The Walking Dead Two-Day Marathon Starts Feb. 11
Source: The Walking Dead – AMC

The Walking Dead returns with all-new episodes on Sun., Feb. 12 at 9/8c. Which may leave the uninitiated panicking about how they can possibly catch up in time. Worry not! On Sat., Feb. 11 at 8/7c, AMC begins a two-day The Walking Dead marathon on-air covering the full series to date. First comes all six episodes of Season 1 back-to-back on Saturday starting at 8/7c. Then on Sunday, the marathon continues with Season 2 episodes starting at 1:30PM/12:30c, leading right into the Midseason Premiere, “Nebraska” at 9/8c.

Click here for the full The Walking Dead marathon schedule.

Kat Graham Lands Record Deal
Source: Contactmusic

Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham is launching an assault on the pop charts after landing a record deal.

The former back-up dancer for acts like Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams has also starred in music videos for Akon, Nelly, John Legend and Justin Bieber – and now she’s preparing to carve out her own music career after signing a deal to release her first album.

In a video posted to YouTube.com, she tells fans, “I am so, so excited to share my big, special announcement with you guys. As you can see I’m in a recording studio… the reason is I am now signed to A&M/Octone Records.

“It’s my first time being signed to a major label and we have a single. The new song that you guys will be hearing is called Put Your Graffiti On Me. We’re shooting a music video this weekend and I’m so excited that you guys are going to be a part of this journey with me!”

Episode Synopsis: Rick and the others try to restore order in the aftermath a terrible discovery. When Hershel takes up an old habit and disappears, Rick and Glenn must follow him into town.

‘Walking Dead’ Stars Weigh In On Life After Sophia
Source: Splash Page (MTV)

We “Walking Dead” fans are no stranger to death and depression on the show. From what we’ve seen so far over the course of the first and second seasons tells us that we must approach every episode with uncertainty and/or the knowledge that a major character could be offed or zombified at any moment.

Case in point: the show’s mid-season finale during which the search for Sophia ended for good. MTV News recently caught up with Steven Yeun, Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus during the show’s appearance at the TCAs over the weekend and asked them to tease what’s next for our stunned survivors.

“For my character Carol, she’s got to deal with the grief and how she’s going to move forward,” McBride said.

“I think for all of us she was a symbol of hope,” Reedus added, speaking to the gravity of the loss of Sophia. “If we could hold onto her then [we'd] maybe save a little piece of ourselves as well. Once that went down, all bets are off and everybody’s miserable and homicidal at this point, especially her,” he said, pointing to McBride.

“I think keeping hope alive for her represented, even though all the odds were against finding her alive, you just sort of cling to that hope,” McBride continued. “[Sophia represented] that unseen thing that’s going to carry you through and to have her come through the barn the way she did, I think it’s really throwing a lot of doubt on faith. What unseen thing is going to help us through this? Is it really out there?”

You can watch the interview at the source.

“The Walking Dead” Gets 16-Episode Order for Season 3
Source: The Daily BLAM!

Although the two previous seasons of the hit AMC series, which is based on the popular Image Comics creation by Robert Kirkman, has comprised of thirteen episodes each, the next season has been extended by three additional episodes.

During the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour, AMC announced that the upcoming third season of The Walking Dead will feature 16, hour long episodes; upping the current release structure by three. The rest of the recent press release can be found below:

“Season two of the critically acclaimed global hit series continues to deliver the strongest telecasts for any drama in basic cable history against Adults 18-49, as well as, top international pay-TV ratings on Fox International Channels’ (FIC) major markets. “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Glen Mazzara serves as series’ showrunner and executive producer. Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert and Frank Darabont are executive producers with Greg Nicotero as co-executive producer.

“”The Walking Dead” has received rave reviews from countless critics, both domestic and international, who heralded the series as “above all else, ‘The Walking Dead’ hasn’t lost the most important ingredient in its strangely successful recipe: it’s thrilling” (The Hollywood Reporter), “…with Dead’s riveting cast of characters, the personal dynamics are almost as potent as the gory thrills” (Us Weekly), “‘The Walking Dead’ is a feast. Dig in.” (The Guardian, UK), “It doesn’t even take three minutes to realize that this series is setting standards” (Der Tagesspiegel, Germany).

“”The Walking Dead” secured a 2010 Golden Globe(R) nomination for Best Television Series – Drama and won the 2011 Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup. The series 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 Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs and Norman Reedus. AMC’s Emmy Award-winning horror drama, based on the acclaimed comic book series by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, airs Sunday nights at 9/8c on AMC.

Boondock Saints Interview: “We change at the end”
Source: ACED Magazine Network

Written by: Alex Kecskes

A cult favorite, Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day reprises the roles of Connor and Murphy MacManus doling out justice with no mercy for hellbound souls.

