Uh Oh: Budget Cuts May Kill 'The Walking Dead'

In AMC's "The Walking Dead," zombie fiction fans truly have something to cheer about: the show is a well-written, well-acted, character-driven look at what a zombie apocalypse might look like. Not only that, but it's a close adaptation of the comic book series on which it's based, keeping those fans happy as well. Even those who aren't zombie fanatics can find something to love in this surprisingly thoughtful, human show. It's really one of the best shows on TV.

And it could be in a lot of trouble.

Writer/director/producer Frank Darabont sat down with THR to discuss the state of television and what it's like to be a showrunner on a cable drama. In the interview, Darabont talked about the possibility of impending budget cuts for "The Walking Dead" before next season.

"Creatively I have no complaints thus far,” said Darabont.. “But I believe if they do move ahead with what they’re talking about, it will affect the show creatively...in a negative way. Which just strikes me as odd. If you have an asset, why would you punish it?"

Why indeed? The show was a critical success, and it was a hit with viewers as well. The finale episode in early December drew six million viewers, but boasted four million in the coveted 18-49 demo, which was a record for a cable drama. Granted, those aren't massive numbers, but they're great for a basic cable show in its freshman season.

Of course, a show filled with zombies and explosions and ruined cities is bound to cost money. But here's hoping "The Walking Dead" doesn't go anywhere anytime soon. I don't know what I would do with myself if it did. Probably eat an AMC executive's brains.