XFINITY On Demand Offering the Best of the Best

When an individual thinks of their television service and the accompanying features, there is one feature in particular that many are glad to have at their disposal – video On Demand. To say the least, it is quite unlikely that anyone – TV lover or otherwise – would oppose to being able to watch a particular show at whatever time they feel like. Video On Demand grants TV viewers access to a multitude of shows – with the TV service provider being the key in determining the hundreds or thousands of shows that their customers have access to. All it requires is a few clicks on the remote.

 

Among the variety of service providers that TV lovers look to for satisfying such a desire of TV freedom, Comcast is oftentimes one of the top mentions on the list. With recent additions to their line-up, Comcast has the luxury to brag about what very few other service providers can – offering their XFINITY customers the option to watch the top 100 cable and broadcast shows (as rated by Nielsen) through XFINITY On Demand. Included among the list are favorites such as The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, Game of Thrones, Elementary, Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy.

 

As those who are familiar with their XFINITY On Demand service can attest to, this list of 100 shows does not exhaust all the On Demand content that is available. What it means, however, is that Comcast is intent on offering the best of the best to their customers. Understandably, being able to utilize the convenience and comfort afforded with the service requires a subscription of one of the many XFINITY TV packages.

 

The Big Bang Theory

 

Speaking on the initiative, Matt Strauss, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services at Comcast Cable stated, “We remain focused on giving customers access to the highest quality and most current content, anytime and anywhere they want it.” He also expressed, “There is an abundance of quality television available right now and XFINITY On Demand is becoming a unique destination for TV lovers who want to catch up and keep up with all the top shows”.

 

 

A Variety of Options

 

While it is still very much a staple within households across the United States, the era has long since passed when the television is the only medium through which people watch shows and movies. One of the most noted factors of On Demand content from a service provider is being able to access the shows on multiple devices. As it stands, individuals are also interested in watching video content on their personal computers/laptops, as well as their mobile devices such as their smart phones and tablets.

 

Key to note is the fact that of the top 100 shows that XFINITY customers can watch at any time, an impressive 64 of the lot is accessible across all devices. With this, in the event that there are too many bodies competing for their own time with the TV, or an individual is eager to catch up with their favourite shows when on a long journey, this can be achieved with great ease. In the event that they are on a computer, one just needs to visit the website, while for the mobile devices, there is the XFINITY TV Go app which is compatible with both Android and iOS systems.

 

 

Other Offerings

 

In addition to the TV listings, the movies On Demand that customers can access via XFINITY are also noteworthy. While it would be easy to imagine that the selevctions are limited, there are movies that fit into a variety of genres including action, adventure, comedy, drama, family, and romance. Popular movie choices with XFINITY On Demand constitute of 300: Rise of an Empire, 12 Years a Slave, Frozen, and Thor: The Dark World. This only represents a small fraction of the many, as there are over a thousand that movie lovers can choose from – whether they just want to sit and unwind after a long day, or it’s their week to host movie night with their friends and family.

 

 

Interesting Stat

 

Ever since its emergence, the desire for On Demand content has grown considerably. In a three year span – from 2011 to 2014 – it is reported that the hours spent watching On Demand content has increased from an estimated 150 million to approximately 260 million. While the figures in itself says a lot, it becomes more remarkable when taking into consideration that said figures only represents XFINITY On Demand content. This leads to the realization that the overall (thinking of all the service providers) increase in the time spent watching shows and movies On Demand. It was recently reported that an estimated 43 million televisions accessed video On Demand content within the year, which gives an indication as to how many households are utilizing the service. Taking into consideration that likelihood that the desire to watch content On Demand will continue to grow, Comcast has certainly positioned itself to capitalize based on the quantity and quality of their offerings.

 

 

XFINITY On Demand Offering the Best of the Best

Jobs Made Possible with Technology

A recent conversation related to the “good” and “bad” of technology forced me to consider its effects on the job market. While there may be evidence to support the claim that many have jobs have become obsolete as a result of technological advancements, the reality is that in replacing certain jobs, a number of professions have emerged that are more “up to date”, and arguably provide individuals with greater income than the more popular jobs of the past.

