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Behind-the-scenes turmoil did little to slow down The Walking Dead ratings behemoth, which opened its second season at 9 PM last night to staggering numbers:
4.8 million viewers in Adults 18-49
4.2 million viewers in Adults 25-54
7.3 million total viewers for premiere
11 million total viewers for the night
The 18-49 and 25-54 tallies broke basic cable’s previous records posted by the premiere of USA Network’s The Dead Zone in June 2002 (4.0 million in 18-49, 4.1 million in 25-54). Compared with Walking Dead‘s highly rated series premiere last year (5.2 million total viewers, 3.5 million in 18-49), the Season 2 opener was up a whopping 38% in total viewers, 36% in 18-49 and 35% in 25-54. With the 9 PM airing and the 10:30 PM and 12:30 AM encores, the Walking Dead premiere drew a total of 11 million viewers. “The Walking Dead is one of those rare television programs that reaches both a core genre fan as well as broad audiences simply looking for a great, character-based story,” said AMC president Charlie Collier. “That The Walking Dead is now the most-watched drama in the history of basic cable is staggering, just like our zombies.” UPDATE: AMC’s talk show Talking Dead got off to a solid start at midnight, following the first rerun of the Walking Dead premiere. It averaged 1.2 million total viewers, 795,000 adults 18-49 and 735,000 adults 25-54.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Maybe Collier will stop cutting the budget NOW?
God I hope so. I’ve started to read the comics after I saw season 1, and if it follows the comics at all, this show will only keep on getting better.
I believe it will keep those numbers, last year the show averaged 5.5 million throughout season 1
let’s see if the show has the chops to hold on to those numbers.
Why would he, slashing it clearly didn’t hurt their numbers…
It deserves it. “Walking Dead” is not the same old crap you see on TV these days. It’s not another wortless reality show or bland crime drama, or MD show with sarcastic cliche charachters.
It’s a charachter driven horror drama. Nothing else like it on TV at the moment.
Season premier last night was the best episode since the pilot. Good for AMC.
How about some less fanboyism ? The Walking Dead is clearly AMC’s weakest series.
The S2 premiere was dull and boring, had ridiculous acting and so many “who the hell would do that” writing moments.
If we’re talking about a ratio quality/rating then NO The Walking Dead does not deserve its ratings.
Character driven horror drama ? Sure as long as it’s better acted, written and directed.
Translation: AMC Renews The Walking Dead For A Third Season
I MUST AGREE WITH PAT MUNN. THE WALKING DEAD DESERVE A THIRD SEASON. IT GOT EVERYTHING GOING FOR IT. IT IS RARE TO SEE A SHOW THAT GOT BOTH THE RIGHT MIXER OF ACTING,WRITING AND DIRECTED. GOOD LUCK TO THE FUTURE. YOUR TRULY CHARLES DAVID HASKELL
Stop writing with caps lock, you moron.
I should hope so.
The season premier was really good. I wonder why they are airing Talking Dead after the encore episode instead of right after the original airing. It would probably bring in more viewers during the earlier slot, no?
I imagine that the ratings for the next episodes will net around 5-6 million. This is the kind of show that I don’t see having a big drop off after each episode.
The premiere was almost unbearably tense as the “herd” was marching by.
Just awesome. I am so glad that the writers, directors, producers, and AMC allow the show to take the pace it does. It allows for scenes like that to truly build tension.
But then got unbearably boring for the remaining 45 minutes.
It’s a small thing but it was ridiculous on screen, how many massive over the head slashes and stabs does it take to open the stomach of a man (zombie). I’ve gut large game like Elk and Whitetail, it’s a delicate and surgical procedure, what the hell was with all the hacking?!?! Stupid.
The redneck was having fun.
anyone know how talking dead did ratings wise?
you’re an idiot.
WOW, huge numbers! I loved the premiere, long live the zombies
Thank you AMC for The Walking Dead. the best show on tv. Andrew Lincoln is so AWESOME !
Well deserved. It was a great episode!
Great characters, great suspense, great writing. This and “Dexter” make TV watching fun again.
Glad that some people liked it. I tuned in hoping it had shed the problems that plagued the second half of the first season. Nope. Un-Tivo’ed.
Thank you! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills… the way people are gushing about its great character development. Have I been watching a different show? Don’t get me wrong, great premise, very suspenseful with the herd coming by, captivating pilot last year, and I really do want to like it BUT the writing is atrocious. Not one but TWO back to back confessional scenes in front of Jesus on a crucifix (which might I add would most likely not be in a southern baptist church, more like a catholic one), where 2 characters downloaded info and talked for what seemed to be too long, and characters that are so flat and undeveloped I can hardly care for them, even the stuff with the kids. The lead and the guy with the bow and arrow are the only ones I feel are remotely likable– PLEASE give the female characters something to do besides whine… I want this show to do well, but I really do hope the writing improves.
I have to agree, two confessional scenes were one too many.
Plus, the cliched, “Lord, you know I’m not a prayin’ man” bit – heard his whole spiel before
Otherwise I really enjoyed it
Dude, it’s the SEVENTH episode of the ENTIRE series. Give it a chance to develop. Geez.
