'The Walking Dead' Season 2 Midseason Premiere Shatters Cable Ratings Records

AMC's "The Walking Dead" broke cable records with its midseason premiere. "The Walking Dead" returned on Sun., Feb. 12 to more than 8 million viewers, breaking the record it previously set with the Season 2 premiere, which was was watched by 7.3 million viewers in October 2011.

The show brought in a total of 8.1 million viewers, 5.4 million the 18-49 demographic. Combining viewership from the 9 p.m. EST premiere, 11 p.m. EST and 12:30 a.m. EST airings, the episode was watched by 10.1 million viewers. The season premiere of Kevin Smith's comic book reality show, "Comic Book Men," which aired immediately after the zombie drama, was watched by 2 million viewers.

"It is a great night for AMC. We're thrilled to see this incredible record breaking response to 'The Walking Dead,' and 'Comic Book Men' is off to a strong start as well. Congratulations to the teams behind both of these shows," Charlie Collier, president of AMC, said in a statement.

"The Walking Dead" was up against stiff competition. The show's midseason return aired at the same time as the Grammys, which brought in 39 million viewers and ranked as the second most-watched Grammy Awards telecast in history.

Want more "The Walking Dead"? HuffPost TV's Maureen Ryan reviewed it here.

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Comments

[Karl Scott Marking]

10:07 AM on 02/21/2012

I have to say - I'm over the farm. Did they blow the budget on Season 1 and now we're left with contrived situations to force dramatic interpretations of the post-apocalyptic human dynamic? Get off the farm already... Everyone I know who watches the show is losing interest...I'd hate to see this gem of a show lose its way. Hoping a Season 3 happens and returns to the spark of Season 1. But I no longer find myself geared up to see it on Sundays...now I'm DVR-ing and maybe getting around to it by Wed or Thursday.

[DrugSniffingCat]

05:13 PM on 02/19/2012

AMC needs Frank Darabont back in some capacity. Although, I can only see the show getting better after "Nebraska" until the end of the second season.

[Hotspot]

10:53 PM on 02/17/2012

http://www.thertv.eu/

WalkingDead, Current, etc. etc.

[srgwriter]

03:41 PM on 02/16/2012

Love the show. Love the plot. Love that it is not all about the zombies. They are part of the setting, but life goes on. They are semi-safe from zombies right now, but there are other issues. Characters are well developed with surprises now and then. Love Rick Grimes quick draw put down of 2 sleazeballs. Looked like justified's Raylan Givens for a moment there.

[o3mta3o]

11:39 AM on 02/14/2012

At this point i'm only watching because i still remember that the first season was just SO GOOD. this season lacks everything that the first season had, a cool detachment from the characters, intensity and ZOMBIES. I don't care about these people's problems. They were better when they were zombie fodder and the only reason anyone else should join the group is because someone else is gonna get eaten. seriously. unless this season actually pulls out more than 2 zombies an episode i won't be back for season 3.

[Monk2001]

03:36 PM on 02/14/2012

Totally. There are shows like the one you describe above on SciFi. Seems to be more akin to the type of dialogue and character development you like. Plus you get tons of zombies, sharktapus', prehistoric crocodiles, cyborgs etc. You know... monsters for the sake of monsters w/no worthwhile story behind it.

BTW 10.1 million viewers means you won't be missed. This tired assessment of the show by simpletons is beyond redundant and unoriginal at this point.

[o3mta3o]

04:34 PM on 02/14/2012

First off, your argument sounds like: i should like it cause everyone likes it. also, whatever your opinion, the changes from season 1 to season 2 are drastic. also, you seem personally offended by my criticism. relax. it's just a show.

[sweetpea4700]

09:25 PM on 02/13/2012

THIS SHOW IS AWSOME THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE GREAT. GIVE SOME MORE. PLEASE.AMC I LOVE THIS SHOW. THANKS MORE ZOMBIES KILLING PLEASE.

[Buellers Ferris]

08:39 PM on 02/13/2012

With such great ratings, I'd like to think TWD will see an increased budget, but I'm not holding my breath.

[MentalLapse]

07:30 PM on 02/13/2012

Mad Men would only wish to get numbers like these so they certainly don't deserve a bigger budget than this show.

[Marv Evre]

12:10 AM on 02/14/2012

No one asked you, Timmy.

[Monk2001]

03:42 PM on 02/14/2012

He's 100% correct. Not that I hate MM but it doesn't deserve a bigger budget. It pulls in 1/5 the ratings and that's being generous. I don't think it does 2 million weekly. TWD does 7 million weekly, by the archaic Nielson ratings system. I'd bet world wide and DVR numbers would push it into at least 12 million unique viewers weekly.

TWD will have the biggest budget on AMC for season 3. Which is going to be 16 episodes the most AMC has ever green lit or agreed to for anyone of it's series.

Mad Men is a good show. Please don't think I'm knocking it.

[Adonijah]

07:13 PM on 02/13/2012

Too much gore for me. I can't hang with it...lol.

[Philozopher01]

05:51 PM on 02/13/2012

I really wanted to like this show and tried yet again to watch it last night but when the girl ran up to the dead body and flipped it over and was attacked by it (big surprise!) I had to change the channel.

[Adonijah]

07:13 PM on 02/13/2012

lol!

I tried to watch it. I just can't stomach all the gore, etc.

[Monk2001]

03:47 PM on 02/14/2012

::faceplam::

[Philozopher01]

06:22 PM on 02/14/2012

Yup, that's exactly what I did when that scene happened.

[Kiana Sullivan-Harper]

04:55 PM on 02/13/2012

I love the walking dead, but is it just me or so they talk waaaaaay to much.
the show needs to pick up the momentum..

[Marv Evre]

12:11 AM on 02/14/2012

The Talking Dead!

[o3mta3o]

11:40 AM on 02/14/2012

omg! someone else who noticed. i really don't care about their problems, unless the problem is imminently becoming a zombie snack.

[Monk2001]

03:47 PM on 02/14/2012

That's why SciFi is a better channel for simpletons who don't like good stories.