Fall 2011 TV Preview: AMC Premiere Schedule and Trailers

Well, we're going to have to wait on "Mad Men." Contract disputes have been resolved, but not without a casualty: the premiere for AMC's biggest show has been pushed back to 2012.

But that's okay, because we have what may have been the best new show of last season returning to us, and a brand-new offering from AMC's original drama department, which has pretty much turned out nothing but hits over the past few years. Read on to see the premiere dates and trailers for AMC's fall shows.

New Shows:

"Hell on Wheels" - Sunday, November 6th at 10pm

The network has just one new show this fall, which is the norm for AMC. After all, the shows that they put out tend to be pretty big in budget for a network the size of AMC. This year's addition to the string of killer dramas is "Hell on Wheels," which sounds like it would be infringing on the "Sons of Anarchy" biker gang territory but is, in fact, quite different.

The show is actually set just after the Civil War, and plays out like a Western thriller. The title refers to the focus of the series on the expansion of the railways that was happening at the time, which aimed to unite the divided country but took a lot of lives in the process.

But the main plot follows the journey of a man who is seeking revenge on the Western frontier after his wife is murdered. A rather stock story, to be sure, but one that will undoubtedly be given new life and nuances by AMC and their eye for talent.

Returning Shows:

"The Walking Dead" - Sunday, October 16th at 9pm ET/PT

Just when you thought the zombie genre couldn't get any better, "The Walking Dead" came in and blew our minds...which, incidentally, is how you kill a zombie. Words like "sprawling" and "epic" are often used to describe this show, which uses some elaborate sets, special effects, and top-quality makeup to create a post-apocalyptic South that has been taken over by zombies.

Last season left us with little hope for civilization in the future, as our protagonists had only a few nice hours enjoying the comforts of their past lives before it all quite literally blew up in their faces. Season two looks to promise a much more raw, primal interaction between human and zombie. The hunt is on, but Rick and his crew aren't going to go down without a fight.

The other bonus here is that season two will be a longer episode order than season one, which was an infuriatingly short six episodes. It's tough to fall so much in love with a show that is gone so quickly...so AMC has given us 13 episode for season two.