Undead Walking
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AMC execs show long term support for The Walking Dead

By Sarabeth Pollock

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 17: (L-R) Moderator Greg Braxton, executive producers Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, and Greg Nicotero and actors Andrew Lincoln, Melissa McBride, Sonequa Martin-Green, Tom Payne, Lauren Cohan and Josh McDermitt appear on stage at The Paley Center for Media's 34th Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles opening night presentation of 'The Walking Dead' at Dolby Theatre on March 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 17: (L-R) Moderator Greg Braxton, executive producers Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, and Greg Nicotero and actors Andrew Lincoln, Melissa McBride, Sonequa Martin-Green, Tom Payne, Lauren Cohan and Josh McDermitt appear on stage at The Paley Center for Media's 34th Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles opening night presentation of 'The Walking Dead' at Dolby Theatre on March 17, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) /
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The Walking Dead is going to be around for a while. AMC isn’t concerned about ratings for The Walking Dead, but it sure seems like everyone else is.

Even with “sinking” ratings, The Walking Dead is a stronger performer than the vast majority of the shows it competes with. It was the highest rated show of 2016 even with the “sliding” ratings, so why are naysayers so concerned?

We live in an age where some shows (like The Simpsons on Fox) can go on for over two decades while other shows are yanked after the premiere of their pilot episodes, with networks citing poor viewership. Critics are quick to use words like “tanking,” “sliding,” “slipping,” and even “sinking” ratings even when those words are used to describe the top show on television. It’s more of a knee-jerk reaction to garner more reactions instead of responsible journalism.

The Walking Dead came in with an 8.8 rating while the second place show, Big Bang Theory, was at a 5.5. If that’s slipping, then please, give me more slipping shows like The Walking Dead.

These days it’s hard to become attached to new shows for fear of having them cancelled after a few episodes. When you have shows like The Walking Dead that are capable of longevity you embrace them. That’s what the TWD Family has done. We’re here for the long haul.

When it comes to reports of “sinking” ratings, it’s quite possible that the numbers reflect people who tuned in to see what the big deal was with that guy named Negan, and then they never came back. When shows are buzzworthy people tune in to see what it’s about. Then they stop watching after the big watercooler moment is over, and the numbers reflect that.

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It’s nice to see that AMC supports The Walking Dead and is willing to squash talk about sinking ratings with a commitment to the show’s long term future.

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