Well, this is surprising to read: Deadline.com reports that Frank Darabont, writer/director/executive producer of AMC’s The Walking Dead adaptation, has let go of the season one writing staff, and is considering going all-freelance writers for the show’s 13-episode second season.
Given that the show has been a commercial and critical success at this point — breaking ratings records for AMC and being dubbed “the best new show on TV” on the cover of last week’s Entertainment Weekly — the news seems unexpected. As the Deadline article points out, writing staff changes between seasons is common, but total overhaul is rare, and foregoing a writing staff entirely is nearly unheard of in American TV (and, as Deadline points out, is something the Writer’s Guild may dispute).
Darabont wrote two episodes of The Walking Dead‘s six-episode season one and had a hand in re-writes with the other four, with comic book series creator Robert Kirkman writing one, and fellow freelancer Glen Mazarra responsible for another.
December 1st, 2010 at 6:16 am
So the only person leaving is Glen Mazarra? I don’t see the big deal here.
December 1st, 2010 at 6:35 am
No, I think the point is that 4 of the 6 episodes were written by Darabont or freelancers and only 2 were written the the writing staff. Mazarra is a freelancer, not a part of the writing staff, so he wouldn’t necessarily be going anywhere. I hate to see people lose jobs, but if your writing staff is only producing a third of your output, then maybe it’s time for a new writing staff.
December 1st, 2010 at 7:40 am
No news here people. Not a big deal at all. Especially when you consider that Frank Darabont wrote 2 episodes and used his magic in rewrites for every other one. As long as Frank darabont is steering this and Robert Kirkman is involved, I don’t see how this could not be one of the top 3 shows on TV next fall when season 2 airs.
December 1st, 2010 at 8:17 am
Um…if they need lines for the show, why not just use the comicbook?
December 1st, 2010 at 10:02 am
I think Darabont made the right choice. IMO, where the series sticks to the comic thematically in tone and style (Merle’s plight on the roof and the department store), the series excels. When it attempts to shoehorn details to make melodrama it weakens (let’s go back to the city to get 1 bag of guns instead of going to a gun store or walmart or picking them off the dead military guys in the street; let’s go back into Atlanta to visit the CDC with no back up plan!–though the concept of the CDC itself is promising).
December 1st, 2010 at 11:43 am
I think the bigger problem they face is what will be a long gap between seasons.
They have good buzz going that will die down if the wait is to long.
December 1st, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@ NeoSamurai – IIRC, I don’t think Rick went back JUST for the guns, I also thought he want back for the walkie talkie so that he could speak to/warn Morgan, who basically saved Rick’s life. Rick strongly felt he owed Morgan a debt. So, if you combine the guns with the walkie talkie, it does make sense.
As for a Wal-Mart or gun store, I imagine they would be teeming with walking corpses if they were not looted, would be locked and I don’t think too many gun stores have wooden doors! Picking up guns off of dead soldiers, heck for sure they could maybe do that, unless they are still surrounded by the walking dead.
As for the CDC, I just think it shows how desperate they are…What were their options really?
@Derek – I agree with you. I hope they don’t wait too long…Too many good shows have died b/c of a loss of momentum.
December 1st, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I am available.
;]
December 1st, 2010 at 1:39 pm
um…just hire kirkman? duh.
December 1st, 2010 at 3:51 pm
The writers on”The Walking Dead” were all FIRED, despite it being named “The best show on T.V.” by Entertainment Weekly!!! What gives??A whole group of writers fired in this economy?! They should go on NBC’s MINUTE TO WIN IT, win that MILLION dollar prize! Wish we all could…That show ROCKSSSS. BTW.. Check out a new season on Tuesday, Dec 7th at 8pm/7c. http://bit.ly/hboOtY
December 1st, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I’m going to assume that this is a primarily financial move, since a show with such short seasons and a hands-on show-runner can probably run without a permanent writing staff, but it still seems like a mistake. So far, the show has produced some compelling visuals, but compared to the comic its characters seem inconsistent. Darabont’s additions to the script make our hero the sheriff into a dumber and more sanctimonious character than he ever was on the page, yet he goes from naive to preachy to cowboy competent according to the demands of the plot. Maybe what the show needs is a different group of permanent writers to give some more traction to the human element.
December 1st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Hire Jimmy!! Duh!
December 1st, 2010 at 6:14 pm
This is what they should have done to Heroes, including Tim Kring.
December 1st, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I think the show needs better writing and character development. So far, the novelty of the zombies has carried the show. The Latino gang and Merle and his brother were little more than cooking cutter stereotypes. The show has a lot of potential, but the dialog has been really bad at times- enough for me to cringe.
December 31st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I agree about the dialog being bad, ive watched each episode a few times and have to say that rick shouldve been played by someone else…
About the writers, as long as darabont and kirkman are present, i belive we have nothing to fear.