AMC's "Halt & Catch Fire" Discussion (2014-2017)

[djgeneral]

"Halt & Catch Fire," From AMC Studios, Creator Chris Cantwell & Chris Rogers, Showrunner Jonathan Lisco, Executive Producer Gran Via's Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," "Rectify," Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein ("Breaking Bad")

Production is scheduled for 4th quarter 2013 expected to premiere on in 2014.

"Halt & Catch Fire" is created by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers from a pilot directed by Juan Campanella (The Secret In Their Eyes). Jonathan Lisco has joined the series as showrunner and Mark Johnson ("Breaking Bad," "Rectify," Diner, Rain Man) and Melissa Bernstein ("Breaking Bad" and "Rectify") from Gran Via Productions also serve as executive producers. The series stars Lee Pace (Lincoln, "Pushing Daisies") as Joe McMillan, Scoot McNairy (Argo) as Gordan Clark, Mackenzie Rio Davis (Smashed) as Cameron Howe, Kerry Bishe (Argo, Red State) as Donna Clark, Toby Huss (Cowboys & Aliens) as John Bosworth and David Wilson Barnes (The Bourne Legacy, "You Don't Know Jack") as Dave Butler.

[SquidPuppet]

Great....but what is it about?

Edit:

Set in the early 1980s, series dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnership will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas' Silicon Prairie

[djgeneral]

Summer 2014 will heat up with the June premiere of "Halt and Catch Fire," which captures the rise of the PC era in the early 1980s, during which an unlikely trio - a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy - take staggering personal and professional risks in the race to build a computer that will change the world.

[EricJ]

What, they're doing a series of "Catching Fire"? Haven't they wrung enough money out of the franchise?

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Oh, wow, a FICTIONALIZED Steve Jobs film now that Jobs is dead! The true drama of the....Texas silicon valley!
(So, what, it's the Texas Instruments story?)

If it's half as nostalgic and suspenseful (even if you know how it comes out) as PBS's "Triumph of the Nerds" documentary, it might be something, but given that it's Prestige Cable Drama Series, it probably won't be.

[lazystoner]

The first episode is available for free on AMC's Tumblr:

http://amctv.tumblr.com/

[minister_x]

It'll be interesting to see where they take this. I enjoyed the first episode and I think it has potential, but the pace was a little slow-burner and that did it in for (AMC's) Rubicon... Loved the electronics shots though - hope they keep those in subsequent episodes!

[djariya]

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...iewers/269671/

Very disappointing ratings. Only 1.2M viewers watched. Granted AMC posted this on demand and online early.

Thought it started a little slow, but it turned out to be pretty good. I can see that a period show like this would be a tough sell.

[djgeneral]

AMC seems to be in quite a bit of trouble with Breaking Bad gone, Mad Men ratings dropped hard (and will be gone in 2015).

[jwerk]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

AMC seems to be in quite a bit of trouble with Breaking Bad gone, Mad Men ratings dropped hard (and will be gone in 2015).

At least they still have The Walking (and Talking) Dead

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by jwerk

At least they still have The Walking (and Talking) Dead

Right, but that can only do so much. Who knows how long that will last either. The show has seen its best days. Even if ratings are high, many more seasons involves higher production costs and increased salaries for the actors. The show is certainly on its way out, but could still last through 2016. I don't see it going on much beyond 2016.

[COLD_COBRA_]

The greatest show of all time.

[the sordid sentinel]

DVR'ed the 1st episode last Sun. and just watched today. Absolutely loved it. Hope there are many more to come and the quality stays at this level. And wow do they have the early 80's nailed. Terrific period detail.

[snakemaster7]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

DVR'ed the 1st episode last Sun. and just watched today. Absolutely loved it. Hope there are many more to come and the quality stays at this level. And wow do they have the early 80's nailed. Terrific period detail.

I liked it also. The tone/setting is good too, it really makes it believable, unlike A LOT of stuff made these days that's trying to convince us it's of an earlier time. I hope it has at least a few seasons.

[Corey31]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

Right, but that can only do so much. Who knows how long that will last either. The show has seen its best days. Even if ratings are high, many more seasons involves higher production costs and increased salaries for the actors. The show is certainly on its way out, but could still last through 2016. I don't see it going on much beyond 2016.

Frankly saying The Walking Dead is "on it's way out" is 100% false. The show is one of the biggest shows in all of cable television right now. The show has the potential to kill off characters if actors want to move on. There are zombies all over the place, easy outs. Kirkman hasn't given any reason why he'd want to end it anytime soon and frankly the showrunner has changed so many times anyone other than him and AMC probably doesn't even matter. This show has the potential to go another 5 years at least. Whether it has reached it's best days creatively is a matter of opinion. It certainly has shown no signs of reaching it from a ratings or a money-making perspective. Not trying to turn this into a topic about TWD/AMC though so back on topic.

I have yet to watch Halt and Catch Fire but the good reviews in here give me hope. I have it recorded on my DVR and I'm hoping to watch it soon.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

Right, but that can only do so much. Who knows how long that will last either. The show has seen its best days. Even if ratings are high, many more seasons involves higher production costs and increased salaries for the actors. The show is certainly on its way out, but could still last through 2016. I don't see it going on much beyond 2016.

Well, about that...

‘The Walking Dead’ Planned Through to Season 12

Otherwise, I don't know where you come up saying "it's on its way out", and considering the show has had many problems behind the scenes that hasn't killed it yet, I'm not sure what gives you the impression it's even close to being over...Seems like a really bold, and frankly uninformed, statement. No offense of course, but it just doesn't really make sense, especially considering the comic series is still going strong as well.

[djgeneral]

Anyone enjoying this? I really like it a lot!

[COLD_COBRA_]

The pilot was fantastic. I doubt this is finding an audience though. Way too much stuff on Sunday nights.

[rickah88]

I really enjoy this show. Since I grew up in the 80's, I'll always have a soft spot for that era. I tired just DVRing the entire season, after AMC gave a quick axe to Low Winter Sun(which I though was fabulous)...but I gave in. Binged the first 3 episodes, and now watch live every week. Actually one of only a few shows I don't watch via DVR.

Kind of a funny sidenote, I just watched Thor: The Dark World earlier this week(I know, I know, I'm waaaay behind on my viewing content), anyway, I was happy to see Scoot in the "All Hail the King" Marvel One-Shot.

I really hope AMC gives this show some time, as they are going to need some solid shows to "restock" their diminishing line up.

[Ironhorse75]

Episodes 8 and 9 were fantastic.

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse75

Episodes 8 and 9 were fantastic.

Yes! it's a nice little show for sure