You can’t really call it a surprise.

With a record setting 5.3 million viewers watching episode 1, and a barely dropping 4.6 million watching episode 2, it’s no shock that AMC has officially picked up The Walking Dead for a second season.

Based on the amazing comic from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead has been an absolutely fantastic adaptation of already great source material, and I cannot underline how happy I am to see the series succeed.

What’s really great about this pickup? Season 2 will see 13 episodes, as opposed to Season 1’s 6 episodes, giving us twice the zombie goodness next year.

How ecstatic is AMC? I’ll let their official press release do all the talking.

AMC RESURRECTS “THE WALKING DEAD" FOR A SECOND SEASON

(New York, NY — November 8, 2010) AMC announced today the renewal of “The Walking Dead" for a 13-episode second season. Since debuting Sunday, October 31, “The Walking Dead" has broken ratings records, with the series reaching more Adults 18-49 than any other show in the history of cable television.

Today’s announcement also includes Fox International Channels’ (FIC) global renewal for a second season, following record-breaking premiere ratings in 120 countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. “The Walking Dead" was the highest-rated original series premiere ever to air on FIC simultaneously worldwide.

“The Dead’ has spread!“ said Charlie Collier, President, AMC. “No other cable series has ever attracted as many Adults 18-49 as The Walking Dead.’ This reaffirms viewers’ hunger for premium television on basic cable. We are so proud to be bringing back The Walking Dead’ again, across the globe.“

Ratings Highlights for The Walking Dead - Episode 2, which premiered on AMC Sunday, 11/7:

“¢ 10pm airing — 3.1 HH rating with over 4.7 million viewers; “¢ Adults 18-49 — 3.3 million viewers; “¢ Adults 25-54 — 2.8 million viewers; “¢ Men 18-49 — 2.1 million viewers.

Ratings Highlights for the The Walking Dead - Episode 1, which premiered on AMC Sunday, 10/31:

“¢ 10pm airing - 3.7 HH rating with over 5.3 million total viewers; “¢ Adults 18-49 - 3.6 million viewers; “¢ Adults 25-54 - 3.1 million viewers; “¢ Men 18-49 - 2.0 million viewers.

“I wish all programming decisions were no brainers like this one,“ said Sharon Tal Yguado, SVP Scripted Programming. “The Walking Dead’ is a TV masterpiece on so many levels. We want at least 10 seasons, if not more. Kudos to AMC!“

AMC’s “The Walking Dead" is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Kirkman serves as an executive producer on the project and three-time Academy Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) serves as writer, director and executive producer. Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk), chairman of Valhalla Motion Pictures, serves as Executive Producer. David Alpert from Circle of Confusion and Charles “Chic" Eglee (Dexter, The Shield, Dark Angel) serve as Executive Producers.

“The Walking Dead" tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.

Shot on location in Atlanta, “The Walking Dead" is led by a cast that includes Lincoln (“Teachers,“ Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific,“ The Ghost Writer) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break") as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden (“The Shield,“ Stephen King’s The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (Stephen King’s The Mist, The Green Mile) as Dale, Steven Yeun (“The Big Bang Theory") as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes.