Kevin McFarland
Culture

7 TV Shows With Fewer Viewers Than BuzzFeed's Exploding Watermelon Video

Two staffers using rubber bands to blow up a watermelon got more than 800,000 viewers on Facebook Live–more eyeballs than these beloved shows.

  • This Is the New Must-Watch TV

    Today two BuzzFeed staffers performed an experiment where they used nearly 700 rubber bands to blow up a watermelon. They broadcast the whole thing in real time using Facebook Live. It was utterly mesmerizing—so mesmerizing that the livestream peaked at 808,000 viewers. Whether it was the streaming Internet version of watching a llama chase on television or a grand metaphor for BuzzFeed’s business strategy, it attracted an unbelievable audience that couldn’t look away. It garnered the kind of attention television network execs would probably kill for. Don't believe us? Then please do consider the fact that the *Watermelon Rubber Band Explosion Show *(working title) got more viewers than these TV shows.

    Image may contain Human Person Plant Chef Clothing and Apparel
TopicsBuzzFeedConan
Read More
A Guided Tour of Donald Trump’s Renovated Washington, DC
Trump has remade the nation’s capitol in his own image. Ahead of the Fourth of July, WIRED guides you through the dizzying effects of DC’s makeover.
Hugo Lowell
The Onion’s Infowars Parody Is Here. Alex Jones Is Going to Hate It
The satirical site is fighting to officially take over Infowars. In the meantime, CEO Ben Collins says the new show will mock “how fucking stupid” conspiratorial brain rot has become.
Miles Klee
Paramount Refused to Air an Ad Criticizing Its Merger With Warner Bros.
The commercial was submitted by the Freedom of the Press Foundation to run during Donald Trump’s UFC event. It criticized the $111 billion merger as a threat to the First Amendment.
Miles Klee
Tim Heidecker Wants to Turn Infowars Into Adult Swim for the Internet
Infowars’ would-be creative director talks Sandy Hook, comedy’s MAGA turn, and why the future of satire may look more like a streaming startup than a late-night show.
Katie Drummond
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Even the Internet’s Favorite Pool Guy Doesn’t Know How to Fix the Reflecting Pool
Algae blooms, peeling paint, and a host of fixes from hydrogen peroxide to nanobubblers have made it hard to diagnose what’s wrong with the Reflecting Pool—let alone how to clean up the mess.
Molly Taft
Interactive. Violent. Gross. Inside Fishtank, the Unhinged Future of Reality TV
It’s like Big Brother without any limits, or broadcast standards. WIRED goes on location—and on camera—with the cult hit.
Owen Long
The Best Drip Coffee Makers Now Rival Café Pour-Over
The old-fashioned drip coffee maker has come a long way. These impressive machines can turn your barista into a stranger.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online in 2026
WIRED has tested 100-plus bed-in-a-box mattresses for a week each. Our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid, is the best bed you can buy online.
Julia Forbes