"The Walking Dead" is losing Glenn Mazzara as its show runner and many fans are scared of what will happen to their beloved show with the man who made season three so great gone. According to the LA Times on March 2, the cast members say there is nothing to worry about.
The cast of the popular zombie apocalypse show gathered for a fan panel at PaleyFest in Beverly Hills and the cast and crew told the fans not to worry about the upcoming changes. The big change is Scott Gimple replacing Mazzara as the show runner.
Executive producer Greg Nicetero said that Gimple wrote a number of the season's best episodes and he knows the show inside and out. He even went as far as to call Gimple as the show runner a "match made in Heaven." Of course, he would want to promote the new man in charge as much as possible to promote his own show.
Of course, Mazzara is not the first show runner that AMC dumped. Frank Darabont started the show, only to lose his position after the first season. Mazzara took over and had a steep learning curve, as season two was less than satisfying through the muddy middle. Fans have to hope Gimple won't get off to as slow a start in season four.
Steven Yeun, the actor who plays Glenn, said that Mazzara was great and Gimple is great as well. He said that he is happy they kept the job in house. Laurie Holden, who plays Andrea, said they are a "well oiled machine" and the change won't hurt them at all. Andrew Lincoln, the main protagonist who plays Rick Grimes, refused to comment on the change at all.
Finally, there was comic book creator Robert Kirkman.
"All I can say is these kinds of things happen all the time on shows," said Robert Kirkman. "You know, Scott's a writer -- he's not only written episodes but he's been an integral part of the writer's room since he joined the show in Season 2. Now that's he's coming in and stepping up, it's been a very smooth transition. I'm happy to say, if anything, the show can only get better."
Was that a compliment for Scott Gimple or a dig at Glenn Mazzara?
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Shawn S. Lealos is a member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, the professional film critics’ organization of Oklahoma. He is also working on a book about the Stephen King dollar babies called “Dollar Deal.” To read more of his writing, visit shawnlealos.net.
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