 

Here is a look at a few jobs that have been made possible through advancements in technology:

 

 

Social Media Professional

 

A decade or so ago, very few people could readily identify what social media is all about. Now, social media is all the rave. Such is the significance of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and company that it is next to unheard of that an individual or entity does have a presence on one – in many cases it’s all.

 

As it stands, many people are familiar with what social media is, and those individuals will acknowledge that key to maintaining an image on these platforms is to be interactive. While it may be considered okay for some individuals to seldom access their accounts, for others – and for many organizations – a lot of work is required. It is as a result of this that social media professionals are needed. These individuals would have acquired a great level of expertise and familiarity with the various social media platforms to be able to engage those who visit a particular page or account – whether fans, or clients, or stakeholders.

 

 

So important is social media that many organizations consider maintaining their various accounts more important than building and maintaining a company website of their own.

 

 

Mobile App Developer

 

Another job that has technology to thank for its emergence – and rapid rise to prominence – is that of a mobile app developer. A mobile app (which is a shortened version of application) is pretty much software designed to be used on mobile electronics such as smart phones and tablets. As it is now, these devices are considered essential by millions of individuals across the world, and the apps being created for them craved to a large extent.

 

In the latter stages of the 2000’s, the saying “there’s an app for that” began to capture the interests of many, as there were a number of daily tasks that were made a lot easier with such a program. If that saying was accurate then, it is even more accurate now, as it is believed that over a million apps currently exist in cyberspace.

 

In spite of the quantity, there is no denying that the ability to create such software is at the moment one of the best skills that a professional can possess. Being able to design and construct mobile apps is a great way to land an individual a job with any organization looking to capture the attention of an audience by utilizing their interests. Having said that, however, doing it for personal gain is arguably even more profitable. The support for such a claim? Just a few months ago, the very popular WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for a total of $19 billion.

 

 

Information Security Professional

 

The phenomenon of hacking – with undesired by-products such as identify theft – are among a few of the unwanted developments that have emerged with the increased advancements made technology. With this in mind, professionals with the expertise in information security are now among the most coveted in whatever industry.

 

Within the last year, there have been multiple reports of major companies being the victims of a breach. It is quite likely that many more entities would have suffered a similar fate if not for the individuals that develop the various programs to safeguard the information stored on the servers. Being able to create programs such as anti-virus software to protect sensitive information is a skill that cannot be overstated.

 

 

Online Freelancers

 

Traditionally speaking, the title of a writer could only be claimed by an individual who wrote for a newspaper, or had written a book, but this is no longer so. The same applies to a host of other professions that would generally demand years of education and certification to make an individual qualified to perform in the role.  With the emergence of numerous freelance websites – Elance Odesk being among the popular selections – a high speed Internet connection and a computer is essentially all that is required to help an individual expand their professional portfolio.

 

With these platforms, individuals can work in a variety of areas, including data entry, translations, virtual assistant, website development, photography, while a significant percentage of freelancers are writers. Working as a freelancer provides individuals with the freedom to work on their own terms, selecting their own hours, and dictating their rates. Similarly, unlike the everyday job, an individual is free to venture into multiple areas without any restrictions.

 

 

From the perspective of the expertise, technology has also played a key role. The resources available to those with their respective interests are accessible with a search on the Internet. Though the certification may be lacking, the beauty with freelancing is that very few clients actually ask for it – unlike the traditional “9-5” job.

 

 

 

Jobs Made Possible with Technology

Top Shows to Look out for this Fall

There will be a number of popular television series returning this fall, including Castle, 2 Broke Girls, Sleepy Hollow, and The Blacklist. While the anticipation surrounding these shows continues to swell, there are also a number of shows that will be premiering that are worth looking out for.

 

Here is a look at a few:

 

 

How To Get Away With Murder

 

Take the time out to watch the trailer of this show, and it is almost a given that you will be hooked by the storyline and be rendered helpless to tune in once it begins to air on ABC. The series stars Viola Davis as Annalise Keating – a law professor – who teaches Criminal Law 100, or “How To Get Away With Murder” as she so aptly puts it. As you can imagine, she’s intent on teaching her students the tricks on how to be the best criminal defense lawyers they can be.