For nearly a decade, the brothers have been living sans side arms with their father on a sheep farm deep in pastoral Ireland. Yet evil knows no rest as they are framed for the murder of a Catholic priest in Boston. Our honor bound duo must return to Boston and set things right as only the MacManus brothers can. In a recent one-on-one interview, Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery provided some insights on the sequel everyone’s talking about.

What’s the backstory of your characters?

Sean Patrick Flanery: All actors have different methods. For me, it starts on page one and ends at fade out. I don’t need to kill someone to know what it feels like. So the origin of the character came with me reading the script. That’s pretty much it. Some people would love to hear me say that I went on some mental killing spree to “find myself” and get into the character, but he (points to Norman) did. He’s messed up (Norman laughs).

Norman Reedus: It’s like being with this group. It’s too brothers. And when you’re all together, it’s really easy to get into this mode.

Sean: The ideology is something I believed in my whole life. I believe in schoolyard mentality. If you screw up, you deserve to get the shit kicked out of you. Enough with this stuff where you can pull stupid crap and get off with a loophole. If a guy rapes somebody, the girl’s father deserves to grab the guy, scrape his face on the concrete and put a bullet in his head. That’s what I believe.

Norman: (laughs) That’s why he has a shiner right there (referring to Sean’s bruised eye).

Sean: There’s no accountability anymore and people get off with a slap on the wrist. It’s just pansy ass shit. My granddad wouldn’t stand for that kind of shit.

Before you knock your characters off, do you feel a sense of redemption for them?

Sean: Redemption implies that your self worth comes at the end. I think it’s there from the start. If it’s your core values, it’s there from day one.

Norman: I don’t know if it’s forgiveness. It’s more of sending them where they need to be.

Sean: Exactly. Without getting into too much religious philosophy, it’s the greater good. If I have to remove one to save ten, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. If I have to waterboard somebody to save a thousand people, I’ll do it in a heartbeat.

Do your characters enjoy the cat-and-mouse game you play with detective Bloom?

Sean: Yes. Yes.

Norman: Absolutely, yeah. She’s one of us.

What’s your character arc in this film?

Norman: There are things that happen that change us. Specifically within our family. We change at the end, but we’re basically the same people.

Sean: The ideals stay the same. The mechanical element and the way we move forward, the way we graduate to increase what we feel is right with the world takes on a different function. But the meaning and ideology are the same.

The first Boondock Saints really hit a nerve with a lot or people. What appeals to you about these films?

Sean: The schoolyard mentality, man. It’s an ethical, moral story. You f**k shit up, you’ll get f**ked up. There’s no waiting eight months and maybe you get a slap on the wrist. Hollywood should be that way: if an agent treats you like shit, he should get an elbow to the dome, period. You go to any high school yard, shit is regulated. If you talk shit to somebody, after school, behind the 7-11, you’re gonna get the shit kicked out of you. It’s the high school code.

So it’s about accountability and that actions have consequences?

Sean: Everyone should face repercussions for their actions. That’s why people love this story. It’s like one of my favorite quotes from Albert Schweitzer, “Good is that which promotes life, evil is that which destroys life.” That’s how I live my life. I’ll do what I can to promote the greater good. If you can harm one person to save 1,000, I’m gonna do it every f**king time. I don’t give a shit about hurting somebody’s feelings. Or being politically correct. For me, there is no getting into character as far as this film is concerned. I believe this film. It’s the way the world should operate. We’ve lost the schoolyard code. Every guy who’s really a guy knows that code.

How has the film affected your view of crime and criminals? In preparing for the role, how did you reach the mindset to kill?

Norman: Sean has a very cut and dry attitude. For me, it’s just a film and I don’t get into the politics of it as much. The film is about brotherhood and what you would do for your friends and family. So you get into this family mode.

So what happens in Boondocks II?

Sean: It’s 10 years later and we went back home to Ireland. Something transpires that forced us to come out to face it and fix it. It’s something that demeans our character, our ethics, everything that represents who we are. It also answers a lot of questions that the first one raised.

What’s the dynamic between you and Eunice? Is there a love interest?

Norman: I pushed for that, but I don’t think Troy want these brothers to have any sort of relationship. During the college tours of the first film, fans were saying thank you for not taking it in that direction.

Does Eunice come close to catching you guys?

Norman: She’s actually on our side. She’s very smart and she works with some of our friends.

Do you exact payback by pistols or martial arts or a combination?

Sean: I’ve been doing martial arts since I was nine, but I don’t like to see films that use that stuff. Our guys are street brawlers–they’ll go for the eyes, the groin, they’ll f**k you up with a level of venom and viciousness you’ve never seen. There’s no Queensbury Rules here.

Do you always kill the bad guys?

