Thanks in large part to the types of expanded television packages available from companies like Direct TV (just visit http://www.direct.tv), people are becoming less and less content with basic television. This is also why an increasing number of people seem to be investing in HBO programming. These types of investments always seem to lead people to the shows that they truly get interested in. For example, it is hard to find a show with a more fanatical following than HBO;s “True Blood.” In fact, while it initially had something of a cult following, True Blood is becoming something of a sensation on a fairly broad scale these days.
Interestingly enough, as most of its fans probably already realize, True Blood is actually something of a continuation of a surprisingly popular trend of vampire-related entertainment. With this in mind, this article will briefly discuss a few alternatives to True Blood, for vampire fans who simply can’t get enough from one show. After all, we have all had the experience of falling in love with a movie or television show to the extent that we’ll always want more.
While it is more geared toward a younger audience, the “Twilight” saga can arguably be said to have kicked off the recent trend in vampire stories. The story follows a group of teenage humans, vampires and werewolves as they grapple with all of the issues normal American teens deal with (such as love and identity), but with life-and-death circumstances. Interestingly enough, some have even said that the core romance of the series is loosely modeled on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Still, while it is again a bit less mature and less sexy than something like True Blood, Twilight can quench the thirst of vampire fans.
The vampire genre has also begun to spread into the film industry, not only from the movie adaptations of the Twilight books, but also in films such as “Fright Night” which will debut in theaters this fall. This movie looks to be approaching vampirism from a horror genre standpoint, as Colin Farrell will portray “the vampire next door” who makes the new kid on the block’s life a living hell.
The point of these brief illustrations of other vampire projects is simply to allude to the number and diversity of vampire stories there are out there for fans of True Blood who want more of their genre. It is clear that the vampire genre is here to stay, meaning that as time goes on there will likely only be more shows, movies and books to satisfy its fans.
“True Blood is a total blessing. I went in for the part of Hoyt, which was very small at the time and the character description was literally ‘the most nondescript human being ever’ and I thought, ‘Well, that’s either an insult or an opportunity.’ [The role] has added a lot of public credibility to my career because when you cast an actor, you are in essence vouching for them.”
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 stakes are very high and it’s very extreme. It’s not a show where you hit your mark and say, ‘hand me the scalpel’ or anything like that. We’ve got vampires and werewolves chasing after us. People are getting bitten, people are going to scream and shake and cry, so we really get the chance to use our chops on this show.”
It doesn’t hurt that Wesley’s co-stars in this over-the-top drama—including Anna Paquin, Sam Trammell, Tony winner Denis O’Hare, Olivier Award winner Fiona Shaw (as an out-of-control witch in the current season) and Wesley’s Juilliard classmate Nelsan Ellis—have a similarly theatrical pedigree, as profiled by Broadway.com. According to Wesley, having stage vets on set makes all the difference.
“We work in the same way, and people are very grounded,” she noted. “We like to play off of each other, so it’s nice to have other actors who have a theater background. It’s a dream job to be on True Blood, working with these actors and [show creator] Alan Ball, who comes from the theater as well.
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.
Song: Where Are You
Artist: Steven Casper
Scene: Pam tries to kill Tara and Naomi outside Merlotte’s
iTunes US:
Song: Yellow Elevator #2
Artist: The Black Angels
Scene: Plays while Alcide and Debbie are in the woods
iTunes US:
Song: Town Called Heartbreak
Artist: Patti Scialfa
Scene: Naomi and Tara sit in the truck, talking about splitting up
iTunes US:
Song: Always A Friend
Artist: Bruce Springsteen & Aejandro Escovedo
Scene: Jason fantasizes about Jessica while working out / Hoyt stops by Jason’s
iTunes US:
Song: Come See Me
Artist: Steve McComb
Scene: Sam goes to see Luna
iTunes US:
Song: Dyin’ Ain’t The End Of The World
Artist: The Shake
Scene: Sam and Luna talk at Merlotte’s
iTunes US:
Song: Send Mary A Letter
Artist: Scott Hall
Scene: Alcide and Debbie in bed
iTunes US:
Song: Cold, Grey Light Of Dawn
Artist: Nick Lowe
Scene: End Credits
iTunes US:
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.”
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.
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.
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.