Did anybody sample this new dramedy Sunday night? Bryan Cranston (dad Hal on “Malcolm in the Middle”) plays a high school chemistry teacher, in dire financial straits already, with a disabled son and a pregnant wife, who learns he’s dying of lung cancer and probably only has a year even with chemo. Seeing TV footage of a meth lab bust, he’s inspired to go into the business, using his chemistry background to become a “cooker” in partnership with a former student. Cranston is fabulous, such a sympathetic schlub doing such terrible things, and there are a lot of laughs with the drama (and even action). I love “Breaking Bad,” except for the title, which I think is terrible, but wonder if it will find the wide fan base “Mad Men” did. You have to appreciate AMC’s ambition in putting shows this challenging on the air.
