‘Better Call Saul’ sets premiere ratings record; ‘Walking Dead’ returns strong

How about this for some not-so-surprising news? AMC did very well in the ratings last night.

Despite being up against the Grammys, which of course drew huge numbers over on AMC, both the season 5 midseason premiere of “The Walking Dead” and the series premiere of “Better Call Saul” each have something very great to celebrate. In the case of the former, the zombie drama returned to 15.6 million viewers, and also an 8.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic. While neither one of these are records, they are still tremendous returns for a show that is this deep into its run. Typically, shows peak in the numbers at around season three or four.

Meanwhile, “Better Call Saul” had its premiere with 6.9 million viewers and a 3.4 rating in the demo, the highest for any series premiere in cable history. Remember, both “The Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad” took their time becoming smash hits on the level that they are today.

In a statement today, AMC head Charlie Collier of course gushed all of the lineup, and that these shows did so well despite the competition:

“In a competitive environment that sometimes gets as much press as the shows themselves, it is gratifying to deliver programming that breaks through and reaches passionate audiences. For AMC, it starts with the creative talent we are so fortunate to be working with including, among many others – in the order of last night’s unforgettable schedule – Robert Kirkman and Scott Gimple of The Walking Dead, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould of Better Call Saul, and Chris Hardwick of Talking Dead … We are supremely thankful for the talented people who call this network home, and for the fans who continue to make AMC a television destination unlike any other. Walking. Calling. Talking. Humbling.”

What do you think about the numbers? Share with a comment below.

Photo: AMC