AMC is bringing a serous, post-apocalyptic zombie suspense series to television, but it's not the first time that idea got kicked around.

As we reported, The Walking Dead is on its way to TV, with Frank Darabont writing and directing to get the series off to a good start.

But, two years earlier, a team of writer/producers planned Alive, a syndicated series featuring a small pocket of human survivors fighting to find a cure for a global viral pandemic that transformed humans into zombies.

Not too long ago I told you about a funny short from Funny or Die featuring actor/comedian Ed Helms (The Daily Show, The Office) as a zombie who's just trying to live a normal life but facing all the trials and tribulations that come with being one of the walking dead.

The last two chapters of his saga are up on the site, and I've also placed them below for your viewing pleasure. In the second segment, Glenn the Zombie tries the dating scene, but apparently normal women are too good to be seen with someone whose flesh is falling off their bones. In the third and final installment, Glenn shoots some hoops and decides that, as hard as it may be, he's happy with who he is.

I'll admit that these videos weren't exactly laugh-out-loud funny, but I don't think they're meant to be (although the final scene of chapter three cracked me up). Helms plays the character perfectly straight, which is part of the overall charm.

You think you're so great, don't you? Yeah, I'm talking to you. You there with your non-rotting skin and your oh-so-civilized way of not eating the flesh and organs of the living. Maybe it's time you stepped out of your comfort zone and learned a little about your fellow man (or, more precisely, your walking dead man).

Ed Helms (The Daily Show, The Office) tries to put a human face on the zombie by showing us that the living dead are not that different than us. They have jobs, friends, play the guitar, absent-mindedly pick decaying flesh from their faces -- well, I guess there are some differences.

At any rate, if you want a good laugh, and also maybe even get grossed out a little, the video is below.

(S18E19)

Homer: What are you, a travel agent? 'Cause you're sending me on a guilt trip.

I've been watching a lot of early Simpsons episodes lately, mostly from the first five seasons. I know many fans cite the earlier seasons as the best of the series, but I tend to disagree with the notion that the show was only good up to a point and all subsequent seasons are a complete waste. It's easy to say "everything after season six is crap," but you're disregarding A LOT of episodes when you make a statement like that. I try to judge each episode on its own merit, regardless of the season.

It's certainly not wrong to prefer some seasons to others, as humor is always subjective, and, in the case of The Simpsons, I think there are numerous variables that come into play as to why some still love it and some abhor it. I won't go into that here, though.

I saw that Michelle Rodriguez was back playing Ana Lucia and my first thought was "What the hell? Have they finally made good on all that zombie talk?" Alas, it doesn't appear so. According to the Access Hollywood piece, she is appearing in a flashback. The article is spoiler free, for those of you that dodge the dirty details. The only thing it gives away is her wardrobe.

How her return is received will, of course, depend on the story they are telling, but I am surprised that they are bringing her back at all. I was under the impression that most people were ok with being done with Ana Lucia. Are there Lost fans with burning Ana Lucia questions that have to be cleared up?

No word on whether or not the producers popped for a full time driver this time, but one can hope. Lost is scheduled to return from its mid-season break on February 7, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of that getting bumped up. Week after week of fourth place finishes has a way of shuffling schedules and changing plans.

[via tvtattle ]

*UPDATE* Reader A points to the news on the Official Michelle Rodriguez site that says the Acess Hollywood pics are not of her, and she is not currently in Hawaii.