Super Bowl XLIX was the most-watched telecast in history

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Just when it seems like the Super Bowl can't get bigger or more inescapable, the NFL manages to top itself. The six most recent Super Bowls are also the six most-watched sports events in TV history, and Super Bowl XLIX just claimed the spot at the very top.

A staggering 114.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in a nail-biting 28-24 finish. Based on the reaction, some viewers would have been happier if they hadn't tuned in at all.

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Scott Meslow
Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.