Is NM Hollywood East?

Probably not, but Gov. Bill Richardson sure is trying to sell it that way. In the past three days, the governor’s office has announced two new productions.

He announced Tuesday that the second season of "AMC’s highly acclaimed original drama series Breaking Bad, from Sony Pictures Television, will return to New Mexico. The series will return to Albuquerque on July 15th to begin production on season two." The show is from creator/executive producer Vince Gilligan (The X-Files) and executive producer Mark Johnson (The Chronicles of Narnia).

According to a press release:

Breaking Bad follows the story of a desperate man who turns to a life of crime to secure his family’s financial security. Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle, Little Miss Sunshine) returns, joined by Anna Gunn (Deadwood); Aaron Paul (Big Love); Dean Norris (Little Miss Sunshine); Betsy Brandt (CSI); and RJ Mitte (Hannah Montana).

The production will be shot in and around Albuquerque from July to December and expects to hire approximately 175 local crew members.

Today, Richardson followed Tueseday’s release by another one announcing that a week’s worth of filming for the moivie My One and Only will happen in New Mexico. It stars Renee Zellweger and Kevin Bacon.

From the press release:

My One and Only is a film about the childhood experiences of actor George Hamilton. The production will be shot in Albuquerque and Santa Fe in August and plans to employ approximately 90 local crew members and over 190 actors.

It’s unclear from the release whether stars Zellwegger and Bacon will drop by for the filming in the Land of Enchantment.