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‘Better Call Saul’ supporting cast announced

By WTOP Staff

FRAZIER MOORE
AP Television Writer

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Michael McKean is joining series star Bob Odenkirk in AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” the much-awaited prequel to “Breaking Bad,” with Jonathan Banks, another star from that wildly popular drama, also set for the new venture.

Best-known from the film “This Is Spinal Tap,” McKean will play the brother of Saul Goodman, the character originated in “Breaking Bad” by Odenkirk. Banks will continue in his role as “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut.

Other cast members announced Friday at the summer TV critics’ tour include Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian and Michael Mando.

“Better Call Saul” takes place in 2002, about five years before the starting point of “Breaking Bad.” It vaults wily lawyer Saul Goodman from supporting status as the counselor for meth dealers Walter White and Jesse Pinkman (who were played by “Breaking Bad” stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul) into the series spotlight.

But when “Saul” viewers meet him, the man who will become criminal lawyer Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, described as “a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny and hustling to make ends meet.”

On the heels (though not soon enough for impatient fans) of “Breaking Bad,” which concluded its AMC run in September, “Saul” is set to premiere in January for a 10-hour first season. A second, 13-episode season has already been ordered.

Vince Gilligan, who masterminded “Breaking Bad” and has co-created “Saul” with Peter Gould, told reporters that cooking up the new series is “a leap of faith or stupidity into the unknown.”

While it might have seemed easy to revive the belovedly corrupt Saul Goodman, Gilligan said he soon realized “we didn’t know who this guy was at all, when you think about it.”

“Breaking Bad” viewers know that, for all Saul’s flamboyance and braggadocio, he was a man of mystery and charade. After all, even his name is calculated.

“One question we ask ourselves a lot is, what problem does being ‘Saul Goodman’ solve?” said Gould, who as a “Breaking Bad” writer created the character in that series’ second season.

Another issue: “We know where this guy is going” as he approaches the “Breaking Bad” time frame. “We can’t, for instance, in the first episode, have him lose an arm,” said Gilligan.

“We could make him partially mechanical,” Gould joked.

Many characters from “Breaking Bad” might potentially make appearances in “Saul,” but both producers vowed caution in how they might be folded into the narrative.

“We’re trying to make something that stands on its own,” said Gould, “not a series of old favorites, the equivalent of a clip show.”

Both Gould and Gilligan agreed the challenge is daunting — but fun.

When pressed by reporters for more details on the new show, Gilligan promised, “Anything that was possible on ‘Breaking Bad,’ storytelling-wise, is possible on ‘Better Call Saul.'”

___

Contact Frazier Moore at http://twitter.com/tvfrazier .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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