LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11, 2011 – HBO has renewed the hit show TRUE BLOOD for a 12-episode fifth season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Created by Alan Ball, the series will begin production of new episodes later this year in Los Angeles, with debut set for summer 2012.

“I am thrilled that TRUE BLOOD continues to enjoy a phenomenal reception from both subscribers and critics,” noted Lombardo. “Alan Ball and his gifted team have devised the greatest thrill ride on TV.”

“I remain amazed and delighted by the enthusiasm of our viewers,” says Ball. “I can’t imagine having more fun than this.”

Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, the Emmy®-nominated show takes place at a time when vampires have come out of the coffin, and follows the on-and-off romance between waitress and part-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people’s thoughts, and 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). Series creator Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy®-winning HBO series “Six Feet Under”) is also an executive producer of the show, which is based on the bestselling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

The 12-episode fourth season of TRUE BLOOD, which launched June 26, has inspired critical raves, with USA Today calling it “exuberantly entertaining,” as well as hailing the “superb crew of writers and actors,” while the Washington Post called the show “a rollicking good scream” and “addictive.”

TRUE BLOOD recently received four Emmy® nominations, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Alfre Woodard).

Season four credits: TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball, Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Mark Hudis, Nancy Oliver, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo; co-producer, Christina Jokanovich.

The True-Blood.tv Episode Guide has been updated to include new information for all episodes up to, and including, Season 4 Episode 6 airing on July 31, 2011.

View: True Blood Episode Guide / True-Blood.tv – HBO True Blood TV Series FanSite

WARNING – Notice Contains Spoilers!

via press release:
TRUE BLOOD
SEPTEMBER EPISODE
Episode #36: “Evil Is Going On” (season finale)
Debut: SUNDAY, SEPT. 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 12 (11:35 p.m.), 14 (11:35 p.m.), 15 (10:00 p.m.) and 18 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 13 (8:00 p.m.), 16 (10:00 p.m.), 17 (11:30 p.m.) and 19 (12:30 p.m.)

Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) grapples with his conscience while plotting his perfect revenge against Russell (Denis O’Hare). Fed up with being “vampire crack,” Sookie (Anna Paquin) considers a new life without Bill (Stephen Moyer) – or any other vampire. Tara (Rutina Wesley) discovers some surprising news about Sam (Sam Trammell), whose rage resurfaces upon learning of Tommy’s (Marshall Allan) latest transgression. Jason (Ryan Kwanten) finds a new calling after warning Crystal’s (Lindsay Pulsipher) family about an impending drug raid. Plagued by visions, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) turns to Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) for help, and learns his boyfriend has more to offer than companionship. Hoyt (Jim Parrack) hopes for a future with Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll), spurning Maxine’s (Dale Raoul) pleas to wed Summer (Melissa Rauch). Written by Alan Ball; directed by Anthony Hemingway

TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Skokie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball and Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Nancy Oliver and Alexander Woo; supervising producer, Raelle Tucker; producer, Mark McNair; associate producer, Christina Jokanovich.

Source: September 12 is Night of Season Finales for HBO’s ‘True Blood,’ ‘Entourage‘ and ‘Hung‘ (Minor Spoilers)

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2010 – HBO has renewed the hit show TRUE BLOOD for a 12-episode fourth season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Created by Alan Ball, the series will begin production of new episodes early next year in Los Angeles, with debut set for summer 2011.

“The new season of TRUE BLOOD is off to a terrific start, as enthusiasm for this unique show continues to build among both subscribers and critics,” noted Lombardo. “We’re looking forward to more chills from Alan Ball and his gifted team next year.”

“I am beyond thrilled to be able to continue working with this amazing cast and crew,” says Ball. “This is the most fun I have ever had.”

Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, TRUE BLOOD takes place in the not-too-distant future, when vampires have come out of the coffin, thanks to the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood that means they no longer need humans as a nutritional source. The show follows the romance between waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who can hear people’s thoughts, and her boyfriend, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), who went missing at the end of season two, and is now the object of a frantic search. Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy®-winning HBO series “Six Feet Under”) created and executive produces the show, which is based on the best-selling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.

