I think the whole splitting of seasons is kinda ridiculpus. I mean not the splitting itself, but the fact that they still call it one and the same season. What's wrong with just calling it Breaking Bad Season 6 and Mad Men Season 8?

Well, with Breaking Bad at least, wasn't it that if they're technically one season they didn't have to do more contract negotiations and stuff? That may be hogwash, but I thought I remember reading that places.

Damn - I hate splitting of seasons. Now we have to watch 14 episodes over 2 years instead of 13 in one year. Pisses me off. At least extend it to 20 or so episodes so we at least get 10 in a season.

The reason they do this is that they don't have to renegotiate contracts. They basically just film Season 7 and as contracts are up - they don't have to negotiate higher salaries for the last season. They just split the season into 2.

They did the same with the final "season" of Sopranos.

Yes that's the reason. Not that they admit it.

So could a TV show just film 30 episodes, call it one season and split it over four years?

They could try but I doubt the actors would do it. They'd strike for sure.

By doing only 1 or a few episodes more than a regular season and then splitting it - the actors cant really complain.

At least we know AMC is looking hard at a spin-off. I'm down with Peggy running her own firm or Sally+70s+getting high in a van by the river having its own show