SERIES PREMIERE: Vince Gilligan wrote the original pilot script for this odd-couple crime comedy-drama (comedy, mostly) a dozen years ago, as a proposed series for CBS. Once he became “Vince Gilligan,” thanks to the fame and success of Breaking Bad, CBS was eager to revive the concept – even more so than Gilligan, whose energies were committed to his planned Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul. But CBS, rather than let the opportunity slip away, paired Gilligan with House, M.D. creator David Shore, who became the daily showrunner of Battle Creek and, working with Gilligan, rewrote the pilot script, then helmed the entire first season of what is a very entertaining midseason entry, starring Dean Winters and Josh Duhamel. To read and hear my full review for NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, see the Fresh Air website. And for my review here on TVWW, see Bianculli’s Blog.

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