Some shows worry about whether they will receive orders for future seasons.
Others simply concern themselves with when those orders will arrive.
For “The Walking Dead,” which recently established itself as television’s top-rated scripted series by a dominant margin, that day was today.
AMC announced Tuesday that its zombie drama, which is three episodes into its fourth season, will be back for round five in the 2014-15 season.
“We are very happy to make what has to be one of the most anti-climactic renewal announcements ever: The Walking Dead is renewed for a fifth season,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “This is a show that has erased traditional distinctions between cable and broadcast. Its expanding base of passionate fans has grown every season, most recently – and most notably – with the season four premiere earlier this month, which broke viewership records for the series and became the biggest non-sports telecast in cable history. On behalf of the incredible team on both sides of the camera, thank you to the fans and here’s to more Dead.”
AMC also announced that Scott M. Gimple, who took over as showrunner after last season, will continue overseeing the show in season five.