'The Walking Dead' scores record ratings in third-season finale

By Greg Braxton

April 1, 2013 12 AM PT

“The Walking Dead,” which has already shattered viewer records for AMC, scored another milestone with its season finale.

The end of the third season of the zombie apocalypse drama scored its biggest audience ever with 12.4 million viewers, making the finale the top-rated program for the night. The episode pulled in 8.1 million adults age 18 to 49.

AMC also declared that the show was No. 1 in the 18-49 demographic for the broadcast season, outdistancing “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Voice,” “Modern Family” and other series.

“Two words: Grateful. Dead,” AMC President Charlie Collier said in a statement. “ ‘The Walking Dead has become a pop-culture phenomena, entertaining millions of passionate viewers and obliterating traditional lines between cable and broadcast television.”

The episode marked third-season showrunner and executive producer Glen Mazzara’s exit from the series.

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