The 12-episode third season of TRUE BLOOD, which launched June 13, has already inspired critical raves, with Entertainment Weekly calling it “faster, sleeker, more vicious, more fun than it already was,” as well as “summer’s best TV,” and USA Today hailing the show as “fabulously wild.”

Season three credits: TRUE BLOOD was created by Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris; executive producers, Alan Ball and Gregg Fienberg; co-executive producers, Brian Buckner, Nancy Oliver and Alexander Woo; supervising producer, Raelle Tucker; producer, Mark McNair.

Official descriptions and scheduling information for True Blood Season 2 Episodes 4, 5 and 6 have been added to the True Blood Episode Guide.

Descriptions and June broadcast dates for True Blood Season 2 episodes one through three on HBO and HBO2 have been added to the True Blood Episode Guide.

In late May, members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences began receiving HBO’s “Emmy campaign box”, which includes DVDs highlighting episodes from many of their original series. A True Blood DVD featuring the Season 1 episodes “Sparks Fly Out” and “Plaisir d’Amour” was among them.

Source: http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/05/hbo-emmy-dvd-campaign-box.html

Sources report that principal filming on True Blood season 2 starts today, January 6th 2009.

Filming on the 12 episode season 2 should take approximately 6 months and is expected to be broadcast in early summer.

My friend Andy over at SpoilerTV has posted casting call information for True Blood Season 2, Episode 2 “Keep This Party Going”. SpoilerTV is a great site for the latest news on all your favorite TV shows.

[DIRK]
25 years old, enthusiastic, he’s a red-blooded American male who hates vampires…GUEST STAR / RECURRING (16)

[AMANDA]
18-23. This pretty, young, flirty and devoutly Christian girl hands out “honesty rings” at the Rising Sun Leadership Conference. Amanda fronts an all-female Christian rock band “that combines Courtney Love’s rock and roll aesthetic, Katy Perry’s teen sensibility, and Hilary Duff’s squeaky-clean sex appeal.” She and her band sing a song about abstinence that has all the boys in the audience mesmerized and lusting…1 song,sptv050769 2 lines, 2 scenes / POSSIBLE RECURRING. ACTRESS MUST BE ABLE TO SING

[MRS. HAMBY]
40 – 50, Jessica’s grief-stricken and tearful mother, she appears on the news begging for information on Jessica’s whereabouts. Mrs. Hamby is an uncertain woman who completely submits to her husband’s decisions and can’t make a move without consulting him…GUEST STAR / POSSIBLE RECURRING (14)

[MR. HAMBY]
Late 40s – early 50s, stoic and intimidating…GUEST STAR / POSSIBLE RECURRING (14)

[EDEN]
9 years old, she is Jessica’s awkward sister…GUEST STAR / POSSIBLE RECURRING (42)

[SALESWOMAN]
40 years old, flirtatious, and hot for vampires, she suggestively offers to model some clothing for Bill in the dressing room…1 scene (34)

[SALESWOMAN #2]
This saleswoman is thrown by Bill’s request for “proper” clothing…1 line, 1 scene (35)

[LARGE WOMAN]
This large woman is insulted by Eric’s derisive remarks but quickly scurries away when she sees his fangs.sptv050769..1 line, 1 scene (45)

[ANCHOR]
Seen on TV, this female anchor discusses Mrs. Hamby’s latest plea…1 speech, 1 scene (14)

Source: http://spoilertv.blogspot.com/

My friend Andy over at SpoilerTV has just given me a heads up on a casting call for True Blood Season 2, Episode 1 “Nothing But The Blood”.

The characters include Sarah Newlin (“Late 20s – bright, pretty, cheerful wife of Fellowship of the Sun head Minister Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian), Sarah is an example of the new “hip” evangelical movement, hates vampires with a passion, deeply believes in her mission, her marriage, her country and her church. very feminine, but down-to-earth, also with a healthy appetite for life’s many pleasures… as she sees it, it’s all part of God’s gift to us. No actual nudity, but implied…SERIES REGULAR”), Daphne and Luke.

Head on over to SpoilerTV for the full True Blood Character descriptions:
http://spoilertv.blogspot.com/2008/12/true-blood-episode-201-nothing-but.html