Sean: If they need to be extricated from the gene pool, yeah. It’s not Batman. It’s boom, you’re done. You’re not gonna be resuscitated.

What about Rocko? Ostensibly, he’s a comedic supporting character, but he’s more pivotal than that, isn’t he?

Sean: He’s cool. We grew up with him. He’s a part of this. In a comedic way, he kind of explains to us what we were doing before we knew what we were doing. He puts us back on the path. His monologue in this film is spot on, probably the best part of the entire film, and it speaks to exactly what I was talking about. It’s being John Wayne, saying what you feel without worrying about offending this group or that. Rocko’s monologue is what both films are about.

How did you prepare for the action in the film, and did you have stunt doubles?

Norman: I had a trainer and I tore the muscles in my neck, so I was in a bit of pain doing some of the action scenes. But you just work through it with lots of coffee. There were stunts that Sean might do that I wouldn’t do, although we did a lot of our own stunts.

Is this film more or less violent than the first?

Sean: Actually there’s more violence in Boondocks II, but it’s not gratuitous.

In the trailer, you’re raising your arms to God before you execute this bad guy. What’s the meaning of that?

Sean: We’re raised Catholic and so to take a life is a big deal. You have to accept that it’s for a greater good. And you have to deal with the 5th commandment: thou shall not kill. So it’s a hard rationalization process to wrap your head around. And when you do kill, it’s asking God to please understand how you got to this point, asking him, “I hope you’re on the same page I am. From the tools and the mind you gave me, I think this is what I should be doing and I hope I’m right.”

How do you like working with Troy?

Norman: It’s a very collaborative working relationship. He’s not on the outside looking in. He’s very much in the room with you. He has very clear ideas about what he wants. You’ll end up doing something his way, and he’s right. You trust him.

What about the dynamic between you and Romeo?

Norman: He becomes like a third member of our team. We find him amusing and we like his style. He’s like one of us and we bring him in.

Do your characters ever have doubts about their roles as avengers?

Norman: No. They’re very black and white. That’s the attraction the film has. The brothers are focused and convinced that what they’re doing is right.

What’s your favorite film?

Norman: ”Midnight Cowboy.” When I saw it, I realized how important editing can be to a film. I even had a kitten named Ratso Rizzo.

Sean: I liked “Man Bites Dog,” which I thought was one of the most realistic depictions of graphic violence I’ve ever seen. It’s tongue-in-cheek and kind of weird. When he’s smashing that guy’s head against the porcelain sink. I love payback films. I also really liked parts of the documentary “Tyson.”

What do you think the audience should take away from Boondocks II?

Norman: A strong feeling of family. A bond. The film basically asks, “How strong are your convictions about family and friends.”

Norman Talks Blood, Dirt & Art
Source: Dixon’s Vixens

Norman Reedus gave a quick interview to The Walking Dead Br in which he talked about Daryl Dixon and several other aspects of his career. The original interview (in Portuguese) can be found here. We’re honored that Kelly has made the English version available for us to share on this site. Thank you Kelly!

by Kelly Ribeiro and Danielle Klizas

How exactly did you go into acting?
I was introduced to a director I ended up doing a play for at the Tiffany Theater in Los Angeles after I drank too much at a party and started screaming at all the guests from the second story of a living room. I had just quit my job at a motorcycle place in Venice, so I needed a job. An agent was in the audience of the play the first night I did it and ended up casting me in my first film. I was very lucky I guess.

Tell us a little about your work as a filmmaker. How was the creative process of making those three short films?
Well, I helped start a gallery-artist residence in New York that lasted a few years. The people involved were all very creative and we worked together on a few projects including art shows and creative gatherings. All three short films have different stories how they came together. One of them I was in a Berlin hospital after being hit by a truck there during the Berlin Film Festival, I ended up sneaking out of that hospital and flying to Los Angeles in the middle of the night to film that with a black and blue face and an eye patch over one eye. If you look up a short film called “Meet me in Berlin” that’s a short film someone made about that time. It’s actually all real and really happened. The other one was filmed in New York with friends about a lawyer having a nervous breakdown and meeting himself and eventually being left behind by his new self.

What does “Big Bald Head” stand for?
My mother took me to a Laurie Anderson concert when I was really young – it’s from the song “Sharkey’s Day.”

You have a photo exhibit on display now in New York. How did you get into photography?
I do actually right now it’s to raise money for Oxfam. I travel a lot, makes for good photos.

What have you been listening to these days?
I like so much music. Sonic Youth, National, The Make Up, Dinosaur Jr – I listen to a lot of different stuff pretty much all day.

Do your tattoos have a special meaning behind them or you just picked them for the artwork alone?
They all have different meanings. Some names (my dad died – his name was Norman so it’s above my heart) my son Mingus’ name and other stuff.

