Breaking Bad salute breaks good

Aaron Paul address

Bryan Cranston moment

The trip always seemed a risk. 

I knew a date and nothing else. I checked daily for information about a ceremony, an unveiling or really anything. Nothing came. 

 But I could not stay away. Thursday, I drove down to Albuquerque. If I found out nothing about the unveiling of Breaking Bad statues for the city, at least I would make the most of a few days away (separate post). 

 Series creator Vince Gilligan commissioned a pair of bronze statues depicting Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. The city of Albuquerque agreed to place them inside its convention center, although some complained about the city honoring fictional methamphetamine manufacturers from one of the most-lauded television shows ever. 

Friday morning, I got my break. 

I decided to start the day on Central Avenue at Loyola’s Family Restaurant. The diner served as a shooting location for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. When I walked in and asked for a booth up front, the waitress asked if I wanted Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul. Mike Ermhantraut, Jonathan Banks’ weathered fixer, drank coffee and read the paper at those booths. 

 At a table next to mine, where an older couple and the grandson had breakfast, they talked about the unveiling – it was in Friday’s Albuquerque Journal. I went online read the article, really only looking for one piece of information.

I found it. The statues opened to the public at 2:30 p.m. Finally, I had clarity. Perhaps the driven down and overnight stay might amount to something special. Around 10, I passed the convention center and spotted a closed street and some trucks. 

Around 12:30, I parked in the underground lot below Albuquerque Civic Plaza. The Plaza had been a shooting location for Breaking Bad, where Walt and Jesse scheduled a final season rendezvous after the Hank Schrader discovered his brother-in-law Walt was the master meth maker he hunted the whole series. 

ABQ Civic Plaza

 There were lines, but not ridiculous lines. Two hours before start time, I stood about 50 people from the front. No one camped overnight. I ended up behind a Navajo man from Gallup and his two teenage daughters. He heard about the statues on the morning news at 6 a.m., and they jumped in the car. 

 I doubt anyone in this line had tossed a pizza on the roof of the White house or harassed Anna Gunn for Skyler White “holding back” Walter’s drug empire. 

A close copy

There were all manners of people. The girls behind me worked at Total Wine and had met Cranston and Paul at a Dos Hombres tasting. They were fans and happy to chat. I quickly realized I was among the only non-New Mexicans there. 

 Everyone in line was friendly – even the fake Heisenberg. He looked the part and I thanked him for not dressing him as first episode Heisenberg, when he cooked meth in a green apron and tighty whiteys. His wife told me and others that he had considered coming as that – in the 85-degree heat and New Mexico sun, that apron outfit would have been more comfortable. 

We knew three people from Breaking Bad would show – Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and series creator Vince Gilligan. Paul and Cranston were on the scoreboard at the Isotopes game, promoting their Saturday appearance and silent auction of personal Breaking Bad memorabilia. Other special guests were mentioned. No indication who, but the notion made it worth the gamble to come down. People swooned as Aaron Paul spoke. I could barely hear him. Those would be my only Aaron Paul sightings. Not that I blamed him – the afternoon sun was upon us and he was being honored. 

HHM forever!

He was not working the crowd, but suddenly I realized Howard Hamlin stood 10 feet in front of me. Patrick Fabian was here, chatting with the crowd. “HHM forever!” I shouted. He gave a chuckle and said, “Thanks for coming out.” But already had their eyes on someone else. 

 Bryan Cranston came down the line – fast. He had a wild beard and hair, looking like Walt after his New Hampshire exile due to a movie part he did not discuss. I set up for a selfie and got him as he motored past. He had a quick comment about it but was onto the next group. I heard him repeatedly say he would not be signing and I got it – he was the big draw and wanted to see as many people as he could. I heard people continue to argue about autographs and shook my head. 

Besides, I felt as if Cranston only did appearances like this in Albuquerque. The town and the shows gave these actors career-changing roles. But the cast was just starting. The event touted special guests beyond the three known attendees. I couldn’t have been more pleased at the folks moving down the line. 

Mando time/my terrible selfie skills

Next came Michael Mando, who played Ignacio “Nacho” Varga on Better Call Saul. The presence of Better Call Saul cast thrilled me, since most folks I talk to in the line had not seen Better Call Saul. People posed for pictures, but they did not know these actors. 

 We posed for a selfie that caught Mando in the middle of the pic and a chunk of my hair on the edge. Let it be known that I hate selfies but had to use them this day. “I really hoped we would see Nacho in Omaha.” He smiled and nodded, let me take the picture, then moved on. His compromised but moral character could not escape Better Call Saul, no matter my hopes. 

 The came Rhea Seahorn, radiant in a green dress. She was coming close and the girl in front of me, a young teen, asked her about pursuing a career in acting. I pulled up and let them talk. She advised a career in theater, because even if you worked in plays for free, you were always honing your craft. She was entrancing, powerful as Kim Wexler but approachable and gracious for the fan outpouring. At this point, it didn’t seem real since I had seen Seahorn do some incredible work in Better Call Saul’s final season and really every season of the show. You have to love Kim if you love Better Call Saul. 

With three episodes still to air, I knew better than to ask her anything left to come in that show. I thanked her for her great performance and asked permission for a picture, she acquiesced, then headed down the line. 

Kim Wexler! 

Patrick Fabian came down the other side and I decided I needed more Howard Hamlin in my life. He agreed to a selfie, even telling me to adjust it so it would not be washed out. I’ll watch this man in anything now. 

 Vince Gilligan did not follow Cranston’s advice and signed freely, moving slower down the line than anyone. About five people away from me, security started whispering to him. The ceremony was about to start, and he was needed inside. He apologized profusely, then thanked everyone before moving in. 

Everyone felt euphoria after this. How could anyone feel anything else, when we just expected to take pictures with statues, and the cast members came down and gave so willingly of their time? I had to try to not cry out of sheer happiness. 

Statues, yo. 

 Not everyone came out. Dean Norris (Hank) was there but he did not work the lines. In that regard, the Better Call Saul cast won the day. It was not their day but they gave freely of their time. That isn’t a criticism of Norris but I know who I will remember from this day. 

 Outside there was no ceremony. Everyone burned in the sun and basked in the glow of an unexpected outpouring of thanks from cast and crew of the shows we all loved. After the cast greetings, the pictures with the statues almost felt anticlimactic. They let ten people in at a time, they took their pictures and left. All the cast were gone, but they had left their imprint on those in line. 

 After three hours in line, I felt I had to see them before driving back to Colorado. I took my picture with the statue, took pictures for the Gallup family and the girls from Total Wine, then struck out for home.

Impulse drove me to Albuquerque. The casts of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul proved that impulse was the right choice.