Bryan Cranston as Walter White, left, and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad.Ursula Coyote/The Associated Press
BINGE CHAMP
Everybody knows binge-TV has become the new normal, but which current show rates as the bingiest?
And the lofty couch-potato honour goes to … Breaking Bad.
According to a recent study from TiVo, the AMC drama starring Bryan Cranston as a high-school teacher turned meth kingpin ranks first among TV shows that most people want to watch one episode after another.
In the expansive study – which defines "binge-watching" as sitting though three or more episodes of the same program in a single day – 35 per cent of participants admitted they had binged on Breaking Bad, which wrapped its fifth and final season last fall.
Coming in second place: The original Netflix political drama House of Cards with 29 per cent, followed by HBO's medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones, with 25 per cent.
For those making their own future bingeing plans, House of Cards made all 13 second-season episodes available on Netflix last February, while GoT wrapped its fourth season two weeks ago and is scheduled to return for season five next year.
And for anyone who might think that binge-watching might be one of those passing fads – like, say, your old VCR – guess again.
All told, the TiVo study surveyed 15,000 people, of whom 91 per cent admitted to have binge-watched on at least one occasion.
The survey also revealed that 40 per cent had binged within the week that the survey was conducted, while 69 per cent had binged within the month.
But the most dedicated group? That would be the "super-bingers."
The TiVo survey noted that 14 per cent of survey participants admitted to watching an entire season of a show in a single week, with 23 per cent of respondents confessing to watching an entire season within the timeframe of one week to one month.
All of which unavoidably connects to the results of a separate survey released this week by the American Heart Association that suggests the more TV a person watches, the more he or she is likely to die an early death.
Still, wasn't Breaking Bad worth the risk?
CHECKING OUT
Jillian Michaels has left The Biggest Loser – again. NBC has announced that the personal trainer will not be hosting the show when it returns next fall. From the NBC statement: "After helping hundreds of contestants transform their lives and inspiring millions of viewers at home, The Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels have decided to part ways and she will not be returning for season 16." Last April, a source told People magazine that Michaels was "deeply concerned" by the rake-thin appearance of season-15 winner Rachel Frederickson, who dropped 155 pounds during the show. Michaels previously left The Biggest Loser after starting a family with partner Heidi Rhoades but returned to host season 14.
Source: People
TRUE CONFESSIONS
Demi Lovato has revealed that her grandfather was gay. The former Disney Channel star made the surprising revelation during this week's taping for the upcoming Logo TV special Trailblazers. "I've never spoken about this before, but my grandfather was a trailblazer himself," said Lovato. "He was brave enough to come out in the sixties, and I feel a lot of my spirit has come from him." Also featured on the Trailblazers special: Oscar-winner Jared Leto, actor Daniel Radcliffe and openly gay NBA player Jason Collins.
Source: People
STAY HUNGRY
Fans of The Hunger Games films received a glimpse of what's to come next in the franchise, with the release of new posters and a promotional video this week. On Wednesday, Lionsgate Films released several "propaganda" posters from the forthcoming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which is set to land in theatres next November. Each poster features a representative from each of the fictional districts in the film franchise, along with slogans like, "Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow, Panem Forever." Lionsgate also released a video showing Canadian actor Donald Sutherland in his Hunger Games character of the villainous President Snow.
Source: CNN
DANCE FEVER
One of the best young hoofers profiled on the reality series Dance Moms is getting her own reality series. The U.S. cable outlet Lifetime has announced plans for the spinoff titled Raising Asia, which will focus on eight-year-old Asia Monet Ray and her mother, Kristie. The unscripted series will follow Monet Ray and her family as she tries to launch her own career in show business. Filming began last week on Raising Asia, which is slated for a July 29 launch date.
Source: Variety
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE
Comic actor Terry Crews has been selected to host next month's Television Critics Awards. Currently starring on the Fox sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Crews will emcee the 30th edition of the TV awards fete that takes place each summer midway through the annual TCA tour. The TCA Awards are non-televised and by invite only. Said TCA president Scott Pierce: "Terry Crews is a perfect host. His infectious personality is equal parts hilarious, bold and down to earth." The TCA Awards take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 19.
Source: Variety