The deliciously devilish HBO series True Blood isn’t exactly where you expect to have light shed upon the latest developments in technology. Vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, and fairies, sure— and the latest season ups the ante by adding witches and panthers to the menagerie—but the fictional Bon Temps, La., has always barely seemed up-to-speed with the end of the 20th century, much less in thrall with the cord-cutting online video revolution of 2011. Heck, I’d bet most of the residents only have basic cable.

Still, there it was in the third episode of the fourth season, the hilarious “If You Love Me, Why Am I Dyin’?”: a YouTube video posted by an anti-vampire organization, being watched by Bill Compton, newly crowned vampire king of Louisiana. But he’s not watching it on his computer. He’s not even watching it on an iPhone. He’s watching it on a wall-mounted flat-screen TV (looks to be about a 32″ Sony), with nary a set-top box or cable in sight.

Obviously, this is fiction; the video quality was way too good to be believable. But it says something about the state of connected television that the producers and network behind one of the nation’s most popular cable shows (and the only premium cable show in the Top 10 this summer) would present a YouTube video on a television, with or without a set-top box or visible wires, and not worry that audiences would have to suspend disbelief. If you still harbor any doubt that the era of connected television has arrived, you’d best dispense of it now.

Full Article: http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/True-Blood-Vampires-Sink-their-Fangs-into-Connected-TVs-76896.aspx

HBO just released a shocking statement where they decided, after much deliberation I’m sure, to renew one of their most popular shows for another season of hormone-fueled paranormal activity.

I don’t know why but “shirtless” is always the first thing I think of when I hear True Blood. After four absolute hit seasons — although, in my humble opinion only the first series really killed it from start to finish, the rest are very hit or miss — of course the network plans to proceed with another. In fact, I could probably have missed almost all of Season 2 and been happy. Except the parts with Godric, ’cause he was too rad to dismiss and gave us our first real glimpse at a softer side of Eric.

The press release from HBO states that Alan Ball and crew will begin production on the fifth season before year’s end in hopes of a summer 2012 premiere. In response to the crazy-devoted following the show has amassed, Ball said, “I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers. I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”

Full Article: http://www.cinemablend.com/television/HBO-True-Blood-Gets-Season-5-Renewal-One-Surprised-34204.html

I know that people have been talking about it – but I try to stay away from the blogs and fan sites. I’m a little scared … I do meet fans in person, though, and the feedback has been great this year. It seems that people are enjoying Eric’s arc, which is great because I had a blast shooting it. I love playing “Amnesia Eric.” It’s just such a different side of him, and it’s always fun as actor to dig deeper. You learn a lot, and I definitely have this year.

Is it difficult to play a person-within-a-person?

I wanted to make sure that it was a side of Eric – not a new character. The side of him that was hidden. He’s very innocent and naïve now, but I also thought it was very important not to lose the old Eric – the predator – and the element of danger there.

Full Article: http://www.inside-true-blood-blog.com/blog/2011/8/8/alexander-skarsgard-explores-erics-sensitive-side-and-his-la.html

The spirit of a 400-year-old Spanish witch named Antonia has possessed the body of the Wicca leader Marnie in Bon Temps, and her revenge is just beginning. My friend Joshua Morrow, who portrays Nick Newman on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless,” gave me permission to show readers his exclusive home video, a “CSI” hunk tied the knot, the “Today Show” unveiled Vanity Fair’s picks for the best dressed in Hollywood, Mark Teschner celebrated a birthday and Leo DiCaprio was named Hollywood’s top film star.

On Sunday night’s upcoming episode of “True Blood” titled “Cold Grey Light of Dawn,” look for the necromancer Antonia to exert even more power than she has already. She’s cast spells on the 1,000-year-old Viking vampire Eric Northman, his progeny Pam and last week on 400-year-old Catholic priest vampire Father Luis, who was the one who figured out that Antonia has inhabited the body of the Wicca leader Marnie.

Spoiler alert for Sunday night! With Marnie (Fiona Shaw) empowered by spirits of the dead, King Bill Compton of Louisiana (Stephen Moyer) issues an unpopular order to save vampires from the light. Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) embraces his amnesia, Luna (Janina Gavankar) discovers Sam (Sam Trammell) is not the man she thought he was, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) expands his consciousness after his tryst in Mexico, Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) gets a body peel, Andy’s (Chris Bauer) date with Holly (Lauren Bowles) doesn’t go as planned, Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) has doubts about her future with Hoyt (Jim Parrack); Alcide (Joe Manganiello) and Debbie (Brit Morgan) join a new pack, and trouble follows.

