'Breaking Bad' Sets Ratings Record, Still No 'Walking Dead'

All the media attention worked. Last week's new episode of "Breaking Bad" set a new ratings record for the show, more than doubling the number of viewers that tuned in for the first episode of the current season last July.

Last week's episode drew 5.9 million viewers, as compared to the 2.9 million who watched the season premiere last summer, the Hollywood Reporter reports. It was by far the largest audience for any episode of "Breaking Bad." There were more young people watching, too; the 18-49 demographic saw an 87% increase over the audience for that year-old episode.

This newest episode was the first episode in the second half of the split season 5 and the first of the series' final eight episodes. "Breaking Bad" has been enjoying extensive buzz lately, thanks to its impending end and its recent haul of Emmy nominations.

Although the ratings were a gigantic success for "Breaking Bad," they're still just a fraction of the most successful AMC series, "The Walking Dead." That series drew 12.4 million viewers to its season-three finale last April.