 

Some TV lovers will be tuning in for the plot, but for some individuals, they will be tuning in simply because of one name associated with the production – Shonda Rhimes. Indeed, the producer who has managed to attract millions of viewers to the network with shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal will be hoping to strike gold yet again with this latest series. Unsurprisingly, it too is scheduled to be aired on a Thursday night, or as some fans are starting to refer it – Shonda night.

 

 

The Flash

 

Grant Gustin stars as Barry Allen – The Flash

In the film industry, it is all but a certainty that a show’s success will result in a spin-off, and it would appear as though this is the case for the upcoming series – The Flash. The series – which is the spin-off of the successful Arrow on the CW – will highlight the exploits of Barry Allen (played by Grant Gustin) after he received his superhuman speeds as a result of the explosion of the particle accelerator in Central City. Oh yea, he was also struck by lightning.

 

Though coming as a spin-off, it is widely regarded that the Flash is a more renowned superhero than the Green Arrow, so there is every chance that with a good script there could be more excitement surrounding this series than its predecessor. That aside, the possibility of there being appearances from beloved characters such as Oliver Queen/Arrow and Felicity Smoak makes the interest in this show all the more real.

 

 

Scorpion

 

It would not be too surprising if not many individuals have heard about this show, but it is quite likely that this will all change the closer it gets to the premiere. The series is centred on Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel), a super genius who leads an organization that consists of other geniuses. Though it may start off looking like a “typical nerd show”, there is quite a twist when Homeland Security Cabe Gallo (Robert Patrick) shows up at their door. As you could have guessed, their services will be required for a matter of national security.

 

As it turns out, some 20,000 people will die if Walter and his associates don’t come up with a way to bypass the hacking of the control tower at the LAX. What makes this show one to look out for? It is not often that a crime-based TV series is all brains and no brawns.

 

Walter O’Brien (Elyes Gabel, seated) heads the group of geniuses.

 

Gotham

 

Though it would appear as though the CW has a monopoly on all the good TV shows based on DC Comics, but this is not the case as FOX is scheduled to premiere another series in the coming months – Gotham. What this series will be showing is quite possibly something that TV lovers have never seen before – Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Batman and all the other popular characters all at a young age. As a matter of fact, in this series Bruce Wayne is pretty far from becoming Batman.

 

Whether you are a comic book fan or not, it would be quite hard to deny that Gotham City may very well be the most popular fictional city ever, and now it will be the centre of attention. Well, the city and Detective James Gordon. The series is intended to be a prequel to all things Batman, and showcase the movements of Detective Gordon who is a new addition to the Gotham City Police Department. His first case? The murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. That’s right, Batman’s parents.

 

 

NCIS: New Orleans

 

Seemingly taking a page out of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation playbook, the NCIS franchise has gone about adding another spin-off to its line-up, set in another popular city. Naval Criminal Investigate Service (NCIS) which is itself a spin-off, will now have agents running around in the city of New Orleans. The franchise has been revelling in the success of NCIS: Los Angeles – which is months away from its sixth season, and has managed to average over 16 million viewers per episode – and will be hoping that the latest addition to the team is just as popular.

 

NCIS cast: (L-R) Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, Scott Bakula, and C.C.H. Pounder.

 

Similar to NCIS: LA, the upcoming series was introduced with appearances in the original NCIS episodes – simply can’t have an NCIS without Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs being a part of it. In this series, the main character is Dwayne Cassius Pride (played by Scott Bakula) who is NCIS Special Agent in Charge, who just happens to be a long-time friend of Gibbs. Not much of a surprise there.

 

 

Top Shows to Look out for this Fall

An Air of Intrigue Surrounds Gotham

Within the television industry, there is a resurgence that not many aside from the avid TV lover – and maybe a few others – would have noticed, the renaissance of TV series based on comics. Over the past year or two, there has been Arrow (out of DC Comics) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (a Marvel Comics product). Seemingly more intend on leading the “comic book comeback” is the DC Comics franchise that revealed plans to roll out two additional shows this fall – The Flash (which is going to be a spin-off of Arrow), and Gotham.

