Television series
Rod Lott
I had no doubt “The Walking Dead” was going to be a smash upon its Halloween premiere on AMC, the cable network that shepherded the rather edgy “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” to similar critical and commercial heights.

Television series
Rod Lott
Among USA's lineup of original programming, "Burn Notice" gets most of the heat, and "In Plain Sight" almost none. Even though the former handily bests the latter, “Sight” is still good.

Television series
Rod Lott
As if you needed more evidence that cable TV has network TV in a now-years-long creative choke hold, the junior and freshman seasons of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and Showtime’s “The Big C,” respectively, are now on home video.

Features
Rod Lott
University of Oklahoma chemistry professor Donna Nelson helps cook up big batches of methamphetamine. Not in real life, mind you, but as the science adviser for the Emmy-winning television show Breaking Bad.

Television series
Rod Lott
I don’t watch a ton of TV shows while they’re airing. With a few exceptions, I wait for the DVD and/or Blu-ray sets so I can go on marathons — the only kind of marathons in which I’ll ever participate. Here are capsule reviews of seven such recent tubular trips.