full size Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead
Credit: AMC

Daryl Dixon + Zombies = The TV equivalent of a "chick flick"?

According to Adweek, the highest-rated cable show among women is AMC's The Walking Dead, which has turned into a much bigger draw for ladies than more typical female-centric shows like The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

TWD's February 10 mid-season premiere drew an impressive 5.0 rating/11 share among women 18-49, nearly double that of its nearest competition.

full size The Cast of New Girl: Season 2 Promo Shot
Credit: Dewey Nicks/FOX ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co.

The Big Bang Theory (with its lead male cast) and darker shows like The Following, CSI, and Law & Order: SVU are also big hits with women. Meanwhile, female-led shows like New Girl, Once Upon a Time, and The Good Wife appear to be underperforming with the key female demo.

Why? Researchers and marketing consultants have their theories, but there's probably not one set answer. We all have our own brains (unless they've been eaten by zombies) and make our own decisions. It's not like today's women are put off by a little blood and guts and we’re not going to watch a show just because a woman was cast in a lead role, as if this one woman now represents us all.

Besides, The Walking Dead is just cool, and we all appreciate cool, buzz-worthy shows. And, on a shallow note, you can't forget the hot guys. There's a reason fans have threatened to riot if anything happens to Daryl Dixon...

Source: Adweek