 

By all accounts, The Flash is certainly a show that TV lovers will enjoy sitting down to watch (on whatever day of the week The CW decides to air it), but those TV lovers (and more) will almost surely express a greater interest in Gotham. No offense to Barry Allen and co. (of The Flash), but the other show in reference is set in (and based on) quite possibly the most revered and renowned city in comic book history.

 

 

A Sneak Peek into Gotham

The series – which is to be aired on FOX – is certainly not what many would have been expecting. One would not be faulted for believing that the show would be all about Bruce Wayne, more popularly known as Batman – just in case the comic book connection with Gotham wasn’t already made, which is quite unlikely. However, this is not exactly so. Instead, the series will focus a lot on the early years of one James Gordon (played by Benjamin McKenzie) who is a mere detective (for now, anyway) in this series. The character is, of course, more recognized as Commissioner Gordon from all other Batman-related creations.

 

Detective James Gordon (Ben Mckenzie) and little Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz).

 

As per the show’s trailer, one of Gordon’s early cases within the Gotham City Police Department was solving the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne – Batman’s (well, Bruce Wayne’s) parents. Those familiar with the story of Batman will know that decades onwards, that case was still a mystery. Fans should surely be eager to see all that Detective Gordon goes to try and provide Bruce with the closure he craves.

 

David Mazouz – who played the lead role of Jake Bohm in another FOX series Touch – will assume the role of Bruce Wayne in Gotham. Anyone familiar with that show will likely hold the opinion that the somewhat “lone wolf” persona of Bruce Wayne suits him nicely, having played a kid who mostly keeps to himself and is almost always against any form of human interaction. Sean Pertwee will play the character Alfred Pennyworth – Bruce’s butler and possibly only friend, with Selina Kyle (who everyone knows as Catwoman) to be played by Carmen Bicondova. A major name among the cast members is Jada Pickett Smith who will play Fish Mooney – a nightclub owner, and quite possibly the most powerful crime boss in all of Gotham.

 

 

Why the intrigue?

 

With a bit of insight, it would be pretty simple to realize the reason there are so many individuals eager for this series to hit the screens. James Gordon’s early years translate to early years for all the other big name characters in show as well.

 

That being said, Bruce Wayne is not yet Batman, and the notorious villains such as the Riddler, Catwoman, the Joker, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy are yet to fulfill what will turn out to be quite destructive futures. Interestingly, most of these characters are likely to be in their teens, still a way off fro “discovering themselves”. With this, TV lovers – particularly those who are true Batman fans – will be able to witness the events that lead to them taking the paths they did.

 

Jada Pinkett Smith plays Fish Mooney, a nightclub owner, and quite possibly the most powerful crime boss in all of Gotham.

 

Though very little has been said thus far, there is also a bit of suspense related to whether or not the “Dynamic Duo” of Batman and Robin will be portrayed. While it would be welcome, that pairing is possibly far off in the distance.

 

In previous adaptions of the franchise, there have been multiple representations of how these villains – for want of a better phrase – “took their form”, but there is a slight feeling that this latest production could yet present the best of the lot. Another major talking point is the fact that unlike many other productions where only a few of the villains were given any time on the air, within Gotham, there will be appearances (in one way or another) from all of Batman’s rivals.

 

 

Some Additional Information

 

The opening season of the series is set to consist of 16 episodes, which is more than the traditional 13 episodes generally ordered. It could very well be that FOX is expecting a lot of good to come from the airing of Gotham – with high ratings, tons of viewers, and impressive reviews just a few of areas they will be hoping comes true.

 

Bruno Heller, the mind behind The Mentalist is the man tasked with writing and producing the upcoming series. Danny Cannon and John Stephens are also slated to play the role of executive producers.

 

Though it may come across as harsh, producers and cast members aside, it is quite possible that individuals all around would still be in high anticipation of the airing of Gotham. The excitement in being able to witness the stories behind each major character of the Batman franchise is not something that can be easily contained.

