The latest “The Walking Dead” was the lowest-rated and least-watched original episode of the fifth season.
“Them,” this Sunday’s episode, drew a 6.2 adults 18-49 rating with 12.3 million viewers. The numbers were down by 23% and 21%, respectively, from those scored by the previous week’s midseason premiere.
While the hefty competition from NBC’s juggernaut “SNL 40” broadcast very likely exacerbated this week’s fall, it is worth noting that last year’s corresponding episode also endured a sizable decline (without competition from a “Saturday Night Live” anniversary special). After returning from its winter hiatus with an 8.2 and 15.76 million viewers on February 9, 2014, “TWD” slipped to a 6.8 with 13.34 million viewers on February 16, 2014.
According to fast national data, the “SNL 40” portion that aired opposite “TWD” drew an 8.3 rating with 23.97 million viewers.
