>
Whatever one’s
reservations about the entertainment value of AMC’s
THE WALKING DEAD, there’s no question that it’s a blockbuster. Even airing against the highest-rated
Grammy Awards in more than 20 years,
Walking Dead broke its own record for cable drama. In its initial 9PM airing, the show had 5.4 million 18-49 viewers, 12% higher than the record it set in October with its season premiere, and 8.1 million total viewers. (The show then reaired at 11PM, 12:30AM and 5AM and scored additional viewers.)
Some perspective: in 18-49s, this equals something like a 4 rating, which is higher than any show on broadcast television last night other than the Grammys–and by the way, is also higher than any show airing on NBC last week besides The Voice.
The news was less good for AMC’s premiere of the Kevin Smith reality show COMIC BOOK MEN, which held on to only about 25% of Walking Dead‘s 18-49 and total audience.
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About the Author
Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."
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