 

 

An Air of Intrigue Surrounds Gotham

Latest Web Trend Highlights the Extent of Innovation

It is oftentimes said that one of the most commendable characteristics of people in general is that they never allow themselves to be limited or shackled by any boundaries – imaginary or otherwise. To a great extent, this innate desire to exceed expectations is facilitated and enhanced by the continuous technological advancements being made.

 

More often than not, these feats of innovation are geared towards some groundbreaking achievements that can essentially make life a lot easier for a particular group, or everyone for that matter. In other instances, however, they are simply out of leisure. With that said, there are very little who can argue with the notion that innovation is truly at its heights (for now anyway) given a recently emerging phenomenon. The phenomenon of “dronies”. Yes, “dronies”. Should be pretty easy to take a shot at what its about, one would imagine.

 

 

What is a dronie?

 

To pretend as though there is an official definition for the term would certainly not be wise, but based on seeing a few, an attempt can be made to describe what the occurrence is. In essence, these are videos taken of an individual or individuals with a drone (well, a camera mounted on a drone), which begins with a close up shot of the subjects in the reel, then extended out further and further to capture as much of the environment as possible.

 

Taking a “dronie”.

 

By all accounts, what makes these videos stand out has more to do with the location more than anything else, and from the lot surfacing thus far, it is evident that people will be looking to visit some amazing sites to capture their few seconds of fame.

 

 

Sounds familiar…

 

It doesn’t take much for someone to link this phenomenon to another web trend that simply exploded in popularity over the past year or two – “selfies”. These captured the attention of the world to the extent that the “Selfie Olympics” emerged on all the popular social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc –, with thousands of individuals going to extreme lengths to capture the most jaw-dropping picture of themselves.

 

So popular was the phrase that it was announced as the Oxford Dictionaries “Word of the Year” for 2013, and earned a place in the official Oxford Dictionary. It could easily be argued that no trend will manage to achieve the viral success of the “selfie”, with even the President of the United States Barack Obama getting in on the act on quite a few occasions.

 

Even President Obama is doing selfies.

 

Innovation Personified

 

While on the surface it would appear as though “dronies” are just as trivial as the phenomenon of the “selfie” – with good reason, of course – it must be realized that this latest trend is beaming with innovation. As it is with the latter, taking a “selfie” does not require much given that every smart phone (and many other electronic devices) boasts a camera, but no one can say the same for individuals having drones.

 

For many, the first introduction to drones – which are actually unmanned aerial vehicles – was not commercial or personal in the least. They were gadgets utilized by various entities, the military included, for purposes of surveillance, rescue and similar objectives. Having said that, it is a known fact that drones are no longer as scarce as when they first emerged, with more and more individuals acquiring one of their own.    +++

 

Whatever the intended purpose for the acquisition in the first place, it would not be too much of a stretch to imagine that owners of these gadgets have found another way to put them to use. As a matter of fact, it would not be too much of a surprise to find that there would be some to purchase a drone of their own simply for the purpose of participating in this latest growing web trend. Throw a few celebrities into the mix, and there will be no containing its popularity.

 

A drone

 

Impact of Internet/Social Media

 

Given the influence and impact that the Internet has on making these trends viral, the phenomenon of the “dronie” may soon capture the attention of those at Oxford, much like its predecessor did. As a matter of fact, were it not for the World Wide Web it would be quite unlikely that anyone would have know about the videos.

 

With a web connection, and social media platforms by extension, it does not make much for trends to pick up momentum once they have begun. It may seem like some time ago – though it really wasn’t – but the writing was on the wall as to the impact of the Internet with the trends such as “planking” and “owling”.

 

The difference, however, and the only factor to really consider is the gadget being utilized to facilitate the free-spirited act of a “dronie” versus all others – drones. Not too long ago, Amazon demonstrated the extent of its innovation by announcing that they intend to use drones to make deliveries of items as long as they meet a certain weight requirement, but they could very likely be kicking themselves for not coming up with this idea first.

