Man sets world record for TV binge-watching: "I would not do it again"
NEW YORK -- A Brooklyn man has broken the Guinness World Record for longest television binge watching marathon. After four days (94 hours) Alejandro "AJ" Fragoso won $2,000 and bragging rights.
The stunt was sponsored by software company CyberLink. Record keepers were on hand inside Fragoso's apartment to witness the event and a doctor was in place in case of a medical emergency.
"Around the second day, we started having minor hallucinations. We started seeing writing on the screen that wasn't there," said Fragoso.
He began Friday morning, April 8th and wrapped up Tuesday, April 12th around 6:00 a.m.
This is an intense challenge.
Even the slightest look away from the screen will get you disqualified. You're allowed a five-minute break every hour to eat, use the restroom or just close your eyes.
"When you're not in that designated rest time, you had to be staring at the TV," Fragoso said.
Fragoso started off with two friends -- but in the end, he was the last one standing.
One friend dropped out early on, but Fragoso said he felt guilty about the second friend, Molly Ennis, who was disqualified during one of Fragoso's five-minute breaks.
"She actually dropped because my phone alarm went off when I was taking a power nap and she just glanced away to push the phone toward me, trying to help me out," Fragoso said.
Fragoso said he started to get a little stir crazy.
"You forget there's an outside world. You're trapped in this tiny room," Fragoso said.
Ninty-four hours was enough to break the Guinness World Record. The previous record, 92 hours, was set in March by a group of Austrians.
"We chose a list of shows prior. We watched Battlestar Galactica, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones," said Fragoso. "On the final day, there were a few hours I forgot. The doctor said that's micro naps the body is forcing us to take."
When asked if he would try to break his own record, Fragoso admitted "I would not do it again. I would not recommend it -- but it's a really cool story."