Does Daryl ever take showers? He’s always dirty and sweaty even when the other survivors are not.
Well, they are dirty – just not as dirty. You also have to think Daryl has been out looking for Sophia when the others were back at the farm. He cleans up every once in a while. I’m always asking Donna our makeup person for more dirt. It’s become kind of a joke on set that I don’t want anyone dirtier than me. Same with blood. I get jealous if another person has more blood and dirt than me.

In case of a zombie apocalypse, which character do you think you would behave like?
Daryl probably.

What was the most interesting piece of TWD memorabilia you have ever seen?
Well, I stole the crossbow. I have it here with me in New York in my apartment . I gave it to my son.

We hear you’re cast for Sunlight Jr., acting opposite Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon. What’s going to be your role?
Her ex. A jerk. Angry. Sort of living with regret.

Which projects will you be working on now that you’ve wrapped TWD’s second season?
The one you mentioned above first. Then I’m back on the show. Some art shows then zombie world again back in Georgia.

Canceled ABC Family Series “Nine Lives” To Get New Life As Movie
Source: Deadline

We may not have seen the last of The Nine Lives Of Chloe King on ABC Family. The network canceled the drama series about a girl with cat-like powers in September after one modestly rated season. But during this morning’s ABC Family executive session at TCA, the network’s president Michael Riley said that “we are on the verge of putting a (Chloe King) movie into development.” No details to announce on story, but the plan is “to capitalize on the storytelling that’s already been in place,” he said. Dan Berendsen (Hannah Montana: The Movie), who developed and executive produced the series, is on board to write the Chloe King movie. In talking about the series, Riley didn’t want to use the word canceled. “We didn’t cut it short — we never talk about canceling shows at ABC Family,” he said, referring to the fact that Chloe King completed its first-season run before the network opted not to go forward with Season 2. “We loved the cast; we loved the writing on that show. For us it was about making some decisions. We had to choose between what we thought was resonating stronger for the audience.” That would be the other 2 new ABC Family drama series that launched last summer, breakout hit Switched At Birth, which received a second-season pickup, and The Lying Game, which received a back-12 order after posting ratings similar to those for Chloe King.

Alice Cooper Talks “Talking Dead” & His Favorite “TWD” Character
Source: Cherokee Tribune

MARIETTA — Rock legend Alice Cooper, whose original band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, is bringing his world tour, “The No More Mr. Nice Guy” show, to the Cobb Energy Centre at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets start at $37.

In a telephone interview this week from Canada, Cooper talked about the show, his Christianity, the secret to surviving decades as a rock star, how golf helped him overcome an alcohol addiction, and a favorite television series filmed here in metro Atlanta, AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

MDJ: Was that really you calling up “The Talking Dead” show the other day?

Cooper: I watched the show, and they kind of asked me to call. I’m a big fan of the show anyways. They should do the same thing with “Dexter,” where at the end of the show people can call in and ask questions, because it’s like a soap opera. You kind of get involved in the characters more than the zombies.

MDJ: Who’s your favorite character?

Cooper: I like what’s his name? Daryl. The guy that was in “The Boondock Saints.” He’s great because he’s sort of like a guy that would be the real guy. All he knows is being a redneck, and all he really knows is that these are bad things, kill them.

“TWD” Star Norman Reedus Talks Daryl Dixon’s Appeal
Source: MTV News

Maybe it’s the crossbow. Maybe it’s his prickly disposition towards his fellow survivors, an armor he casts aside when lost little children are dropped into the mix. Or maybe it’s just the simple fact that Norman Reedus is a bit of a badass. Whatever the reason (let’s face it, it’s the crossbow), there’s no question that Daryl Dixon is the coolest character on “The Walking Dead.” In fact, he’s one of the coolest characters on television,evidenced by his #13 position on MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011 list.

It’s a well-earned victory for the zombie-killing hillbilly: In one and a half seasons, we’ve seen Daryl bash zombie brains with rocks, slash open throats with double axes, and even hallucinate a conversation with his brother while killing even more zombies. Between all that, Daryl has spent much of the current second season searching tirelessly for the missing Sophia — a search that ended tragically during the midseason finale. Whether Sophia’s death will push Daryl back to being the antisocial bully of yesterday or galvanize him even further as a protector of this group of survivors remains to be seen, but we can tell you this much: No matter where Daryl goes next, we’ll be along for the ride.

Reedus swung by MTV News headquarters to talk about the awesomeness that is Daryl Dixon, touching upon the character’s damaged past, his coolest kills and his future with the series.

MTV News: Fans have been hugely supportive of Daryl Dixon. Even ["Walking Dead" creator] Robert Kirkman has admitted that Daryl is a favorite of his. It just seems to be the general consensus that people love this character. What has the fan reaction been like in your experience?

