AMC Leaks Then Denies 'Walking Dead' Season 4

 

Someone in AMC's digital-marketing department (assuming such a thing, or one like it, exists) is in big trouble this morning. Entertainment Weekly, MTV and several other outlets spied an online promotion at AMCTV.com that offered a possible trip to the "Walking Dead" set during production on Season 4 in exchange for giving blood to the Red Cross. (Cause, ya see, it's kind of a cute little philanthropic association for a series about zombies who feast on our flesh.)

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Understandably, the aforementioned media ran with this as confirmation that said fourth season had been officially greenlit, despite no such announcement from network brass. However, EW reports (via an AMC spokesperson) that "Walking Dead" has in fact not been formally renewed beyond its third installment, which premieres on October 14. 

 

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So what does this all really mean? Most likely, that the relevant folks are all but ready to sign off on extending the series, but someone jumped the gun on broadcasting a related contest. Or, the series could inexplicably see its record-high ratings unceremoniously decline, and AMC will be forced to cancel "Walking Dead" and redirect their efforts with the Red Cross to "Small Town Security." Awkward.