"AMC thinks that zombies should be heard and not seen. Read a few of the terrible money-saving ideas AMC reportedly threw at showrunner Frank Darabont, before throwing him out the door. A new report claims there was more to Darabont's precipitous departure than anybody realizes.

Just days after AMC trotted out Darabont at Comic-Con, who not only revved up thousands Walking Dead fans but also delivered one hell of a season two trailer, the studio allegedly fired the director, producer and writer of the most successful show they've ever had. What the hell happened?

The Hollywood Reporter has an interesting article about the what really happened behind the scenes on AMC's zombie show, and it's not encouraging. Simply put, Darabont was tossed out because he fought for a show he believed in. According to a collection of sources and insiders the aggressive budget cuts demanded by AMC for the second season of Walking Dead were the spark that started this whole mess. And wait until you read about the studio's ideas for making a cheaper series:

AMC's decision to cut the budget dated to the previous fall, when the network instructed Darabont to produce 13 episodes for a second season, up from six for the first season, for less money. Not only would the show get a lower budget, but AMC also decided that Walking Dead would no longer reap the benefit of a 30 percent tax credit per episode that came with filming in Georgia. Now the network was going to hold on to that money.

At the time, a source says, the show's producers decided not to get into a confrontation. "To have a fight over a number when they didn't know what the show was going to do didn't make sense," says this source. But when Walking Dead began to break AMC records, those involved figured that a negotiation would take place and the cuts might be reduced..."

-- Well damn... Should have seen this coming. Way to destroy one of the best shows ever on TV...

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