Norman Reedus: Actually, walking across the street [in Times Square] just now, a cop grabbed me by the arm and said, “I love your character on ‘The Walking Dead!’ ” I get it a lot, actually. I [even] have my own Daryl Dixon “Hello Kitty” iPhone case. It’s been really good, you know? The fans really like Daryl, and I’m really appreciative.

MTV: What is it about Daryl Dixon that’s just so f—ing cool?

Reedus: Well, it’s hard not to look cool while holding a crossbow, first off. But he’s interesting in that he has a different sort of struggle than anyone else. He’s trying to just get along with people for the first time, I think. That one moment where Carol reaches down to kiss him on the forehead and he [recoils], he thinks he’s about to get hit. There’s this damaged thing about him that’s really interesting. And when you have a backdrop like “The Walking Dead,” it’s even more powerful. But you have Rick and Shane fighting for what’s the best thing in this group, and Daryl is just sort of trying to find his footing. He’s not used to people telling him he’s worth a damn. So once people start telling him that, his first reaction is fight or flight. He’s such an interesting person. You could have that personality type in a Wall Street movie and he’d still be interesting.

MTV: You touched on it briefly, but this season has been largely about the struggle between Rick and Shane. Is this a world where you can spend multiple days searching for a missing girl — even though chances are good that she’s dead in a barn next door — or is it time to abandon those values and forge ahead? Daryl seems to have come down on a side, with his whole mission this season focused on finding Sophia. What was his motivation there? Why was he so obsessed with finding Sophia?

Reedus: A couple of things. First off, in that scene I mentioned with Carol, I’m covered in scars. You couldn’t see them super up close in that scene, but I’m shredded with scars. There’s a backstory with Daryl that he was a beaten child and he was [abandoned], and I’m really trying to play that up. He’s a very damaged person. When Sophia gets lost, he takes it upon himself to look for her, to clear up some of the demons he has. He took it very personally. Besides, he can handle himself in the woods. He doesn’t really need these people for survival — he’s looking at them for a very different kind of survival, for interaction that he’s not used to, which is a new world for him. Looking for Sophia alone in the woods isn’t a scary thing for him; he can go out there himself. But he took it personally because that girl represented something to him that was larger than just this world we’re living in, trying to survive. He went after her with a lot of gusto.

MTV: Of course, we got an answer to Sophia’s whereabouts, though it wasn’t the answer Daryl was hoping for. Can you talk about that experience, shooting that scene in the barn and losing [actress Madison Lintz] from the cast?

Reedus: That day sucked, because I really like Madison. She’s such a cool little girl. It was really emotional. Jon [Bernthal] had a lot of dialogue and was doing his amped-up thing. Melissa [McBride] was doing her emotional oh-my-god thing, and [Andrew Lincoln] was doing his “no, stop!” thing. [Chandler Riggs] was doing his “no, I can’t believe that’s true!” thing. And Daryl’s just like, “Let’s kill somebody!” Then [Sophia emerges] and there were a few different ways you could go. With Melissa running in, for Daryl to take her on — damaged people gravitate toward damaged people, and he took it upon himself to hold her. I know there are lots of rumors about [Daryl and Carol] having a romantic affair, but I think it’s more than that. I think it’s more of a protection thing, which I find much more interesting than kissy-kissy sexy-sex stuff. That day was big. It was a large day. We shot it for a few days, actually, to get it all down.

MTV: Daryl has made a lot of personal progress this season, but will Sophia’s death set him back? How does he react to finding out that she’s gone?

Reedus: It’s going to be interesting. It sets him back in certain ways, in that the hope’s gone. That little girl that he’s looking for, if she’s one of them, he doesn’t really give a crap anymore. You can have these so-called leaders of the group saying “do this, do that,” and he doesn’t really need them anymore. So you find out that Daryl sort of separates himself a little bit. He reacts violently to anything emotional revolving around that story line. There’s another side of that in that he’s looked upon more as one of the leaders now, so there’s a new set of responsibilities that Daryl has to deal with. Whether he wants them, whether he wants to take them, [is another story]. But it’s interesting to see him looked upon as a leader. Fireworks fly. It’s not necessarily something he wanted or asked for. He’s not super thrilled about it.

MTV: Daryl has had some of the best zombie kills of the series. Which one was your favorite this season?

Reedus: Ooh. My best kill of the season? Well, I like last season, the double-ax to the throat. That was fun. [This season], I liked slashing the zombie churchgoer across the face; that was kind of fun. And I liked shooting the well-dressed zombie in the woods [in the season premiere], that was kind of fun too, then cutting his chest open and reaching inside of him, the gut bag. That was cool. That was a lot of fun. That was Andy and me being, “Ooh, gross!” You’d put your hand inside and it goes [makes a balloon deflating noise], and they put tubes of hot air that would blow in your face with gas inside the intestines. It was disgusting. [Co-executive producer and makeup effects designer] Greg Nicotero is completely twisted.

