Is it my birthday and I forgot? AMC announced today that the October 16 premiere of season 2 of zombiefest The Walking Dead will be an XL version – 90 minutes instead of an hour! Here’s the press release:

New York, NY – September 1, 2011 – AMC’s critically acclaimed original series, The Walking Dead, is back with its much anticipated second 13 episode season. Kicking off a two week long Fearfest, the network will once again present viewers with a 90-minute premiere episode, airing at 9 PM ET on Sunday, October 16th, with six one-hour episodes in the weeks following. The final six episodes of the season will commence on Sunday, February 12th at 9pm ET.  The 90 minute version will also be launched globally on all Fox International Channels, following the US premiere the week of October 17th-23rd. Season two will reach FOX audiences in 122 countries, speaking 35 languages and will be seen by over 200 million households globally.

The Walking Dead follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln (“Love Actually,” “Teachers,” “Strike Back”), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home. Jon Bernthal (“The Pacific,” “The Ghost Writer”) plays Shane Walsh, Rick’s sheriff’s department partner before the apocalypse, and Sarah Wayne Callies (“Prison Break”), is Rick’s wife, Lori Grimes.  Additional cast include: Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chandler Riggs, Iron E. Singleton and Melissa McBride. Recently announced guest stars include: Lauren Cohan, Scott Wilson and Pruitt Taylor Vince.

Thank you, AMC! See you then! And, of course, before.

The Walking Dead season 2 will premiere on October 16 at 9/8c. on AMC.