When The Walking Dead was first developed for television, no one could have guessed the incredible success that this violent zombie drama would have. Apparently, NBC passed on developing the series for television based on Robert Kirkman’s comic series.
While at a session for the Television Critics Association, Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly revealed that he originally bought Frank Darabont’s Walking Dead script while working for NBC, as reported by Deadline.
Apparently Reilly was desperate to get NBC out of its ratings slump.
“But we were at the bottom of the ratings. I told him: ‘Really Frank, a zombie thing?!’”
Later on, Reilly also added that had The Walking Dead aired on NBC, the show “would have probably been a little less intense and a little less interesting to the audience.”
Unfortunately for NBC and fortunately for us, AMC picked up Robert Kirkman’s zombie thriller and has since become one of the most popular shows on cable TV. Honestly, we think The Walking Dead was bound for cable because, as Reilly notes, it would be less interesting to the audience.
Network television couldn’t get away with all that AMC does when it comes to the brutality seen on The Walking Dead. While we think the real reason we are so entranced by the survivor’s struggle is because of the personal relationships built in the wake of the apocalypse, it wouldn’t be the same without the necessary violence of the situation.
If The Walking Dead had aired on NBC, it definitely would not have been the same.