Shattering records for entertainment series programming on cable television, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” returned Sunday night with a record audience that could – appropriately in this case – be labeled a monster: 12.3 million total viewers.

Even more impressive, “Dead” pulled in 7.7 million in the category most sought by advertisers, viewers between the ages of 18 and 49. That is again the best in cable history and bigger than most entertainment series on the broadcast networks.

All of this was achieved against exceptional competition, with the Grammy Awards on CBS. The ratings represent a jump from the previous record set by “Dead” last October, a total audience of 10.9 million.

The number of viewers in the 18 to 49 category beats the average for almost every entertainment show on network television, though at least one series, CBS’s “Big Bang Theory,” does on occasion attract more viewers in that category. Its last episode pulled in 7.84 million and its top episode in January averaged 8.15 million.