The Zombies of \'Walking Dead\' Take Over Sunday Night

For television fans who prefer hourlong dramas, no night of the week comes close to the bonanza that is Sunday, with its sheer volume of hits, prestige programs and guilty pleasures, all vying for precious time and DVR space.

Any discussion of the Sunday-night landscape this fall must begin with AMC's “Walking Dead,” as the zombiefied drama is the highest-rated entertainment program of the night that doesn't involve a football. But perhaps just as impressive is that the repeat at 10 p.m. has been the second highest-rated cable program for the night in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers prize: it has drawn an average 3.4 million viewers on its own.

“The Walking Dead” is then followed by a handful of award-winning pay-cable channel dramas, beginning with “Boardwalk Empire” on HBO, which has averaged 2.4 million total viewers during its third season. Showtime is close behind with “Dexter” at an average of 2.2 million viewers t hrough the first four episodes of its seventh season, and “Homeland,” which was renewed for a third season
and has averaged 1.7 million total viewers so far in its second season.

Not to be outdone, the broadcast networks have found success with their Sunday dramas as well, particularly ABC. “Once Upon a Time” and “Revenge” have both avoided a sophomore slump with an average of 10.1 million total viewers and 8.8 million, respectively, accompanied by weekly Top 20 appearances in the 18-to-49 category among all broadcast programming.

CBS, while not nearly as strong with adults 18-49, can still draw a large total audience, thanks to its pairing of “The Good Wife” and its 9.5 million average audience with “The Mentalist” at 9.7 million.

With so many shows to choose from, it can be difficult for some dramas to gain a foothold, as evidenced recently by “Copper,” BBC America's first original scripted series, which only drew an avera ge of 700,000 total viewers over the course of its first season, which ended Sunday. It will get another chance next year, however, as it has been renewed for a second season.