Is departing 'Walking Dead' showrunner being silenced?
Glen Mazzara remains quiet on reasons for leaving show
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse Feb 6, 2013 3:25PM
"Walking Dead" showrunner Glen Mazzara is out talking about the rest of the show's third season even as he prepares to depart the hit series. But the one thing he's not talking about is why he's actually exiting while the series is bigger than ever.
The announcement last month that Mazzara was leaving the show stunned the TV industry and fans, especially since he was largely credited with turning it around after a lackluster second season. AMC, the network behind the series, stated that a "difference of opinion about where the show should go" in future seasons was the reason for what was said to be a mutual parting of the ways.
According to The Wrap, however, Mazzara had said just two months earlier that he wanted to stay with the show as long as possible "if AMC and the fans would have me."
In his own vague comments to The Wrap about the abrupt change, Mazzara said, "It's fine. I'm happy with the show and delivering my season and I'm just going to go on and do my own thing now." The Wrap also noted, however, that Mazzara has not given any advice to his replacement, Scott Gimple, as the series looks toward season four.
Mazzara's reticence to get into specifics -- along with his absence from a Television Academy panel about the show on Tuesday night that he was originally supposed to participate in -- has led to speculation that AMC is muzzling him.
Mazzara's colleague, "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter, put it bluntly on Twitter, saying, "AMC's initiated a gag order...Removing mazzara from press for fear his firing will pull focus & he may tell the truth."
A publicist for AMC denied Sutter's charge, saying, "There is no gag order from AMC. They are very supportive of him doing press for the remainder of season three, just as they have up to this point."
And yes, Mazzara has been doing press -- just not talking about why he is leaving. Of course, there's precedent here: AMC parted with "Walking Dead" executive producer Frank Darabont, Mazzara's predecessor, shortly into the second season, and has famously clashed with the showrunners of two of its other biggest hits, "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men."
With "The Walking Dead" currently the top-rated drama on any network, cable or broadcast, Mazzara may want his season -- widely considered the best so far -- to end on a high note instead of with distractions about his own situation.
AMC probably wants the same thing. But perhaps if the network stopped messing with the people who are delivering week after week of highly-rated, award-winning and acclaimed programming to their air, they wouldn't have to go through this all the time. Wouldn't that be nice?
"The Walking Dead" mid-Season 3 premiere airs Sunday, Feb. 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.
22Comments
Feb 7, 2013 8:47AM
Feb 7, 2013 8:59AM
Feb 7, 2013 9:14AM
Feb 7, 2013 9:53AM
This is sad. Very sad. How come one would "fire/let go" one of TV's best writers - let alone two for the same show? This is truly horrid. I like how Mr. Mazzaro writes - I also like Mr. Durabont's writing for the show - and now both are gone/have left the show. How come AMC??? How come??? The Walking Dead is an amazing show and you (AMC) are throwing it down the tubes (television tubes) by ridding the show of major writers. Do you want this show to fail?? Those of us who are fans - are not happy at all (as you - AMC - are able to read by all the comments). In order to have a great show continue, you have to have great writers of story lines. I certainly hope that this season 3 will not be the beginning of the end of The Walking Dead. Shame on you, AMC, shame on you.
Feb 7, 2013 9:21AM
Feb 7, 2013 9:44AM
I read somewhere that AMC was not happy about the show's direction regarding the zombies (that there not being enough scenes including zombies, which the entertainment industry is already saturated with). The whole premise of the show and the graphic novels was the story of the srvivors and how they survive day to day. Not every scene involved a struggle with the walking dead which AMC supposedly wants more zombie scenes and less dramatic choice making which is what Kirkman made the story of to begin with.
Feb 7, 2013 9:39AM
Feb 7, 2013 9:48AM
Amc needs to get rid of the ones who are trying to bring down their station by getting rid of the people who keep it in the top ratings. What is wrong with them? Please, do not screw up "the Walking Dead" series. Bring back the producers who have made all the difference for the good of all.
Feb 7, 2013 10:33AM
Feb 7, 2013 10:43AM
Too many egos, too many hands in the cookie jars and the sensitivities of artist may all have a hand in the shows success and demise. Number crunchers and executives know little about what people really want. Their desire to capitalize on the public's apparent whimsical interest at any given moment is not necessarily in the best interest in creativity and art. Too bad artist are so reliant on money in order to produce their craft. The viewing public are the real victims as we fall in love with charismatic characters and real story lines only to be disappointed by gap filling rhetoric and the loss of loved actors from time to time due to the networks pandering to advertisement without considering ground breaking artistic expression and their unwillingness to appropriately reward those giving the greatest contribution. When will people get off their egos and do what is best?
Feb 7, 2013 10:24AM
Feb 8, 2013 12:58PM
Feb 7, 2013 9:52AM
My guess is both men wanted to end the series after a few seasons to keep it from going stale and to go out on top. AMC probably wants to milk this cash cow as long as they can until TWD jumps the shark somewhere in season 5, but continues on for another 3-4 miserable years. You know, like most every other show on TV.
Feb 7, 2013 9:57AM
Feb 7, 2013 9:14AM
Now and days the trend is to have a hit series for a maximum of 3 or 4 years and then shut it down. It keeps the shows fresh and many more concepts are created. They are catering to the ever changing attentions of John Q. Public. The shows that replace the short series are often similar but different enough to allow for different plots and twists. Again just enough to keep them fresh, new and appealing.
Feb 7, 2013 9:10AM
Now we shall take the guns away from the cops they are criminals, guns do not kill, people kill with knife hammer, cars, train, words of politicians, they lie, steal, they take our tax money and use it on prostitution, beer party’s, don’t you call this criminals?. If you do this they will throw you in jail and call you all criminal.
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