‘The Walking Dead’ Finally Gets Its Emmy Moment — Sorta — and Other Trivia From 2023’s Nominations
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Remember AMC’s “The Walking Dead”? You know, the biggest series on TV at one time. Most-watched basic cable show in history, and I can guarantee that will never be topped. But yet, an Emmy dud. The series (which will live on via a frenzy of spin-offs) ended its run last November after 11 seasons… and it’s still ignored by TV Academy voters, failing to pick up a single nomination on Wednesday. And yet… this may have been the most successful year at the Emmys ever for “The Walking Dead.” That’s because two of the franchise’s most beloved actors, Steven Yeun and Jon Bernthal, picked up their first-ever Emmy nominations. Granted, it’s not for “The Walking Dead” — Yeun is nominated in lead limited/anthology actor for “Beef” and Bernthal is a comedy guest actor nominee for “The Bear” (which is about… Chicago’s “Beef” restaurant) — but at least it’s a belated victory for two actors that made a name for themselves by fighting zombies.