'Walking Dead' finale gets record ratings A record 9-million viewers tuned in to AMC for Sunday's season finale of "The Walking Dead," making it the highest-rated episode in the series' history, the network announced Monday. A nice chunk of that - 6-million viewers - were among adults 18 to 49. It's a zombie-like climb from the premiere of the second half of the season last month, which drew 8.1-million total viewers in the 9 p.m. slot, with 5.4 million in the 18-to-49 demo. And it was all done without the help of Shane (Jon Bernthal) and Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) - may they rest in peace. The finale saw the introduction of a mysterious character, Michonne, with some odd fashion accessories - armless and jawless zombies - as well as the hint of a new setting for the third season: a prison. The makings of an even bigger premiere come fall? Photo: Rick (Andrew Lincoln, front) leads his people in "The Walking Dead."