Full Article:http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/On_the_Industry_1168/True_Blood_s_Necromancy_In_Hollywoodland.php

A nude photo of “True Blood” star Ryan Kwanten that surfaced online Monday isn’t the real deal, according to the actor’s rep.

The low-res photo allegedly shows the 34-year-old pulling down his pants and exposing himself.

Kwanten’s rep told Us magazine that the photo is a fake.

The actor plays Jason Stackhouse – who is often seen shirtless – on the HBO drama.

Full Article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20086806-10391698.html

Captain Jack, we were watching True Blood and one of the characters baited up alligators with marshmallows. Do alligators like marshmallows?

Sessions: Yeah they do. No doubt about that. That’s a true story there. I go out and call them, bup bup bup bup bup bup–a mating call, you know. And sometimes, when they start coming, you toss them a marshmallow. Then they hang around and we give them a hot dog or two on a stick.

So you just go out into the middle of the swamp and start chucking marshmallows out into the water?

Sessions: No, they know we’re coming. When we get out there they kind of greet us. They know who we are. They’re creatures of habit. They pretty much sort us out and they know who to deal with when they come in. They’re smart.

Did you come up with the idea of baiting alligators this way?

Sessions: Oh, no—that’s been around for years and years and years. I don’t know if someone was camping and decided to throw a marshmallow at one. I don’t know how it came about, but honestly, it’s working.

Full Article: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/01/the-truth-about-true-bloods-marshmallow-eating-gators/

You’d think they’d know better by now.

Just about everyone gets possessed, either by vengeful spirits or pure-old fashioned desire.

Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) are in the throes of passion when Bill (Stephen Moyer) bursts in and ruins the moment. A humbled Eric bows to his king.

Sookie questions Bill’s motives. “Believe it or not, my entire existence does not revolve between what or who is between your legs,” he says.

Youch. Don’t see these two getting back together any time soon, and truth be told, I like the show more when they’re apart.

Sookie pleads for Eric’s life. “If you ever loved me, you won’t hurt him.”

But Bill twists Eric’s condition and wins approval to punish him with “the true death.”

Elsewhere, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) fears he will turn into a werepanther. That question is answered perfectly tonight, and as a bonus, a new love triangle is born.

Full Article: http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/entertainment/love_that_tv/?p=686

In an interview with Canadian newspaper Maclean’s (Harris was recently in Toronto for a science fiction convention), Harris announced she would be concluding the series with book 13. Her latest, “Dead Reckoning,” was book 11, so two more are scheduled to be released, most likely in May 2012 and May 2013, which is Harris’ usual publication month.

Full Article: http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20110731/LIFESTYLE/107310309/Harris-announces-end-Sookie-Stackhouse-series

“Stubborn people get themselves in a lot of trouble, but they also get things done,” Paquin said. “She’s a pretty good person to have in your corner. She’s willing to put herself out there.

“Besides, if Sookie wasn’t so stubborn, our show would be a hell of a lot less exciting,”

Paquin may have been raised in New Zealand but her natural accent is midwestern prairie — Canadian, really — a far cry from the U.S. Southern accent she affects for the hardscrabble bayou belle she plays in True Blood.

Paquin was just 11 when she won the Academy Award for supporting actress, for Jane Campion’s 1993 film The Piano, filmed in New Zealand.

People change over time, even fictional TV characters and hard-luck heroines of vampire romance novels.

“I feel she’s undergone a pretty radical change from the first time we met her to who she is now. What’s interesting about her this season is she’s made the decision to be on her own and to tell both her gentleman callers to get lost. And in a way that makes her even more open to things happening, because she’s no longer as needy.

“Pam wants permission to go kill the people who did this to her and she’s also trying to keep it hidden that she knows where her maker is, but she’s just not a strategist,” Kristin laughed.

While on Sunday’s episode, Pam is likely to face the repercussions for lying to King Bill about where Eric was stashed, Kristin herself couldn’t keep quiet regarding how delightful Alexander Skarsgard’s performance has been as an amnesiac vampire in the past few episodes

“Alex without memory… Is that not the sweetest thing… So charming. Alex is so charming and so funny and so smart,” she said of her friend and co-star. “He’s just the loveliest guy and… the scenes with him this year… I told him, the girls are gonna be stratospherically in love, not that they weren’t already.”

Kristin’s Pam certainly wants her maker’s memory to come back and she also wants to get her own mojo back. Whether that will happen by the end of the season or not, however, is uncertain.

“She’s certainly going to try. Sometimes on ‘True Blood’ things will get worse and worse and more dire,” Kristin said.

Full Article:http://www.accesshollywood.com/true-bloods-kristin-bauer-van-straten-on-pam-going-feral-and-the-girls-falling-stratospherically-in-love-with-eric_article_51250