'Breaking Bad' to Likely End After Season 5, Possibly Switch Networks

With the incredible success of "Breaking Bad" over the past few seasons (and into the fourth), it's hard to imagine the show calling any network other than AMC, which nurtured the show into the powerhouse drama it is today. However, there's a distinct possibility that the show could move. Oh, and it could be over next year, too.

An in-depth report on the state of AMC by THR reveals that the cost of continuing on with shows like "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men" has become a financial strain on the network.

After all, we saw what a fiasco it was when the network re-negotiated with Matt Weiner over "Mad Men." As a result, it's rumored that AMC asked Vince Gilligan and the "Breaking Bad" creatives to cut their seasons down to six or eight episodes instead of the current 13...and apparently they didn't like that idea.

The show was ready to be shopped around to other networks, and if AMC tries to push that issue again, it could move somewhere else, like back to FX where it originated.

But chances are good that AMC will hang in there and pay what they need to pay. Why? It's looking as though season five of "Breaking Bad" will be the last. Gilligan has mentioned that he believes the show should end after five seasons, and when you think about Walt's journey and where we are now just a few episodes into season four, that sort of makes sense.

So get your enjoyment of "Breaking Bad" in while you can...around this time next year, you might be watching the final season. Doesn't that just make you want to, I dunno, slice somebody with a box cutter?