Gary Edgerton, the dean of Butler College of Communication, says 'Breaking Bad' is one of the best shows in television history.

"What I would say about Breaking Bad is, I don't think I've seen a show that continues to get better each season," Edgerton said. "The first season was really good, but I don't think anyone was talking about it at that time as being among the best shows ever on TV. Then the second season, it took a qualitative leap forward. And by the third season, people were saying it was as good as anything that's ever been on TV. Some people think the fourth season was the best so far."

Edgerton, a television scholar for 30 years and author of the book The Sopranos, is clearly a great fan of the series.

According to Edgerton, 'The Sopranos' tops the list of 'best shows ever' which also includes 'The Wire and Mad Men,' 'Deadwood,' 'Six Feet Under' and 'The Shield to that list' apart from 'Breaking Bad.'

"It's hard for me to choose a best television program, and when people talk about the 'best show ever,' a lot of that has to do with what they've most recently watched," Edgerton said. "I'd say if we're talking influential, The Sopranos is far more influential than Breaking Bad is."

'Breaking Bad' is an American television crime drama series that premiered January 20, 2008. It is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a New Mexico chemistry teacher suffering from an incurable form cancer, who becomes a methamphetamine manufacturer so he could secure his family's future financially.

Edgerton said that all these prominent shows have proven that television series could be as good as the most sophisticated movies, novels, plays, or other story form.

Speculating the finale of 'Breaking Bad,' Edgerton said,

"Just as Tony Soprano was destined to die, Walter White is destined to die. I'm sure the writers have tried to do their best to come up with the most satisfying and unpredictable ending. The beauty of this is, with these programs that have made it into this area of the very best, you cannot predict."

The show, which airs on AMC at 9:00 p.m. Sundays, is scheduled to end its fifth season on Sept. 29.

Topics Bad, Television, History, White, Dean, 30