Ten years ago today, the first episode of the acclaimed AMC drama “Breaking Bad” aired.
Although “Breaking Bad” — now considered one of the best dramas in television history — concluded its run more than four years ago, “Breaking Bad” fans continue to flock to Albuquerque to see its shooting sites, including a few on Route 66.
The story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher who morphs into a drug kingpin, young cohort Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and a slew of other characters proved compelling enough to win a bunch of Emmy Awards and a growing audience.
But the settings in Albuquerque and other places in New Mexico also became a vital character in “Breaking Bad,” thanks to creator Vince Gilligan and the skills of its cinematographers.
Esquire magazine this week published an excellent story about how “Breaking Bad” became a cultural phenomenon. But an even better story this week in Vanity Fair describes the program’s lasting impact on Albuquerque. A few highlights:
— Doughnuts and other treats colored sky-blue (inspired by White’s similarly colored methamphetamine) continue to be hot sellers. Ditto for the “Breaking Bad” T-shirts and other souvenirs.
— “Breaking Bad” tours of shooting sites in Albuquerque and the surrounding area continue to sell out months in advance. Route 66 sites include the Dog House Drive-In restaurant, Loyola’s Family Restaurant, Gertrude Zachary Jewelry, De Anza Motor Lodge, Twisters and Crossroads Motel. More may be found at this Google Map.
— Twisters, which doubled as drug kingpin Gus Fring’s Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant, today will transform itself back into its “Breaking Bad” namesake.
— As the show was airing, a higher proportion of tourists traveled to New Mexico, and more of them cited “cultural activity” as a reason. The average age of such travelers also dropped during “Breaking Bad’s” last season, reflecting its fan base.
— The influx of visitors wasn’t good news for everyone. The owner of the house that doubled as White’s residence erected a 6-foot fence to keep away the program’s fans (a few of them replicated a scene in which White, in a fit of rage, tosses a pizza on the home’s roof).
And the visitors probably will keep coming. A prequel, “Better Call Saul,” about White’s lawyer (portrayed by Bob Odenkirk), will begin its fourth season this fall. The much-praised drama also is set in Albuquerque and other parts of New Mexico.
(Image of a Walter White key fob by Aasif Iqbal J via Flickr)
I’ve never watched “Breaking Bad”, but I’ve loved Albuquerque ever since I first visited it in 1970.