SEEN & HEARD
Wsoon be among the walking dead? The zombie killing AMC star was predictably tight-lipped when cajoled for some intel on the new season of “The Walking Dead,” which kicks off Sunday, but says that the first episode’s a doozy. Fans of the zombie hit have been waiting on pins and needles to find out which mystery character was dispatched at the hands of the villainous, baseball-batwielding Negan at the end of last season and the answer is going to shock people, he told us. “Without a doubt,” said Reedus, who plays the heroic, crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon on the show. “Bring a blankie, hold the hand of someone you care about. It’s a heavy episode.” Fielding months of queries about the matter has driven Reedus “a bit crazy,” he acknowledges, but that’s nothing new. “It’s been like that since we started the show seven years ago — people asking, ‘What happens next week?’ They’ve always asked that.” Asked if he knew at the outset that the zombie-apocalypse drama would become such smash, he admits he had no clue. “I don’t think anyone did,” he said. “I don’t think you can ever plan for something to be a juggernaut like this.”
Reedus says there’s no one thing that explains the show’s success.
“You see these people do their best and go through these journeys. You see them grow and change, you see them fight for each other,” he said. “You see people grow stronger together in a world that’s supposed to be ripping them apart. It’s very heartfelt, it’s very honest. And it’s good storytelling.”
Reedus is something of a Renaissance man — a sculptor, photographer and artist, he’s told us he’s got a show opening in Paris in December and is working on a second photography book with legendary rock and roll photog To add to his resume, he’s also become something of a crossbow collector.
“I have probably seven crossbows by now. I keep one every year.” Reedus says, insisting that he’s a good shot too, “but you’re not allowed to fire a live weapon on set.” Melissa Etheridge will play the Apollo Theater on Sunday to promote her Stax Records tribute album “Memphis Rock and Soul” … Z100’s will be Grand Marshal at the 43rd Annual Village Halloween Parade… will host a kickoff Monday for the Viennese Opera Ball taking place at the Waldorf Astoria on Feb. 10.
the wife of late ABC anchor Peter Jennings, hosted a reception for the Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra on Oct. 19 at the Hungarian Consulate.