…It was really all the fault of The Walking Dead comic book creator Robert Kirkman. What an a-hole!
Here’s what The Hollywood Reporter has to say, and we know this showbiz Bible would never lead us astray:
When a network fires two showrunners in less than 18 months from its biggest hit — and one of the most successful franchises on television — that is sure to make waves in Hollywood and with fans. So no matter how AMC tried to spin the Dec. 21 departure of Glen Mazzara from The Walking Dead as just one of those amicable things, insiders rolled their eyes — especially because the network let go co-creator Frank Darabont in July 2011 and has had high-profile spats with writer-producers on its hits Mad Men and Breaking Bad.
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Several insiders confirm that Kirkman, whose detailed graphic novels form the basis of the series, is “very proprietary,” as one puts it. One adds, “I believe Robert wants to maintain a certain amount of his control, and AMC needs Robert for the fan base.” But despite the vitriol, some sources involved with Walking Dead say Kirkman was one of several producers on the show who had issues with Mazzara and his vision.
One source says Mazzara’s shortcomings in running the series during the most recent third season became “abundantly clear … especially for the second half of the season.” This source says production was shut down “several times” because of a lack of material.
Between us, I like the comic book better and will always support the original creator of anything on TV. And yet I’m bugged by a certain – oh, let’s call it “insensitivity” – on the part of everybody involved. Hey, LB, is that really what the TV biz is all about? Constant struggles for power and the hell with everything else?
EDITED BY LB TO ADD: Yep, munchman, you got it. Sigh…