I think the fact I’m still watching it indicates I’m “giving it a chance to develop”, but really, it shouldn’t take more than 7 episodes to care about the characters. There are shows that manage to make you care from the very beginning because good writing has the ability to do that. This isn’t charity. They need to step it up.
I’m sure the world will revolve with you.
~
Coat
Congrats to everyone involved including the new showrunner, Glen Mazzara and the new writing staff! You are off to a tremendous start!
Thank you, Glen Mazarra.
I’m surprised and not surprised. I missed the first broadcast, no DVR, patiently, almost forgot, waited for the second broadcast.
The scene with the herd and the survivors under the cars was some tense viewing.
I hope this show keeps it up. Helps me wait until Mad Men arrives in March.
terrible writing, didn’t they fire the writing staff for season 1, who’d they hire back, monkeys. from last nights episode it’s just gone from bad to worse, it’s getting views because of the zombie gore, not because it’s a good show. none of the characters have any real human logic or reasoning. which one am i supposed to like again?
I believe the episodes from the new writing staff don’t kick in until episode 3 or so…give it some time…
how do you know what people consider good? You cannot possibly know why people tune into it. Stop acting like your the critic of the century.
It’s a good show but come on! It’s far from “great.” Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, In Treatment, those are great shows. Of course none of THOSE shows will ever achieve the ratings that Walking Dead has. They focus more on substance than entertainment. Not saying Walking Dead doesn’t have substance, but let’s be honest, it’s a show about shooting zombies in the head and then moving on to find more ammo/fuel.
Breaking Bad does rule, finding Boardwalk Empire to be a bit like Deadwood or Sopranos (focusing on one man who is juggling a criminal enterprise and family).
Having read the comics (and not going into spoiler) TWD has a lot more than shooting zombies and moving on to find ammo/fuel. Some really smart plots should be coming up.
You obviously don’t watch the show and shouldn’t be commenting.
Unfortunately for you, I do watch the show. So my generalization of the show thus far has bearing. You shouldn’t make ignorant assumptions just because someone has a drastically different opinion than yours.
Well, yes and no.
I see your point and the gore IS a hook for a large number of readers and viewers. But what keeps the comic interesting to me is the juxtaposition of what the title refers.. Is it about Zombies (the obvious walking dead inference) OR is it more about the monstrous acts committed by the survivors. A more subtle interpretation of the title in that THEY (survivors) are already dead and just don’t know it.
You don’t like it, fine no one is forcing you.
There are some deviations between the book and the show. Different characters, events that keep it fresh. If it was a literal adaptation. I might lose interest in the show because I already know how its going down. Major story deviations to date are the CDC adventure, Shane lives, old folks home, Merle, Daryl lots going on.
In the teaser it seems we are going down 3 parallel story lines… The farm, the prison and Woodbridge. Great in the comics, we’ll see how they play out the show. I’m looking forward to it.
Stick around and see how it plays out.
I did the same thing. I wanted more and took ALL of them out of the library. And it never got old. It’s amazing. Great tension, and very few cheery spots. I think the writers follow the logic of the situation very realistically. And you’re right, it will be great if they follow the graphic novels. AWESOME show. Would that I should be come such a talented storyteller.
Ok guys, I scanned the channels last night to observe, the line up across was ” The good wife “, ” Desperate housewives “, reality tv ” X factor “……in one night two shows about wives, and another singing reality show……no wonder people all ran and watched the zombies…..I know the world is in turmoil right now, and there’s a lot of negativity around you, but you have to some how not let it get the best of you and stay positive to create more positive ideas for entertainment…..different, unique, interesting ideas that haven’t been tried before…..and please stay on the positive note, zombies are good for the spirit of Halloween, but all year long can have a negative impact on people’s psyche and emotional well being over all as a society! Think positive, originality, uniqueness, distinctive……find your ” true artistic expression ” and express them! Put your heart, imagination, entire self into creating new ideas! Let the world see who you are….that’s what great art is! Look at Van Goh’s work, you can feel what he felt in his art!
When you were scanning the channels last night how did you miss Boardwalk Empire, Dexter and How to Make it in America?
This is fast becoming a classic. Let’s hope the rest of the season holds up.
First 30 minutes of TWD were intense and nail biting suspenseful; middle 30 was a little slow but SPOILER ALERT what TV show would dare to leave one kid lost in the woods with Zombies overnight (she’s no Jake Sully from Avatar) and then SHOOT a human boy in the chest! Yowzah!
Glad to see Talking Dead did well too!
I series record it and play it while I’m reading the paper, needing background noise, etc. I watched it last year for the Darabont pedigree, but found it boring and cliched.
Darabont’s gone, and it’s still boring and cliched.
Zombies have been done to death, and this series is no exception.
The only show worth watching on AMC right now is Breaking Bad.
Hell on Wheels might surprise, but who knows?
Oh you are cool. You save it to play in the background for noise? Pathetic. And the show is fine without Darabont. You sound like an old man saying he know’s all the answers to the worlds problems.
Second-
“anyone know how talking dead did ratings wise?
Comment by motar — Monday October 17, 2011 @ 12:24pm PDT REPLY TO THIS POST “