MTV: Looking beyond Daryl, this show has taken off in a big way. Ratings are huge, and it’s been getting a lot of attention. Obviously you’re very close to the show, but what’s your take: Why is “Walking Dead” so huge?

Reedus: There’s a whole thing about the economy that I’ve heard, that when the economy is bad, for some reason zombies and horror films are huge. Maybe that’s part of something. But also because it’s not really about zombies. It’s about these people trying to get together and working together and making lives for themselves, whether life is even worth living anymore. There’s this desperate smell in the air that people have to come together who won’t normally come together, and I think that’s the appeal, really. It’s like that show “Survivor.” These people try to figure it out, cut each other’s throats, be a–holes here and there and rip each other off — that’s part of it [on "Walking Dead"]. Plus, our special effects are so amazing. Our cinematography is so great. Our writing is really good. There are a lot of elements that have come together. It’s more than just a zombie show. I think that’s a big deal.

Daemon’s TV Exclusive Interview with Norman Reedus
Source: Daemon’s TV

It must be quite a interesting experience to be Norman Reedus these days.

Not only is he in The Walking Dead one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the year but he gets to play one of the most beloved character on the show. Why you ask? My fellow writer The TV Czar said it best in 5 Must See TV Stars:

He has managed to transform this racist hillybilly character into someone loved and rooted for by the audience. Also, he seems to be one of the few characters on the show that is capable of common sense thinking when faced with a zombie apocalypse. He should get at least a Golden Globe nomination for that alone.

To top it all off, Norman doesn’t just rest on his laurels as he uses his profile to help out very deserving causes through his web site and with his photography that you can buy on Charity Buzz (all proceeds go to charity).

Daemon’s TV was lucky enough to catch Norman during this interesting time and ask him a few burning questions about the last TWD episode, what we should expect when the show comes back next year and what show he would love to guest star on. Check out what he had to say below and don’t forget to watch the new episodes of The Walking Dead which return next year Sunday Feb 12 at 9/8c.

Congratulations on a great second season of ‘The Walking Dead’ so far.

Norman Reedus: Yeah, thanks. I think after episode 8 it gets even better, to be honest.

Sophia walking out of the barn in the last episode, that was a shocker. Did you know about that all along?

Norman Reedus: We didn’t know that was going to happen. We kind of had an idea, but they give us our scripts just before we shoot. So, we didn’t really know for sure, but we had a good idea that it was going to happen.

You had a suspicion that she was nearby?

Norman Reedus: Yeah, and there was also talk that maybe Merle had her. There was talk that maybe she joined in with another group. There’s always talk about what’s going to happen on our set, but I think we kind of knew that was going to happen.


That scene was very well shot and so emotional

Norman Reedus: It was emotional. There’s a lot going on there. Hershel’s family was in the barn. They’re let loose. There’s that whole storyline of Hershel watching his family and neighbors being executed when he doesn’t believe that they’re not human anymore. He believes that they’re just sick. There’s the storyline with Carol and realizing that Sophia is now a walker. There’s also the storyline of Rick and Shane, Shane and Rick sort of fighting for power. There’s the storyline with Rick’s wife. There’s a lot going on there.

We shot that, we took a long time shooting that scene and there’s also so many squibs and so many bullets and so much makeup for the walkers. So, there’s a lot going on there. Madison [Lintz] and I got really close on this set. I’m very fond of that girl and we had another storyline going in the beginning of the season where I’m giving her dirty looks a lot. She’s giving me dirty looks a lot. It’s like two little kids who that before they become buddies they glare at each other like they hate each other. I always thought it was funny that it was a little girl doing it with a grown man and he’s acting like a little kid. We had that storyline going. There was a lot going on. Carol really had to bring the noise that day because it’s her daughter and it’s a long day of crying and screaming and running.

Do you know something about your character that maybe the rest of the cast doesn’t know?

Norman Reedus: Sometimes. In different situations, yeah. There’s a back story of why Daryl is looking for Sophia so hard. He was an abused kid and he was left alone and he’s sort of overcoming his own demons by looking for this little girl. He thinks that if he can find her he can put some of those demons to bed. I’m covered in scars underneath my shirt. That was the whole thing with Carol bringing me the soup in bed after I come back from falling down the ravine and so forth. She says, ‘You’re every bit as good as them.’ So, I know that backstory ahead of time.

