Really? A Mom joke this early in the morning? Boo, dude. And it’s not even accurate, because your mom has probably been with more than 11 million people, which is how many viewers tuned into Sunday night’s mid-season finale, a whopping 60 percent uptick over last year’s mid-season finale. Remember last season’s mid-season finale? Six episodes of forrest-walking garbage time culminating in the discovery Sophia, who was already dead? Man, that was lame. If Frank Darabout were still running the show, they’d still be on the farm, and this season’s mid-season finale would’ve heavily featured scenes of Hershel fishing with Shane. Ugh. All Hail Glen Mazzara!
To put the 11 million viewers into perspective, that’s the highest-rated cable drama telecast OF ALL TIME, and among ALL shows last week, it was behind only the NFL Sunday night game in the 18-49 demo. The show fared so well that “The Talking Dead” also clocked in with 2.2 million viewers, which is only slightly less than the number of viewers this summer’s Breaking Bad finale had. (I have never watched an episode of “The Talking Dead.” Do you folks recommend it?)
Because I’m all about value added information in these posts, I tried to put The Walking Dead’s ratings into historical perspective by listing the 25 highest rated cable broadcasts of all time (minus football), but that information eluded me. However, I did discover that there was one show, back in 2009, that — while not scripted — managed to draw more viewers than The Walking Dead. You’re going to hate yourself for knowing this but, it was …
Jon & Kate Plus 8, which received around 11.3 million viewers. I believe that was the year that the two were divorcing. Whatever happened to those cats, anyway? I bet Jon is hanging out with Kevin Federline somewhere and planning a hip-hop career. Someone should give him a walk-on role on The Walking Dead next season as “Man Who Gets Shot in the Face.” Aw, man.
(Source: WaPo)
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I never bothered with the Talking Dead. If I watched a discussion on t.v. then joined a discussion on WG, I would feel pretty sad about myself.
The Talking Dead is great. Chris Hardwick is clearly a genuine fan and often they have guests such as TWD cast members, Greg Nicotero, Glen Mazzara himself, or just celebrity fans. They also have a lot of neat behind the scenes and special effects features and facts. It’s entertaining and informative.
Oh, and Robert Kirkman pops in from time to time as well.
Okay, and now an opinion from someone not paid to peddle it: Talking Dead sucks.
Yes, I was paid the grand sum of zero dollars to endorse a show that I actually enjoy. You really got me there.
It read just like a typical PR hot dump. I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.
Shrug. Looking at the numbers Dustin listed above, I don’t think they need the help.
Chris Hardwick fucking sucks and you’re clearly an AMC intern or something.
I agree with Kalbuck and dissident. Chris Hardwick is an annoying wiener.
I like the Talking Dead. I fast forward through the fan stuff like the hashtags, but the behind the scenes stuff is interesting and I like the Q&As with people involved in the show. I have no strong feelings toward Chris Hardwick either way, though if he writes the questions he asks I’d have to say he at least seems to understand the show pretty well.
I also feel like a dick because sometimes I decide within 5 minutes that one of the random guests is stupid and I spend the entire time judging them for being an idiot.
And I can’t fault the people who hate Chris Hardwick for being overly enthusiastic because people love Jimmy Fallon’s gushing and excitement over everything and I mostly want to punch him in the face whenever I watch him.
The Talking Dead is rubbish. An hyperactive fan boy gushing about the show and pointless uninteresting facts and clips from the episode you just watched. Sometimes the guest actors or producers say something interesting, but nothing you can’t find on teh interweb the next morning. The aforementioned behind the scenes are few and far between from the 2-3 episodes I’ve seen (and also I’m not super interested about how special FX works).
Your passion about something you’re not passionate about is impressive.
Critical, your sentence gave me a bloody nose.
