'Breaking Bad' Sets Series Highs With Fourth Season Premiere

This should be encouraging news for Mad Men, whose upcoming fifth season also has been delayed – after 13 month off the air, AMC’s dark drama Breaking Bad posted its highest ratings ever in its return last night. The fourth season premiere of the series starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul drew 2.6 million viewers, up 30% from the Season 3 premiere in March 2010, and 1.45 million in adults 18-49, up 26%, and 1.43 million in 25-54, up 22%. In 18-49 and 25-54, Breaking Bad marked AMC’s second highest-rated season premiere ever behind last year’s series debut of The Walking Dead. Among adults 18-49, Breaking Bad outpaced the July 2010 Season 4 premiere of Mad Men by 19%. So far, Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, has grown every season.