While we’re doing scenes, like when I’m cutting open the walker with Rick looking to see if it’s eaten any people recently, we find the squirrel in the stomach; I know the storyline of the scars while we’re shooting that scene. I’m trying to plant little moments because I know she’s going to say, ‘You’re every bit as good as them.’ So, I’m trying to plant little moments where I do the grunt work for the group. Like he’s going to cut him open and I’m, like, ‘I’ll do it.’ I’m trying to make myself the pool boy or the gardener and doing the grunt work. I’m trying to find little moments where it’ll make that line, ‘You’re every bit as good as them,’ make sense. I’m trying to plant little seeds where I don’t believe that. Sometimes I do and sometimes I can help further those along.

I’m assuming that latest incident is going to impact the Daryl and Carol rapport that was developing. Is that right?

Norman Reedus: Yeah. We do have a sort of special bond, and it’s not so much romantic as I think it’s damaged people hanging out with damaged people. They sort of gravitate towards each other. I even find that more interesting. We were talking about how we should do a spin off called ‘Daryl & Carol’ where we live in Central Park and there would be a still in the woods in Central Park and she’d be knitting blankets on a bench and people would walk up and go, ‘Do you know where the Statue of Liberty is?’ ‘Fuck you! What are you looking at?’ We had a theme song that goes, [singing] ‘Carol is feral and Daryl feral, a match made in hell.’ You never know. As far as a romantic thing, I have no idea if that’s in the works. I think it’s almost more interesting that it doesn’t happen, to be honest.

What can you tease about the upcoming episodes?

Norman Reedus: I can say that in the second half, after this hiatus, people are done talking. It’s all kind of firecrackers from here on out. It gets more action packed. The first part of the season, it gets slow when people have to talk. That’s just how it works. I think the writers have done such a great job with setting up storylines and explaining them when they need to be explained, not over talking it and not over thinking it. There are certain things that need to be said to keep the story moving and I think they’ve done a good job with it. I know when people watch the show they go, ‘More zombies. More death.’ But you have to do a bit of talking. Otherwise it’s ‘Transformers.’

Are you done shooting the second season?

Norman Reedus: We just wrapped. I drove back to New York and then flew out to do the ‘Talking Dead’ and then flew back to New York. We’re pretty much just getting back into the normal routine.

Daryl is a fan favorite among the cast with all his depth and layers. How did you approach him differently in season two than you might’ve in season one?

Norman Reedus: Well, last season I didn’t really have any conversations about Daryl with anybody. Last season I showed up in the third episode and was like, ‘Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck You! You did what? I’m going to kill you.’ So, I tried to act little moments to make him human. I tried to tear up at times while yelling fuck you at people and throwing squirrels at them. I tried to make it seem like I lost my big brother. He still has a big brother and he lost him. That wasn’t really on the page, that sort of sadness. It was just anger.

So, I tried to drop bits of sadness in between the anger, and there wasn’t even, like, ‘Does Daryl trust this group? Is he going with the group? Does he totally trust them, not trust them?’ That wasn’t even there. So, you had to pick moments where that happens. Going into season 2, I got a chance to meet in the writer’s room before we started season two. They asked questions, like, ‘What did you think about Lori? How did you feel about T-Dog?’ Like in a movie you know you’re going from here to here. In TV if you can just plant seeds as you’re going along and hope that somebody sees them and waters them and they grow into little clues it’s kind of a bonus. I’ve gotten the opportunity to do that and the writers have been very gracious on letting me have some input on things.

Maybe there were a few things where I was like, ‘No way. I don’t want Daryl headed in this direction,’ and we talked it out and found other options. For the most part, going into season two, for Daryl it’s been about how does he get along with people. I like the fact that we didn’t start off like we’d all known each other for a long time and had a back story and Carol knew Daryl in high school and the woods. I’m glad that we didn’t have that so that it makes these people seem like they’re strangers which I like.

I’ve said this before, but I don’t like playing Daryl standing still. When people sit and have a conversation about something, important or not so important, I have a running joke with the camera department because I never stand still. They give the actors their marks and they’re like, ‘You’re area is between here and here,’ because I hate standing still. I can’t stand it. Especially playing this character, he’s not one of those guys that stands still and observes. He wanders in the background sort of like an animal, like he’s on a leash. That’s how I’m playing him the whole time. So, going into season two that leash walk back and forth is slowly starting to get less aggravated, if that makes sense.

You probably get a lot of input on Twitter from fans. What’s that interaction been like?

Norman Reedus: They’ve given me a lot, are you kidding? I love those guys. The fandom is keeping me hanging out in there. It’s great. Everyone is really into Daryl. I think it’s for different reasons. He sort of fits in differently. You’ve got Shane who’s the protagonist, the angry guy that’s maybe the voice of reason on his end. You’ve got Rick who’s this guy who’s trying to figure it all out and do the right thing which I find way more interesting than ever, being sure footed in any direction. I find this really good guy trying to figure out and struggling with it, that’s such an awesome character.

