starts and ends with quality. There was a time when FX had several top flight shows and that was a rarity as a basic cable channel. And now AMC has taken on that mantle as the basic cable channel to beat.  Let’s take a look at the shows they are currently airing:

1. Mad Men- Admittedly, I don’t watch this show. I am going to give it one final try this summer when it returns from hiatus. I’ll be doing my best to watch the seasons that are on demand. Despite my shortcomings on this show, its record speaks for itself: back-to-back Best Show Emmys kind of makes this a no-brainer.  Mad Men‘s hip style and slow brn drama have been the de facto best show on television for two years running. Here I come.

2. Breaking Bad- THIS show on the other hand I DO watch. And so I can personally tell you, it is just the BEST. The writing and acting are unlike anything else on television that I watch. I have thoroughly enjoyed first catching up and secondly staying right on top of each episode. This show features Bryan Cranston, who I’ve mentioned before as “President of Acting,” because he has yet to turn in a poor performance.  Sure he’s a meth cooker and generally has fallen off the wagon headed toward Normalville and has become the mayor of New JackedUp City, but it sure is enthralling. The third season just closed out and while I’ve heard criticism of it, I think they ended on a really strong run of episodes and tightened the screws nicely heading toward season 4. When the last thing you see from a season finale is an anonymous muzzle flash, things are getting good.

And now, to the forthcoming projects from AMC, which look to share the pedigree of their forefathers.

1. Rubicon- After viewing a sneak peek of this show on Monday on the AMC website (You can still catch it!), I can say that this show is different from the previous two in that the previous two are headed by some very bold male leads. This show on the other hand has a more reserved, introspective lead, but one that promises to be just as spellbinding. To be honest, I feel like this show hits me a little more squarely than some. It focuses on Will Travers who is a codebreaker basically and he uncovers what he thinks is a conspiracy involving the U.S. Government. We’re going to see how this turns out, but the mystery built beautifully through the first episode. Check this one out Sundays at 8pm starting 8/1. Here’s the trailer (via AMC):

2. The Walking Dead- Based on a series of graphic novels by Robert Kirkman, the title here gives it away: ZOMBIES! Zombies, as you’re probably aware, are some of my favorites. This show has a lot going for it: great source material, a solid cast, and the guiding hand of one Frank Darabont. The production values look to be very high as you can see in the first production photo of one of the zombies (via Slashfilm):

Get This Woman a Cheeseburger!

FREAKY. So production for this show is ongoing and we’ll probably see a late autumn premiere. Which will rock, I guarantee.  PR Guarantee of Rockitude GRANTED.

So as you can see, AMC has BEEN killing it and shows NO signs of letting up. But it’s for another reason that they mean something to me really. They were the first legitimate media outlet to recognize PR and give me some access to their materials. Which is just great! I’ve never felt so much like a real person, so thanks AMC! I haven’t been that excited since the release of the Bratz movie.

Please give these AMC shows a try, the thing that television has going really well right now and what makes it currently a more fertile creative ground than movies, is originality. But that’s a rant for another day. Shows likes these deserve your attention because they are excellently made and beacons of entertainment. Do yourself a favor and click over to AMC.