Imagine what it’d be like to be on The Walking Dead, America’s favorite post- apocalyptic zombie tale. The zombie kills, the British actors speaking in heavy Southern drawls… Now imagine the next best thing, being on The Walking Dead after show Talking Dead. Less zombie killing, but it’s something.
Winner of the Ultimate Fan Search Greg Raiewski got to live out the second scenario on last night’s episode. As apparent from his instagram and host Chris Hardwick’s frequent mention, Raiewski is a cool (he surfs and has dogs!), handsome high school English teacher. “I hope I make my students proud and the fans proud,” he said, sitting next to fellow guests Josh Mcdermitt(aka the mulleted Eugene) and Christian Serratos (who plays the bad ass Rosita).
Raiewski even finds a way to incorporate The Walking Dead in the classroom. “I just found that a lot of my students are fans of The Walking Dead and watching Talking Dead as well so I just said ‘Hey, take notes as you watch Walking Dead,” Raiewski said. “Write down and answer the questions that are asked on Talking Dead. Really to just extend the writing skills that I’m teaching them in class using the show as evidence for literary analysis. Going beyond just regurgitating a summary but thinking critically about why Rick is doing what he’s doing and the rest of the gang.”
“I would fail his class. That’s like way too much work,” McDermitt immediately deadpanned.
Raiewski pointed out the motif of “infant imagery” in that night’s installment- Rosita not wanting to “babysit” Denise (Merritt Wever), a stroller seen in the woods, and of course the haunting sight of a baby’s show in the bloodied sink at the apothecary. Luckily for Raiewski, there wasn’t a shortage in plot points to cover on last night’s episode. Along with (Spoiler Alert) Denise’s gruesome arrowed- in- the- eye death, Eugene notably saved the day by chomping his captor’s crotch.
McDermitt explained that the actor wore a protective cup and rope apparatus (“Welcome to set, we’re gonna bite your dick!”) to prevent any heinous injury.
“Of course this is the episode I’m on,” Raiewski lamented. Hardwick then asked Raiewski what literary character Eugene was most like. The teacher likened him to King Lear’s fool because of his deconstruction of established knowledge. “You sexy punk rock braniac,” Hardwick gushed.
The week’s fan poll begged the question: What’s scarier, teaching teenagers or fighting zombies? Viewers overwhelming voted for teenagers with 85%. “You’re a hero, damn it!” Hardwick told Raiewski before awarding him a collection of Dead merchandise signed by the cast members.
The Walking Dead is winding down its sixth season and still going strong. While there’s no word on when another lucky fan will get to be on the Talking Dead couch, Hardwick did announce that fans will be able to Skype in on the April 3 finale.