‘Breaking Bad’ scores best-ever ratings with penultimate episode

Another week of Breaking Bad, another ratings record.

The AMC crime drama, which should no longer be considered simply a “cult” hit, nabbed a series-best 6.6 million viewers with Sunday night’s penultimate episode, “Granite State.” It achieved this feat against strong competition from the Emmy Awards, at which it claimed the Outstanding Drama Series trophy, NFL action, and the series finale of Dexter. Bad also set a new series-high among adults 18-to-49 with this 75-minute episode, drawing 4.3 million viewers in that demo.

Last weekend, “Ozymandias,” which is considered one of if not the show’s finest installment, drew 6.4 million viewers, which was the biggest audience that the show had ever attracted.

Bad‘s 75-minute series finale airs Sunday at 9 p.m., so this week’s record probably won’t be standing for long.