<P> The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic television series based on the comic book of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, and developed for television by Frank Darabont . It premiered on the cable network AMC on October 31, 2010 . The series focuses on Rick Grimes, a sheriff's deputy who slips into a coma after being shot . He awakens to find himself in a dangerous new world that has been overrun by "walkers". He joins a group of survivors (including his wife and son) as they try to survive in a world among the undead . </P> <P> In October 2016, the series was renewed for a 16 - episode eighth season, which is scheduled to debut on October 22, 2017 . As of April 2, 2017, 99 episodes of The Walking Dead have aired, concluding the seventh season . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 31, 2010 (2010 - 10 - 31) </Td> <Td> December 5, 2010 (2010 - 12 - 05) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 13 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 16, 2011 (2011 - 10 - 16) </Td> <Td> March 18, 2012 (2012 - 03 - 18) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 14, 2012 (2012 - 10 - 14) </Td> <Td> March 31, 2013 (2013 - 03 - 31) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 13, 2013 (2013 - 10 - 13) </Td> <Td> March 30, 2014 (2014 - 03 - 30) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 12, 2014 (2014 - 10 - 12) </Td> <Td> March 29, 2015 (2015 - 03 - 29) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 11, 2015 (2015 - 10 - 11) </Td> <Td> April 3, 2016 (2016 - 04 - 03) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 7 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 23, 2016 (2016 - 10 - 23) </Td> <Td> April 2, 2017 (2017 - 04 - 02) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> 8 </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> October 22, 2017 (2017 - 10 - 22) </Td> <Td> TBA </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How many episodes of the walking dead are there
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