Breaking Bad, the acclaimed TV drama about a meek high school chemistry teacher who morphed into a murderous meth kingpin, had a similarly transformative effect on tourism in the town where it was set - unassuming Albuquerque in New Mexico.
By the time the show concluded its fifth and final series in 2013, visitors were descending from all over the world to take in the carwash, a fastfood restaurant and, of course, the home of its protagonist, Walter White.
According to Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, however, some of those fans are taking the Walter White experience a little too far. Appearing on the Better Call Saul Insider Podcast, to discuss the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul (also filmed and set in Albuquerque), Gilligan pleaded with fans to respect the White residence's real occupants: an elderly couple who have lived there since it was built in the 1960s.
"Lately, we're hearing from the owner that folks are wandering on to her property, and are being rude to her when she comes out and basically says, 'You're on my property'," Gilligan said.
"They are throwing pizzas on roofs and stuff like that. Let me tell you, there is nothing original or funny or cool about throwing a pizza on this lady's roof. It is just not funny. It's been done before. You are not the first."
