Daniel Radcliffe, the beloved star of the “Harry Potter” series, has recently revealed a surprising fact about his television viewing habits. Despite his fame and extensive career in the entertainment industry, Radcliffe has never watched iconic TV dramas like “The Sopranos” or “Breaking Bad.” Instead, he prefers to unwind with cartoons and reality TV shows.
In a candid interview with Comic Book Resources, Radcliffe shared his thoughts on why he avoids the heavy, hour-long dramas that many consider essential viewing. “Honestly, I watch cartoons, and I watch reality TV,” Radcliffe admitted. “I’ve never seen ‘Breaking Bad.’ I’ve never watched ‘The Sopranos’ or ‘The Wire.’ All the sort of heavy, hour-long stuff — just, I can’t.”
Radcliffe’s preference for lighter fare seems to stem from his upbringing. He grew up watching “The Simpsons,” a show that has significantly influenced his sense of humor and general knowledge. “I was watching ‘Jeopardy!’ the other night, and one of the contestants credited a ton of his trivia knowledge to ‘The Simpsons.’ That’s absolutely true of me as well,” Radcliffe explained. “There are so many weird facts and things, from my general knowledge of the world to my sense of humor, [that] were formed in some way by ‘The Simpsons.'”
The actor also pointed out that certain animated shows, like “BoJack Horseman,” would lose their unique charm if they were presented in live-action. “I think a lot of ‘BoJack Horseman’ would be just too bleak and sad if it wasn’t a talking horse,” Radcliffe said. He used the example of Homer strangling Bart in “The Simpsons” to illustrate his point. “In a live-action [series], that’s just like a horrendous act of child abuse that there’s nothing funny about whatsoever, whereas it’s a running gag in ‘The Simpsons,’ and it’s funny because of what Bart’s neck does.”
Radcliffe believes that his generation, which grew up on shows like “The Simpsons,” naturally gravitates towards more adult-themed cartoons as they get older. This preference for animated content is evident in Radcliffe’s career choices as well. He has lent his voice to several animated series, including “Robot Chicken,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Rick and Morty,” and “Mulligan,” a Netflix animated series that recently released new episodes.
In addition to his work in animation, Radcliffe is also making waves in the theater world. He is currently starring in the Broadway revival of “Merrily We Roll Along,” a role that earned him his first Tony nomination for best-featured actor in a musical.
Radcliffe’s unique viewing preferences and career choices reflect his desire to keep his work interesting and enjoyable. In a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he expressed his wish to be known as an actor who makes intriguing choices. “When I finished ‘Potter’ and was trying to figure out what my career was after that, I always said that I wanted to be the kind of actor that keeps his roles interesting enough that when you’ve got something coming out, people go, ‘Oh, he’s in that, he always makes interesting choices,'” Radcliffe explained. “I’m very fortunate in that I’m mostly in a position now to pick jobs on the basis of what seems fun. It’s like, what seems like it’ll be a really fun thing to do?”
Radcliffe’s candidness about his television preferences offers a refreshing perspective on the entertainment industry. While many actors might feel pressured to keep up with critically acclaimed dramas, Radcliffe’s choice to stick with what he enjoys—cartoons and reality TV—highlights the importance of personal preference and enjoyment in media consumption. His career, marked by diverse and interesting roles, is a testament to his commitment to choosing projects that excite him, regardless of mainstream trends.
As Radcliffe continues to explore new opportunities in both animation and theater, his fans can look forward to seeing more of his unique and engaging performances. Whether he’s voicing a character in an animated series or taking the stage in a Broadway musical, Radcliffe’s passion for his work shines through, making him a standout figure in the entertainment world.
