[DarthJoe8]

AMC announced today the renewal of The Walking Dead for a third season. Season 2 continues to deliver the strongest telecasts for any drama in basic cable history against Adults 18-49 shattering a basic cable record set nearly 10 years ago for a single drama telecast (The Dead Zone). The Walking Dead is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Glen Mazzara serves as series' showrunner. Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Frank Darabont are executive producers. Greg Nicotero is a co-executive producer.

"Today we are pleased to announce that the 'dead' shall live as we proudly renew The Walking Dead for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels," said Charlie Collier, AMC's President. "We are thankful for everyone's contribution in front of and behind the camera as we continue to make The Walking Dead a unique television experience. And, we are so proud as it continues to set viewership records around the world."

http://blogs.amctv.c...alking-dead.php

[Mr. Grey]

HOORAY!!!!!

[kanUsurvive]

Good stuff. I was waiting to hear about a third season. With the cable tv records being smashed. I guess it was obvious that they would renew.

[Trioxin Martini]

My thoughts immediately go towards wondering exactly how and when the show ends.

Super pumped for a third season, love this show.

[DarthJoe8]

I think this season brings us to the prison and the next season brings us the governor. (maybe they'll prelude the governor this season.)

[Trioxin Martini]

Haven't read the comics, trying to not be spoiled!

[ZedHunter]

Third season? We just started the second one!

[vhs]

Glad to hear there is a S3 signed!

[DarthJoe8]

ZedHunter, on 30 October 2011 - 01:29 PM, said:

Third season? We just started the second one!

Crazy huh?

[MrShape666]

Great news! I can once more get my weekly zombie apocalypse fix.

[Leeboy]

I am a big fan and I have high hopes that we will see them reach the prison in Season 3 as well.

[Basikboy]

Awesome news but I just don't see how long the series will last because of all the paying out they have to do. It has to be expensive to keep all those "Behind the Scenes" people on board don't ya think?

[DarthJoe8]

Not sure what you mean...

[Basikboy]

AMC has already cutdown their budget for this show and I have heard it may happen again.

[DarthJoe8]

Basikboy, on 04 January 2012 - 09:46 AM, said:

AMC has already cutdown their budget for this show and I have heard it may happen again.

Any links?

[Gabriel Zero]

Yeah. I agree with Darth Joe.

All I keep hearing about is how great Walking Dead is doing. Besides the one link about the dude in charge leaving after season 2, I haven't heard anything else that sounds remotely negative.

[Assassin42]

Looking forward to season 3 and hopefully a few more after that one.

[paultagonist]

DarthJoe8, on 04 January 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

Basikboy, on 04 January 2012 - 09:46 AM, said:

AMC has already cutdown their budget for this show and I have heard it may happen again.

Any links?

It's the reason Frank Darabont got fired, it's been known for a while now I guess. AMC wanted the same kind of gripping story and special effects but with less money AND TWICE AS MANY EPISODES. I'll never understand that: if you have a hit show, you should put MORE money into it, not less, right? It's the thing that made you more profit than usual. All so some fat cat CEOs can put more wealth in their pockets?

Here's the first link I found, by googling "budget cuts walking dead":
http://screenrant.co...amc-aco-127783/

Here's some highlights:

Even though The Walking Dead proved to be a hit – and it is the only series that AMC owns completely – the network had already announced to the producers that they would not only be cutting the budget of the series from $3.4 million to $2.7 million, but that they would also want 13 episodes produced instead of 6 episodes that made up its first season. To make matters worse, AMC also told the producers that the 30% tax credit that the series receives from filming in Georgia would go directly to the network, and not make up for some of the money that was taken out of the production budget.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened – and Darabont wasn’t too happy about it. Known as a man who fights for what he believes in, a confrontation between AMC and The Walking Dead producers occurred. With the head of original programming for AMC, Joel Stillerman, sticking to the cut budget, the network than began to overstep their bounds and attempt to tell Darabont how to produce the series.

Even with record ratings on their side, Darabont would repeatedly enter meetings with Stillerman where he would simply say, “Ratings have no bearing on this conversation.” With rumors persisting that he has poor relationships with most of AMC’s series creators, insiders have begun to say that “Joel [Stillerman] thinks he is responsible for the success of shows on AMC, and not the creators.”

Instead of long, sprawling outdoor scenes, the network wanted the second season of The Walking Dead to occur 50% outdoors and 50% indoors (indoors being cheaper to film). Another note asked whether or not the audience had to always see the zombies – couldn’t they simply hear them sometimes.

They then fired Darabont AFTER he appeared at Comic-Con, knowing full well they were going to fire him BEFORE he went to Comic-Con. They wanted his famous face to be there representing TWD at Comic-Con even though they knew he wasn't going to be a part of Season 2.

It's like the movie The TV Set, which has been said to be pretty damn close to the truth, when trying to get your TV show on the air. It's why no-brain fodder like Two and a Half Men stay on the air for a zillion seasons but subtle, creative shows like Freaks and Geeks end after one season.



Fucking TV executives. Goes to show just how hard it can be to keep an honest vision of your project.

[johnny1shot]

i hope this season is better than the last! i'm a huge walking dead fan, but there wasnt enough zombie action! the season finale was a banger though....it finally got to the juicy breaking point.

also.... Why is shane still around!??! ugh

[paultagonist]

johnny1shot, on 10 January 2012 - 04:18 PM, said:

i hope this season is better than the last!

Well, this season isn't quite over yet. It picks up again in February. The season is separated into two parts.