Different characters have different paths and I think that Daryl’s is something sort of unique because he’s trying to get along for the first time and it could be in any situation. It could be in any job, any world and just having that interaction, a guy trying to fit in with people no matter where they are is very interesting. You put that in front of a backdrop that’s on the apocalypse with all these rich characters around, that makes it more and more interesting. So maybe that’s a part of it plus It’s hard not to look cool with a crossbow.

The fans have been great. Someone just sent me a link to a Hello, Kitty Daryl. I’ve got so many paintings and T-shirts and dolls and pieces of art about Daryl that it’s pretty overwhelming. I get a lot of fun fan stuff.

Speaking of art, you have an exhibit on display with photos that you’ve taken while shooting ‘The Walking Dead’ set?

Norman Reedus: ‘Wired’ magazine asked if they could do a show of photos that were taken in Georgia. I told them that I couldn’t really take photos of the show. I don’t think that I’m allowed to do that, but I can take photos of what my experience is like in Georgia. I have a motorcycle I keep out there, a Triumph Scrambler. So, on my days off and some days on the way to work I ride out into the countryside for hours without seeing anybody. It’s just amazing.

But I originally sent them all photos of road kill and I got an email going, ‘This is in Time Square with holiday shoppers. You can’t show them dead animals on the road.’ So, they had a conniption to begin with, but I also had to do the squirrel dissecting scene. The show sent me to a taxidermist in Georgia. So, I got to sit down with this very nice lady as she carved up all these dead animals around me. But her shop was full of the craziest taxidermy. I spent a good full day there, looking into the eyes of these, like, mountain lions that were put back together and these coyotes. They looked so sad. It was so crazy to look at. It lasted with me for a while. So, incorporated some Georgia shots, some taxidermy shots and some road kill shots.

And people can buy these photos with the proceeds going to charity

Norman Reedus: It does all go to charity. I also have a website called www.bigbaldhead.com and I have three short films on there that I directed and edited and shot. I also did those for charity. Being in Georgia, late nights on sets I got sort of addicted to eBay and I bought way too many vintage motorcycle helmets and took turns wearing those while riding around Georgia. So, I ended up on the last week of shooting having all the cast pick a charity and we all signed the helmets and sold those for charity as well. They all sold.

If you could guest star on any other TV show which one would it be?

Norman Reedus: It would either be ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm‘ or it would be ‘Eastbound and Down.’ There are so many I like, but one of those two and maybe if they bring back ‘Arrested Development‘ I wouldn’t mind being on that show.

I hear it’s coming back on Netflix.

Norman Reedus: It’s coming back? That’s it. I liked ‘The Killing,’ too.

Fifty percent of the actors we talk to say ‘Walking Dead,’ but,for some reason, nobody wants to be a zombie.

Norman Reedus: Because you’re in makeup all day long. I can understand that. I feel so bad for these zombies sometimes. Also, ‘Breaking Bad.’ I wouldn’t mind being on that show. It’s awesome.

Photography by Norman Reedus
Source: Charitybuzz – Wired Store 2011

Norman Reedus, a photographer and actor – best known for his work in The Walking Dead – will be unveiling a unique exhibition of photographs taken around the set in Georgia.

The photographs will be on display from December 1 – December 6, exclusively at the 2011 WIRED Store Times Square – 42nd and Broadway, NYC.

Own A Norman Reedus Photograph!
Bid on charitybuzz between Tuesday, November 29 and Thursday, December 15, for a chance to own one of these surreal photographs exhibited at this event. All proceeds to benefit Oxfam.

If you have the money and would like to own one of Norman’s photographs & support Oxfam please bid!

Images are for personal use only. If you repost these images on your site there must be credit.

• 0019x – 2011 Parties/Benefits/Galas > 75th Anniversary Of Los Angeles Mission Serving Thanksgiving Dinner To The Homeless

Sunday’s Special Hour-Long Talking Dead to Feature Kirkman, Nicotero & Reedus
Source: The Walking Dead blog

Along with The Walking Dead’s Midseason Finale this Sunday at 9/8c comes the last Talking Dead of 2011. Which also means your last chance this year to have any burning questions answered by Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick and company. And since you’re likely to have more competition than ever to have your questions answered, AMC is airing a special hour-long episode this Sunday at Midnight/11c with guests Executive Producer and Writer Robert Kirkman, Special FX Makeup Designer and Co-Executive Producer Greg Nicotero, and actor Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon).

Got a question already about The Walking Dead? Submit them at TalkingDead.com.

Images are for personal use only. If you repost these images on your site there must be credit.

• 0031x – 2011 Parties/Benefits/Galas > Michael Kors Lifestyle Store Opening Party