News Briefs : Breaking Bad doubles its Midway Season premiere, an 8th clone on Orphan Black?

Breaking Bad had 5.9 million viewers tuned in for Season 5B premiere, crushing the series' previous high of 2.9 million viewers for the Season 5A premiere. Breaking Bad probably has Netflix to thank for the jump, as many shows are using the video-streaming service as a way to hook new viewers. AMC's new series Low Winter Sun used its Breaking Bad lead-in to draw 2.5 million viewers, and Talking Bad, the new post-Breaking Bad chat show, grabbed 1.2 million viewers.

News this Week

--- AMC has announced the return date for Breaking Bad.
Sunday, August 11 at 9pm
The Emmy-winning show from creator Vince Gilligan has just eight more episodes left in its run, and depending how you look at it, they either comprise the second half of Season 5 or the entirety of Season 6. Personally, I'm calling it Season 6. Assuming Breaking Bad airs uninterrupted for eight straight weeks, that would place the series finale on September 29.

---Starz has ordered a second season for "Da Vinci's Demons",
"Da Vinci's Demons" the series that replaced "Spartacus" after the show ended. The first episode of Da Vinci's was good, fun to watch, so a new season even after only one episode had already aired is showing the network's faith in the show.

--- Steve Carell to appear in "The Office" finale????
Rumors circulating that Steve Carell might appear on the Series finale of "The Office", even though he had insisted he'll never return to the series as Michael Scott, seemed to have gained a foothold when reports emerged he was on the set of the series, on the last day of shooting.

--- "Heroes" to return?????
Microsoft has been looking to bring in original programming to its gaming console for some time now, and in September the company hired former CBS president Nancy Tellem to create a television studio specifically aimed at developing original series for Xbox Live. With a new Xbox console allegedly in the works for later this year. But is Heroes the answer?

NBC's Heroes ran for four uneven seasons from 2006 to 2010, bursting onto the scene as a huge hit before petering out later on. Its ensemble cast and structure could make for a decent revival. Apparently the idea is to start with a whole new group of ordinary people with extraordinary abilities and bring in past cast members for cameos.

---- More ladies for Hank Moody.
"Californication" continues to beef up its cast for Season 7, adding Heather Graham (Boogie Nights) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (24) for substantial. Graham's will be a season-long run, and she'll play a woman from Hank's past. Rajskub's stay will be a bit shorter, and she'll play a neurotic writer. The Sopranos vet Michael Imperioli was also recently added to the cast.

Shows airing this week 8th - 14th April 2013

These are the episodes of the various shows airing this week, some shows are on break, while some have finished for the season, and some shows haven't started their new seasons. Meanwhile Spartacus, Californication, House of Lies and Shameless will air their finales this week, Spartacus's is airing its Series finale this coming Friday, meaning this will be the last episode of Spartacus.

==== Sunday - "Game of Thrones" Episode 2, "Mad Men" ( Season 6, 2hrs Premiere), "Shameless" Episode 12 ( Season Finale), "Californication" Episode 12 ( Season Finale), "House of Lies" Episode 12 (Season Finale), "Vikings" Episode 6.

==== Monday - "Revolution" Episode 13, "The Carrie Diaries" Episode 13, "The Following" Episode 12, "Bomb Girls" Episode 9.

==== Tuesday - "New Girl" Episode 22, "The Mindy Project" Episode 21.

==== Wednesday - "Criminal Minds" Episode 19, "Modern Family" Episode 20, "Nashville" Episode 17, "Suburgatory" Episode 20, "The Americans" Episode 10.

==== Thursday - "Community" Episode 9, "Glee" Episode 18, "Go On" Episode 22, "Hannibal" Episode 2.

==== Friday - "Grimm" Episode 18, "Nikita" Episode 17, "Spartacus" Episode 10 ( Series Finale), "Touch" Episode 11, "Vegas" Episode 17.

==== Saturday - "Doctor Who" Episode 8, "Orphan Black" Episode 3.