Breaking Bad

Artificial sweetener companies appear to be in lockdown mode over the scene in the "Breaking Bad" finale -- where Walt tampers with a packet of Stevia and infuses it with the deadly Ricin.

It seems relevant to ask the companies for their opinions, given what happened in the '80s with Tylenol tampering. So we made the rounds for comment, and found the companies aren't even trying to be artificially sweet.

-- Sweet 'N Low. They were just plain rude. After a PR person said she hadn't watched the show, we explained what happened and asked if they had an opinion about the possibility of product tampering. The woman laughed and hung up on us ... twice. Yeah, we're a little persistent.

-- Stevia. They don't manufacture artificial sugar packets, but they do sell their product to companies that do. The rep initially told us there was a conference call scheduled later today where they would talk about how the episode might affect their stock. During the same call -- 5 minutes later -- the rep denied saying anything about a stock call and then hung up.

-- Equal and Splenda were unavailable for comment -- all day.

BTW -- Stevia went up 9.2%, from 15 cents a share, to 16.4 cents a share.

The people who ACTUALLY live inside Walter White's house on "Breaking Bad" tell TMZ ... no amount of meth money could ever convince them to sell.

Fran and Louie Padilla have been living in Walt's crib since 1973 ... and its quick rise to American landmark status has been a lot to handle (over 1k visitors just this month.)

The Padillas are not scared off or tempted by a financial windfall ... they say the memories from the years they spent raising a family at the White residence are without a price tag.

No one would recognize the inside anyway -- 'cause all inside scenes are shot on a sound stage ... and Fran says the interior decor on BB looks HIDEOUS!

Here's what shocked us -- multiple realtors tell us market value for the house is somewhere between $150 - $200k ... and its marquis value wouldn't up the ante.

The couple's backyard has also been frequently featured, but the Padillas tell us they don't actually grow any poisonous lily of the valley.

... so they say.

Lots happened this week ... Kanye West's beef with photogs intensified while Lamar Odom fell even deeper into a dark hole. So we gotta ask ...

Jesse Pinkman made a heartfelt pitch last night about Obamacare, and how his former friend in New Mexico could have benefited -- as could the people he slaughtered.

It's pretty hilarious ... Aaron Paul made a surprise appearance in the opening skit for the Fall premiere of "SNL." People went nuts.

Aaron's got to beat a hasty retreat. He needs to be in L.A. tonight for the big screening at Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood.

We're told Luis fired off a hail mary email to producers on Friday hoping the wardrobe might be laying around somewhere ... but only got the silent treatment.

Kinda fitting.

"Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson went on a trip to "Breaking Bad" mecca this week ... and lucky for him Walter White wasn't home during his tour.

JTF was in New Mexico for a Tie the Knot event ... and got all fanboy in his spare time tweeting pics in front of all the famous TV show spots.

Oddly enough -- Jesse sorta looks like a younger version of present day Walt. Who looks like he's about to wreak major havoc on Albuquerque tomorrow.

To celebrate the moment everyone has been freaking out over we've compiled some awesome 'Breaking Bad' stuff for you to tweak out on!

First up ... the meth cooking Winnebago where Walter and Jesse started their partnership. You've seen it all over the New Mexico desert -- now we've added the RV to some other iconic Hollywood desert scenes.

Although he isn't as cute as little Holly White -- this little guy turned out to be one bad character on the show... Can you guess which "Breaking Bad" cast member is the proud owner of this baby pic?

Thus far, the biggest criminals on the show haven't been busted (pre-finale), but check out some Albuquerque PD mug shots of the characters who have been behind bars.

And the big question before the finale is ... will Walter White survive? But let's just say he dies (we have no clue) -- here's a bunch of stars who could fill Heisenberg's fedora if there's ever a remake ... which should never happen.

Aaron Paul told us the biggest casualty of the "Breaking Bad" finale, could be -- no spoiler alert necessary -- his career!

Last night we asked Aaron -- who's won 2 Emmys for playing Jesse Pinkman -- if he was concerned about getting typecast ... or if he'd ever have another role as good as this one, and he said ... "My career is downhill from here. We all know it!"

Hard to tell if he's joking ... or if he's just grown comfortable with the possibility his career really is ruined.

Still, we gotta ask ...

FYI, Dreamworks just released the trailer for Aaron's new movie "Need for Speed."

The writer/director of "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" tells TMZ ... he harbors no grudges against "Breaking Bad" for trashing his movie, because he also thinks it's a piece of crap!

In case you didn't see Sunday's "Breaking Bad" ... STOP READING HERE.

In the episode, Walter White was taken into a secluded home in the woods, with no Internet or cable. The only entertainment was "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" -- and there were TWO copies.

Zach Helm, the writer/director of "Magorium" tells TMZ ... "Having myself endured the ignominy of watching the Technicolor train-wreck that is 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium' multiple times every day for over a year, I can attest to it being the perfect Kafka-esque Hell for a character of such moral ambiguity as Walter White."

Zach also said as good as "Breaking Bad" is ... the plot line of ANYONE having 2 DVDs of that movie is simply unbelievable. As he put it, "That is exactly two more copies than are allowed in my house."

Smart man.

"Breaking Bad" star RJ Mitte isn't the least bit embarrassed that he celebrated his 21st bday in Vegas with his mom ... telling TMZ, "WE PARTIED HARD!!!!"

We broke the story ... Mitte -- who plays Walter White Jr. on the AMC show -- raged in Vegas with a bunch of hot chicks for his bday last month ... with his mom by his side.

But outside Cecconi's in West Hollywood this weekend, Mitte told us his mother's not just a huge party animal -- she also makes a SOLID wingman.

No one looks out for you like mom.

Walter White might get snuffed out during the upcoming "Breaking Bad" finale ... or maybe he'll just get cuckolded -- this according to Aaron Paul.

Paul took to Instagram Friday teasing a "spoiler" for the show -- followed by a photo of the actor lying in bed with a topless Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn ... his BB co-stars who play Walt and Skylar White.

Unless Mr. White has suddenly become fine with people being inside his territory ... this picture is more than likely just a joke.

"Breaking Bad" star RJ Mitte turned 21 in true Vegas style -- partying with booze, scantily clad women ... and his mom (not at all scantily). So, why party with Mom?

Here's the best explanation from our newsroom -- and by best, we mean ... worst.

“Breaking Bad” star RJ Mitte rang in his 21st birthday by RAGING in Vegas -- with tons of hot chicks, tons of hard booze ... and his mother???

Mitte -- who plays Walter White Jr. on the AMC show -- hit up Ghostbar at the Palms Casino Resort this weekend ... where he partied hard with his BB co-star Daniel Moncada, “True Blood” actress Lindsey Haun and Amanda Fuller from “Last Man Standing."

... and his mom was there, too!

But parental supervision didn't keep Mitte from enjoying all that Vegas had to offer -- we're told the actor downed some Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey cocktails while cake fighting with some babes.

Hopefully RJ's night of boozing ended better than that time WW2 got drunk ...

WWE Superstars CM Punk and Kofi Kingston better tread lightly -- 'cause they invaded Walter White's turf ... and everyone knows Heisenberg doesn't like strangers in his territory.

The two wrestlers were in New Mexico for a live WWE event this weekend -- and during the trip, they found time to take an excursion to the real life house that's used as Walter's pad on "Breaking Bad."

As you can see ... the house is back to looking pristine ... and not in any danger of ... ugh, just watch last night's episode!

You'll get it.