 

 

Latest Web Trend Highlights the Extent of Innovation

Meet Ubooly and Other Tech-Savvy Toys for Kids

On any given day, it is quite possible that individuals spend quite a bit of time perusing the Internet to uncover all of the latest gadgets that may appeal to them, or make their life easier. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, particularly as we continue to adapt and accept all the technological advancements being thrown our way.

 

An issue with this, however, is that with all that time spent looking at gadgets for yourself, you may have missed out on discovering a number of tech-savvy inventions that your kids will enjoy. Whether or not you fall into such a category, here are a few items that are ideal for your little ones:

 

 

Ubooly

 

Billed as “the learning toy that listens”, Ubooly is rapidly becoming one of the most popular toys on the market for kids. Like most other inventions today, Ubooly has a supported app that makes all desired interactions and objectives achievable, and lucky for you it is compatible with both Android and iOS software. Once the app is downloaded, then you simply have to insert the device into the toy, and your child is free to have all the fun they want, while learning at the same time.

 

Among the many capabilities of the toy, it can help your kids with their math homework, demonstrate the proper technique for brushing teeth, tell stories, and even make suggestions for healthy eating. The Ubooly is ideal for your little ones who are between the ages of 4-7 – you know, that age where they look for every opportunity to grab your phone, and refuse to give it back.

 

 

Playskool Showcam 2-in-1 digital camera and projector

 

In an era that is riddled with individuals eager to capture every moment, why should your kids be kept out of the loop? Investing in a 2-in-1 digital camera and projector by Playskool is quite possibly the safest way to ensure that they can capture the images that excite them, without having to worry too much about breaking the bank. It doesn’t hurt that the device is essentially designed to fit their little hands, and make taking pictures a breeze.

 

Capturing the images is one thing, but with the built-in functions of the device, the kids also have the option of customizing the pictures with in excess of 50 effects that they can add on without the use of any special software. There are many traditional digital cameras that can’t brag about that!

 

Another factor that they can boast about is what makes the Showcam truly 2-in-1 – the projector. It doesn’t take much more than a flip of a switch for the camera to be transformed to a projector as well, allowing the kids to show off their images with the effects that they added.

 

The Playskool Showcam would be a perfect fit for those children between the ages of 3-7, which is certainly not a bad age to interest them with photography and graphic design.

 

 

Leap Motion Controller

 

This isn’t necessarily a “kids” toy in the truest term – it’s probably also not a “toy” in the truest term either – but it does tick all the right boxes where being tech-savvy is concerned, and kids can in fact utilize it. Having said that, this one better suits the older kids, up to about age 13.

 

The Leap Motion Controller is a product of the company Leap Motion that pretty much allows the user to interactive with a device – a computer for instance – without actually touching it. Once the device is plugged in and all the installation requirements met, then they can be amazed by the capabilities of the technology.

 

In addition to all the games that would automatically become a lot more interactive as they use their hands to navigate through the challenges, a simple gesture would also allow them to browse web pages, select songs from a playlist or take a quick glance through their photo album. Interestingly, with the use of an actual pencil or paintbrush they can even create art.

 

 

 

RoboMe

 

Quite possibility the definition of a truly technological toy, there are probably a few kids who would not want a RoboMe around the house. This device goes a far way in linking innovation with sheer fun and creativity.

 

The RoboMe – which you may have guessed is an actual robot – has an opening at the top to fit the device that will be used to control it, at the same time giving the device a “face”. That can be customized to look human, or have some robotic theme.

 

There are those who would hold the opinion that it’s unfair to list a product that is (if for the moment anyway) software specifics – as it is compatible with an iPhone or iPod touch – but the moment it was discovered, it had a sure spot on the list.

 

It can become a “tech” companion for kids, with the ability to understand and execute voice commands being among its many features. Being customizable, the kids can create additional commands, as well as the desired responses to said commands. The RoboMe is also smart, with its pre-installed sensors giving it the ability to navigate around objects without hitting into them. If more control than that is desired, it’s not a problem as there is also a remote that can be used to manually control the device.

