After ratings took a big dip in the aftermath of the seventh season premiere of THE WALKING DEAD, some were predicting the show’s demise. I too joined in this discussion, but I never predicted anything; I merely questioned whether or not the show would be able to bounce back from this decline in its ratings-slash-popularity. I’m glad I never predicted anything, because I would, like those unfortunates who did, be left now with egg on my face. Lots of egg. When the show returned to the airwaves after the midseason break, all those drifting viewers came running back.
The extent to which this show is over—and here I am using the term “over” in the carnie/wrestling sense, meaning having gotten “over” with an audience—is nowhere better demonstrated than with the new—what shall we call it? A movement? A program? A marketing gimmick? (It certainly is that.) How about an “entertainment-driven platform,” which is what this article calls it—entertainment-driven platform from match.com, wherein it will seek to unite lonely hearts through their shared love of the show. Why not? As far as having things in common goes, might as well start with zombies. After all, who doesn’t love THE WALKING DEAD? Even indigenous peoples ensconced deep in the rainforests of Central America, never before having been contacted by outside society, with no electricity and no television—even THOSE people are watching THE WALKING DEAD via dream trances. Hey, I’m not making that up. The ratings prove it!