AMC Networks is developing and launching a slate of digital original programming to engage with fans and entice advertisers across emerging platforms — including an animated spin-off of Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, inspired by a ’70s Saturday morning cartoon classic.
Titled Slippin’ Jimmy, the animated series concept follows the adventures of young Jimmy and Chuck McGill and friends back home in Cicero, Illinois. Created in the retro style of Fat Albert, each episode is an ode to everything from spaghetti westerns to Buster Keaton to After Hours.
The throwback toon is written by Better Call Saul alums, Emmy-winning scribe Ariel Levine (Ethics Training with Kim Wexler, Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training) and Kathleen Williams-Foshee.
The company is speeding up growth of its content slate to include new formats and new talent, as well as expanding content distribution to include AVOD, SVOD, FAST channels, live-streaming platforms such as Twitch, and more. The new digital originals slate is being created through the company’s Content Room original studio arm, AMCN Digital Originals.
“We have a long history of creating award-winning original digital content that engages our passionate audiences. As we develop and curate new, high-quality ad-supported environments, we are marrying our proven creative ability with expanded reach, opening up new distinct destinations for our fans and meaningful opportunities for our advertising partners, all sold through our AMCN Digital offering,” said Kim Kelleher, president of commercial revenue and partnerships for AMC Networks. “Through the expanded distribution of exclusive originals, we are able to delight fans every step of their consumer journey and take our advertisers along for the ride.”
Also in development are a new season of the Better Call Saul Employee Training series, Fear the Walking Dead tie-in Dead in the Water, and comedy Cooper’s Bar, starring Louis Mustillo as a struggling actor who creates his dream tiki bar hideaway in his backyard, which was piloted as a short film last year.
