Statues of the main characters of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from the “Breaking Bad” drug kingpin drama were dedicated Friday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, with co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul present at the unveiling.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and “Breaking Bad” creator and director Vince Gilligan also attended the ceremony to dedicate the bronzes, which were donated by Gilligan and Sony Pictures.
The highly acclaimed series was shot entirely in Albuquerque, including at locations along Route 66, and in other locales in New Mexico.
The Hollywood Reporter reported:
The 2008-2013 show and its ongoing prequel “Better Call Saul” helped fuel a renaissance in filmmaking across New Mexico, while also cutting close to Albuquerque’s real-life struggles with drug addiction and crime.
Gilligan said he recognized that the statues of “two fictional, infamous meth dealers” won’t be universally cherished in New Mexico.
“In all seriousness, no doubt some folks are going to say, ‘Wow, just what our city needed.’ And I get that,” Gilligan said. “I see two of the finest actors America has ever produced. I see them, in character, as two larger-than-life tragic figures, cautionary tales.”
The Albuquerque Journal reported:
Cheers erupted after a few members of the casts of “Breaking Bad” and the series prequel “Better Call Saul” entered the stage.
“Are we grateful for ‘Breaking Bad’ in Albuquerque?” Mayor Tim Keller asked many screaming fans in attendance. “First and foremost, on behalf of the city of Albuquerque, I want to thank you for doing this today, and for doing all you’ve done for the city, whether it’s charity work, whether it’s just working here for 15 years, or 20 years so thank you on behalf of Albuquerque for being such amazing parts of our community.”
After thanking the cast, Keller detailed the impact “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” have had on the community.
“The city is also a character, and that’s, I think, what makes ‘Breaking Bad’ so special, and of course, ‘Better Call Saul,’ too,” Keller said. “Because for us, we see ourselves in so many ways, but also, literally all around our town every time we watch it. So for us, it is also like watching ourselves on the screen.”
Here are a couple of videos from the statues’ unveiling. The first clip is from the live feed of the unveiling. The second is a brief report from an Albuquerque television station:
The show’s enduring popularity has spawned a lot of tourism in Albuquerque, including guided tours to the filming locations.
(Screen-capture image from James Gelet video of the “Breaking Bad” statues at the Albuquerque Convention Center)