‘The Walking Dead’ Ratings: Season 5 Debut Shatters Cable Records As 17.3M Watch 

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‘The Walking Dead’ Ratings: Season 5 Debut Shatters Cable Records As 17.3M Watch

With a lot of red meat and explosions galore, the zombie apocalypse returned to AMC last night bigger than ever. The Season 5 debut of

pulled in 17.3 million total viewers on Sunday at 9 PM with 11 million among adults 18-49. With a rise of 7% and 6%, respectively, that viewership and demo series record chews up the previous high of 16.1 million watching and 10.4 million among the 18-49s that the Season 4 premiere of the blockbuster series drew on October 13 last year. (Watch the first four minutes of last night’s episode here.)

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As it stands right now, the hourlong S5 opener “No Sanctuary,” directed by EP Greg Nicotero, has scored a touchdown over the NFL, Fox’s football overrun and NBC’s

among the key demo to win primetime in both broadcast and cable. That could change in the final numbers, as it did with last season’s debut, which

victory. However, the Philadelphia Eagles crushing 27-0 win over the NY Giants last night and the ensuing ratings fall from last week and last year makes it a hard one for the usually unbeatable NFL and

to turn around this time. Last season,

not only proved the most successful nonsports show on TV among the 18-49s but actually beat the NFL twice and the Winter Olympics three weeks in a row.

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Walking Dead is the best show on television, so this comes as no surprise.

Beth is at a hospital......Father Gabriel did bring her there. You will see her soon

Rick shaves off his beard when they reach Alexandria..........which will happen around mid-season

had 7.64 million viewers in the key demo between 8:30 and 11 PM last night. Comparing the NFL game with the 8.7 rating of the

had 8.26 million among the 18-49s in preliminary ratings.

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Comparing season opener to season finale, the Season 5 start of

is up strong from the viewership from the 15.7 million who watched the Season 4 ender on March 30. That biting episode got 10.2 million viewers among the 18-49 demo and is the highest-rated and most watched finale of the show so far.

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is executive produced by Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero,  Scott M. Gimple, Tom Luse and Robert Kirkman, who co-created the comic the series is based on.

I just love Carol! She has gone from this mousy battered wife to becoming a real badass! Excellent show!

Carol has really developed and become a favorite of mine.

I thought she might die last night in the premier. So glad she didn’t! I hope no one dies this season but it wouldn’t be TWD if everyone stayed safe and sound. Missing Hershel!!

The best worst show on TV. Can’t watch it. So sick!

Seriously, the walkers are the LEAST interesting thing on the show… and they’re still pretty gruesome and cool! What makes this show amazing is the plot. The character development and the conflicts… the ultimate struggle for them to keep their humanity amid all the inhumane, evil that surrounds them… the ability of the characters to love and protect… ah, man… you don’t know what you’re missing.

Carl and Rick are my favorites. I don’t buy when Darryl tries to be tender with Carol. Please can Rick shave and give himself a haircut and look a little less ragged… for his son’s sake. Go back to season 1 rick!

Also, for the spin off, too bad Shane wasn’t alive so he could lead a crew it would be interesting to see how Shane would handle things… my guess is he would have ended up as Terminus.

Not to spoil but Andrew Lincoln confirmed Rick will shave this season!

Rick shaves off his beard when they reach Alexandria……….which will happen around mid-season

Where’s Beth? She is such a sweet character? She and Daryl were great last year.

I’m pretty sure Beth will be back very soon! At the beginning of the premier we heard Daryl talking about her and he said ‘she’s alive’. I think they did that for a reason. Plus, they had ta good way to introduce Father Gabriel’s character. I think that’s who has her. But hey! What do I know? Looking forward to the rest of season 5!

Beth is at a hospital……Father Gabriel did bring her there. You will see her soon

How many shows came on last night from season 5

The King is dead! That football can be over-rated by a scripted series? Whodathought! It’ll be interesting to see the Live+s come in too and how that will punch up the #s (I for one watched W.D late last night after it aired). And with football creating these blowouts that no one really wants to watch…

Ok article says zombies show stays clear of that word. Walkers not zombies

All I can say is………….OMFG, That was worth waiting 7 months for and then the icing on the cake was when I saw Morgan but i’m still worried for sweet Beth but if Carol made a 180 so can Beth you have to get fearless in that new world and know how to defend and take care of yourself.

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