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BETTER CALL SAUL

Set and Filmed in Albuquerque

He puts the “criminal” in your defense; in “Better Call Saul” we meet Jimmy McGill before he becomes Saul Goodman of "Breaking Bad." 

Albuquerque is no stranger to successful television shows, with "Breaking Bad" putting the city on the map and employing many New Mexicans. "Better Call Saul" has proven to be just as notable, earning great acclaim and many accolades.

As most fans know, the AMC series "Better Call Saul” was set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a prequel to the hit show “Breaking Bad.” While exploring Albuquerque, you’ll see many “Better Call Saul” locations and memorabilia.

“Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad” weren’t just set and filmed in Albuquerque, they have also become iconic parts of the city. Fans of the show will easily find “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad” gifts, souvenirs, merchandise and film location tours throughout Albuquerque.  

Just as in "Breaking Bad," Albuquerque plays an integral role on "Better Call Saul" – almost serving as an additional character in the narrative. Vince Gilligan and his team do not shy away from including iconic Albuquerque landscapes, locations and businesses as filming locations, and they have embraced the city as the home of the series.

Learn more about "Better Call Saul."

Media Mentions

“To get a jump on what's sure to add to New Mexico's TV landscape, here's a tour of six must-see's from the famous show's new prequel, Better Call Saul.” Men's Journal  

“For a while, the co-creators, who could write their own ticket given the success of 'Breaking Bad,' tried to talk themselves out of it, but they kept returning to Saul in part because they had fallen in love with the landscape and aesthetic of Albuquerque.” New York Times

"More than a year after Walter White’s final curtain call, we’re back in the Albuquerque of Vince Gilligan’s mind, and it’s a beautiful thing to behold." MTV.com

"Gilligan has retained his eye for the warm geometries of Albuquerque." Slate.com

"Viewers have not only been given new perspective into Saul/Jimmy McGill as he rises from scrappy presence to dubious prominence, they have seen new sides of the ABQ, which features striking mountainscapes, scorching sunsets, and a melange of architecture ranging from pueblo deco to mission to strip-mall blight." EW.com

"But one of Gilligan’s more incidental accomplishments during this time was helping to put Albuquerque, New Mexico on the map—not only as a major filming hub...but as a destination for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fans." Vice.com

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Learn more about "Breaking Bad" being filmed in Albuquerque.

About Bob Odenkirk

Bob Odenkirk got his start in comedy, working as an Emmy-winning writer for "Saturday Night Live" and "The Ben Stiller Show" and moving on to acting and live sketch comedy, including HBO’s "Mr. Show with Bob and David." In 2009, Odenkirk joined the cast of AMC’s "Breaking Bad" as Saul Goodman – meant to provide some comic relief amid the serious nature of the show. His performance proved to add a unique perspective to the story that was somewhat unexpected by the show’s creators.

“The more we worked with him, the more soul and depth we found. We loved that he was funny, but there was so much range there. He crushed it so completely that we started to daydream about what else we could do,” Gilligan said in an interview with the New York Times.

Odenkirk is credited as a producer on the series. He's been nominated for a lead actor Emmy for four seasons of "Better Call Saul."

To the fans…

A note to fans from co-creators and executive producers Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould:

Welcome to the world of James M. McGill, Esq.

For viewers of 'Breaking Bad,' there’s much that will be familiar in this series: the bright Albuquerque skies, the dark humor, and — most of all — the passion and devotion to detail from cast and crew.

Having said that, 'Better Call Saul' is a brand new show. We’re telling a different story here — one with its own rhythm, its own look, its own tone. We’re excited to share it with you.

This show has been a crazy ride for us. The character of Jimmy McGill has taken us places we never expected. Jimmy’s not yet Saul Goodman: he’s his own man, and he’s messy and struggling and still finding himself. One day he’ll transform into Albuquerque’s favorite criminal lawyer, but right now he’s a more or less law-abiding underdog on the bottom rung of the legal system.

We’re loving every moment of Bob Odenkirk’s deeply human performance as unstoppable, inventive Jimmy races through an ethical slalom course, trying to make a name for himself.

We hope you enjoy it.

- Vince & Peter

In the photo, Mike Ehrmantraut waits in the Alvarado Transportation Center after arriving via train (NM Rail Runner Express).