 

 

Meet Ubooly and Other Tech-Savvy Toys for Kids

A Spin-Off Success Like None Other

In the film industry, every once in a while there are achievements that cause individuals to sit up and take notice. In many instances, these accolades are in relation to an original series, but there are those occasions where spin-offs generate a lot of chatter as well.

 

Most recently, an announcement was made about a spin-off that was more jaw dropping than arguably another other story emerging for the last couple of months, and possibly the year. In no uncertain terms, the release was a true sign of success.

 

What’s the big success story?

 

A week or so, it was recently announced that AMC has renewed a TV series entitled Better Call Saul for a second season, and while a series renewal is a pretty common feat, it is not so common when no episode of the show has been aired. Not only that, but it is even more mind-blowing when the show is a spin-off of another. It doesn’t get much bigger than that, does it?

 

There is no documentation to say that this is so, but it is quite possible that this is the first time that a spin-off is being renewed without Episode 1 even hitting the screens. If this bit of information holds true, then it will be following its predecessor Breaking Bad into the record books – it was revealed last year that the show earned a spot in the Guinness World Records for 2014 for “the highest rated TV series”. This was based on its metascore from Metacritic.com, which was an impressive 99/100.

 

 

Bob Odenkirk is Saul Goodman.

 

Arguably, the only reason the show did not achieve a perfect score was based on the premise that such a series has never, and will never exist. Take a poll, however, and it’s quite likely that many will hold the opinion that individuals will hold the opinion that this series was.

 

 

Plot        

                                

Those who were avid followers of Breaking Bad – which many people were – will be all too familiar with the main character of the upcoming series Better Call Saul, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). Saul is a “criminal” lawyer whose services were enlisted by Walter White (Bob Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) during Season 2 of Breaking Bad. While they could have went after the services of any criminal lawyer, as expressed by Jesse, Saul is more of a criminal than a lawyer, so he would surely fit into their illegitimate enterprise with relative ease.

 

His popular tagline “Better Call Saul!” is what the producers have used for the title of the series concentrated on him, which does make a lot of sense. The show is set to show fans more of his life, and display his methodology in getting the job done.

 

Though this series is being touted as a prequel to the original that is not the full picture, as there will be scenes and elements that take place during Breaking Bad, and other that will be staged after.

 

 

Whose success is it? Does that even matter?

 

At this time, the answer to this may not matter to some, but still there are those who will want an answer any way – who should be given the credit for the Season 2 renewal of Better Call Saul? Understandably, there are a number of entities that can take credit.

 

‘Better Call Saul’ is the much anticipated spinoff of ‘Breaking Bad’ starring Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman) and Bryan Cranston (Walter White).

 

An easy response for many would be the success of Breaking Bad. Aside from the feat mentioned earlier of making the Guinness World Records book, the show has amassed a following that only a few other series can brag about. Among the many fans of the show is the world-renowned actor Anthony Hopkins, who was so impressed by what he saw that he wrote a letter to Bob Cranston expressing just this, referring to his portrayal of Walter White as “the best acting I have seen – ever”.

 

The actor Bob Odenkirk can also force himself into contention, with the actuality that his character Saul Goodman was of such a high standard during the original show that it managed to prompt a series of its own. Last, but certainly not least, are the oftentimes forgotten players in the game – the creators and producers (Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould). The on-screen portrayals are of course their visions coming to life.

 

Whoever is to be accredited with the recent success, it is unlikely to matter much to those involved, as they will all be reaping the benefits. At the very least, even those who missed out on Breaking Bad may be compelled to watch a few episodes to catch an early glimpse of who Saul Goodman really is.

 

 

Not alone…kind of

 

While Better Call Saul may be the first (and only one) in its class by being a spin-off to get a renewal before its premiere, it is not the only series to be in said class for the year. In January, it was revealed that the series HitRecord on TV would be renewed for a second season, a week or so before its intended premiere. The series was created by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (known for his role in films such as Inception and The Dark Knight Rises) and airs on the recently launched channel Pivot.

 

 

A Spin-Off Success Like None Other