Regarding Glen Mazzara

So I’m sure you’ve heard that Glen Mazzara is leaving our show. Apparently it’s because of a disagreement with AMC about the future direction. My first reaction to this: Mazzara has proven he knows how to make a kick-ass zombie show! Beyond all doubt. Not only has it been great to watch (thrilling, moving, scary, suspenseful, etc.), but this season, TWD has consistently broken ratings records. It’s AMC’s highest rated show, ever. What do they want?

You may be saying to yourself “Well, it had good ratings when Darabont was in charge, too.” Yes, but we all know many weren’t satisfied with how the show was going. It was too slow, and too much like a soap opera. Running this podcast, I could feel the air slowly leaking out of the tires. Friends of mine had several episodes languishing on their TiVos. When Darabont got the boot, I was concerned, yeah, but also cautiously optimistic. And that optimism was borne out. This year, TWD has momentum. Fans are loving it. There’s a collective sigh of relief: “Ah, the show we want to be good is actually really GOOD!”

Now, with this news, today at least, it feels to me a lot like when Lori died. Only a lot more intense. A kick to the stomach.

By the time something like this hits the news, I guess there’s nothing that can be done about it. Mazzara is gone, and that’s it. I’m already wondering who would make a good showrunner, and how the show can be kept on track. The wheels are turning and I’m tempted to call Karen, fire up the mikes, and start speculating. But out of respect for the guy who righted this ship, I’m going to save that talk for some other time. For now, I just wish Mazzara the best. With the success of TWD S3 under his belt, I hope he gets to write his own ticket. He’s earned it.

I will say, Karen and I are going to be here to help all of us make the best of this. We’re taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll be back in mid-January to commiserate a bit and then look forward.

Happy holidays to you,
Jason