Originally filed Friday, February 1, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.co on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
On a night of seemingly 1,000 Super Bowl parties, AMC decided Thursday night to hold one of their own to promote the return of “The Walking Dead” Feb. 10, the start of the second half of season nine.
The network rented one of producer Dallas Austin's homes in Sandy Springs, known as the pad Justin Bieber has used in the past when he visits Atlanta.
AMC then flew in Greg Nicotero (executive producer) Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan). All of them will be rewarded with a free trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday night.
"Walking Dead" actor Cooper Andrews (Jerry) lives nearby and brought his girlfriend Abin Shim as well.
The show hired several walker extras to show up in full “Walking Dead” regalia. Two were made up as Whisperers, the newest enemies facing the “Walking Dead” regulars who are humans wearing walker skin masks. Two walkers hung out at the step and repeat. Two more ambled behind glass. Others just wandered about the partygoers - not biting or making that creepy walker noise, thank goodness.
Austin, a "Walking Dead" fan, was thrilled when AMC wanted to rent his home and asked him to invite some of his football and music friends. Three NFL players were co hosts: DeAngelo Williams, DeSean Jackson and Tarik Cohen. Others who showed up: rapper and "Walking Dead" Fan Waka Flocka, pop-country duo LoCash, Minnesota Vikings player Trae Waynes, Quad Lunceford from "Married to Medicine" and Phaedra Parks, formerly of "Real Housewives of Atlanta."
Credit: Tasos Katopodis
Credit: Tasos Katopodis
I spoke briefly with Nicotero, Reedus and Morgan. I’ll provide their thoughts on the second half of “The Walking Dead” season in a later story.
Nicotero is working on a new AMC Stephen King horror anthology “Creepshow” starting next week before returning to “The Walking Dead” for season 10 in the spring.
Reedus is off to Uruguay and Costa Rica next week for the fourth season of AMC travel show “Ride With Norman Reedus.” The third season starts February 10 after the return of “The Walking Dead.”
“A lot of rock stars, a lot of actors” want to join the show, he said. “The thing is a lot of people say they ride, but they don’t really ride. They own a bike but don’t use it. It’s in the garage.”
Reedus is psyched for season three, which includes Marilyn Manson, Sean Patrick Flanery, Jello Biafra, Les Claypool, Ian Anderson and Rob Halford. He will also ride with some of his "Walking Dead" buddies, past and current such as Melissa McBride, Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun and Austin Amelio.
And while he said he misses Lincoln, his new BFF has been Morgan.
As for his Super Bowl pick, he doesn’t care. He would have preferred the Saints to win over the Rams to get into the Super Bowl.
Before I talked to him, a Bossip reporter asked Reedus what his favorite Waffle House meal is and he admitted that he has never gone there despite spending so much time in Georgia the past nine years.
Morgan is rooting for the L.A. Rams to win.
“I’m a Seahawk guy and the Rams are in my division,” Morgan said. “I hate that they’re there and not my team. But the Pats beat us a couple of years ago and I’m not over it.”
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