I love how we have to see Hardwick’s stupid smirk and hear a quick tension annihilating joke from him, telling us exactly what we just saw. I think this week’s was right after the scene with the Governor and Penny, a somewhat disturbing and tense image, followed by his smug face and “Yo, looks like the Governor has Penny still alive” bullshit. I mean commercials already break up the tension pretty well but he just destroys it and makes it a joke. I hated him on Web Soup as well. He’s not good at funny.
Depends on the guests. Usually it’s great, but I even Sarah Silverman couldn’t save the episode that had Joel Madden on it.
Easily the worst episode of the series. Both guests were incredibly lame.
I dunno I thought it was hilarious when she said Carl was going to be the first gay president.
“More People Watched The Walking Dead Mid-Season Finale Than Have Been With Your Mom”
Now now now…let’s wait for the final numbers to be tallied on both sides.
I always plan on watching the talking dead, but then i forget it’s coming on right after the show and end up watching football instead only to be reminded about talking dead the next morning when it’s mentioned in these posts. Must not be that great then. I think the high ratings are due to watch parties where when the show ends people are so caught up in talking about the episode to turn the tv off.
Who is the ultimate zombie killer: Michonne or Daryl? (or Richard Harrow?)
The Talking Dead is okay. I prefer the Walkling Dead “Cast” where instead of actually doing work I listen to another hour and a half break down of the show.
I might watch the Talking Dead if it aired directly after the show, but they always play the same episode right after the show and by the time it airs I’ve lost interest.
In February, Talking Dead will be on right after Walking Dead AND it’ll be an hour long.
I watch it the next day on DVR…glad to hear it’s being moved up.
It’s good to see that we’ve moved on from arguing about how good/bad The Walking Dead is to arguing over how good/bad Talking Dead is.
I happen to like it: good guests, I like the behind-the-scenes stuff, and I enjoy Chris Hardwick’s work overall. I’m glad it’s going to be an hour-long show next year. It always feels rushed at 22 minutes.
You mean like how they cut short actual discussion of the episode to bring you the Subway® Fresh Buzz? Cut to commercial breaks every 2 minutes? Show the lame poll every break until the boring reveal at the end? Or the action-packed 15 second clip of the next episode that shows and reveals absolutely nothing?
I like the Fresh Buzz. I am also a fan of Pop-up Video, FWIW. I could do without the poll. As I said, all of these elements won’t feel rushed when they have 44 minutes for the whole show. And I watch the show the next day and FF through the ads.
My biggest complaint with Talking Dead (other than the occasional crap guest) was that at 30 minutes, they tried to jam too much into it.
Hopefully with the longer timeslot there’s more discussion and less polls/gimmicks/junk…when there’s a good guest (Kirkman, T-Dog, etc) it’s a really interesting watch.
the guests are the worst part for me, besides the spazzy dork host. i really don’t give a shit what wrestlers and washed up 90′s pop-punk singers think about the show. if they consistently had people like Damon Lindelof and producers/actors that actually work on the show or are at least intelligent and have a noteworthy position in the business then that’s one thing
Since when is Kid Cutty on Walking Dead? Do I need to tune back in to this show?
Haven’t watched the Talking Dead, mostly because of a feeling that they would get all spoilery about the comic book in relation to the movie and give away something. But the guests look decent. And I generally like Chris Hardwick.
Talking Dead kinda sucks but the show itself is so good I will force myself to overlook the obnoxious host, constant awkwardness and idiotic guests just to get an extra little sneak peak of upcoming episodes and the occasional cool behind the scenes info…..
Hey! Did anybody catch the sweet callback to S06 “Sweet Dee Gives Birth” when Franks bridge friend Z showed up. He went from lamenting about his nice ass denim shorts to losing all his friends and family to a zombie apocalypse….. This is totally the callback season! ….. CALLBACKS!
Not cool talking about my Mom, you guys.
Not cool at all.
My biggest problem with Talking Dead? People who go on the show constantly say they are huge fans of the show and the comics right? How come nobody has yet to bitch about Michonne’s character development or the Governor?
*pwnage*