Typing that post title makes me feel so happy. Anticipation was high before AMC debuted The Walking Dead on Halloween, and creatives Frank Darabont, Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Kirkman and special effects artist Greg Nicotero knew they had to perform well enough to at least appease the rabid Dead comics fanbase if they were to succeed in the TV format. They succeeded and then some. 5.3 million people tuned into the series premiere and AMC renewed the show after only two episodes had aired. It was by all means an instant success. The season finale managed to top the premiere numbers across the board and crowned Dead the most watched drama series in basic cable history in the coveted 18-49 demo. Over 6 million viewers tuned into the finale making it the most watched episode of the season–it gained viewers over the course of one month. Not many network freshman dramas can say they did that. More stats: 4 million viewers in the 18-49 demo watched the finale (boom, new record for cable!); and on top of the 6 million viewer total, an additional 2.1 million people watched the finale during its 11PM and 1AM encore airings.
The show looked great (Nicotero’s zombies were fantastic), the writing and acting were impeccable, and I can’t wait for season two to premiere. Though it hasn’t been confirmed, most speculate that it won’t return until Halloween 2011 so it can help promote AMC’s Fearfest week again.