Attention Vamps: True Blood minisodes

A small offering to tide you over until season 3, which airs June 13th.

And don’t forget, season 2 DVD and Bluray are out May 25th.

Eric and Pam:

 

Jessica:

 

Sookie, Lafayette and Tara:

Ranking the New Shows: #8 – True Blood

Crap! Fall is here and we’ve falling behind on our rankings.  Let’s try to speed this up.
“True Blood” is up at number 8. The show is incredibly faithful to the whole vampire thing… and by that I mean it sucks.

The show: “True Blood“
Synopsis: Girl bangs vampire.
Debuted: September 7th, 2008
Our take: It’s a good thing for HBO’s “True Blood” that I ranked these shows before the second season came out. While the show’s Nielsen ratings have doubled from last year, they lost at least two viewers in the TV Casualties screening room.

I gave the show 14 or 15 episodes before I threw in the towel. Looking back, the pilot struck me as mediocre, especially considering the talent behind the series. From that point, the series went downhill quickly. I was such a big fan of Alan Ball’s “Six Feet Under” that when I first heard about HBO developing this series, I ran out and read all of the books it’s based on.  I haven’t hated a show this much since “Nip/Tuck,” and I might hate this one more because I had so much invested in it.

What it would need to do to keep me watching: There’s so much wrong with “True Blood” that I can’t imagine it surviving any of the surgical removals I’d recommend. Mainly Anna Paquin. I can’t recall encountering a more obnoxious, irrational, and just plain dumb main character in any book, show, or movie.

True Blood Most Watched HBO show since Sopranos Finale

The “True Blood” ratings are in, and they are huge. The Nielsen numbers show “True Blood” at 3.7 million viewers, which doesn’t account for DVR or time-shifted viewers – HBO estimates those bring the total to 5.1 million. It’s up 50% from the 2.4 million that watched last year’s season finale. It’s also the best showing for an HBO show since “The Sopranos” finale brought in over 11.9 million a couple years ago.

Even more good news – “True Blood” DVDs are currently number one on Amazon in DVD sales and on sale for $24.99.

This is huge for HBO, a network that looked on the brink of dropping way off after shows like “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood,” “The Wire,” and “Six Feet Under” ended their runs and replacements, like “John from Cincinnati,” failed to connect with an audience. It looks like Fantasy might be their new go to genre with the success of “True Blood” and George R. R. Martin’s anticipated “Game of Thrones” around the corner.

Instant Reaction: True Blood “Nothing But the Blood,” 6/14/09

“Doesn’t it always seem like you’re apologizing or yelling at me?” Sam Merlotte said to Sookie in the “True Blood” season 2 premiere.   Yikes.  He basically nailed the biggest flaw of the first season.  Sookie is petty, whiny and snotty.  For someone that can read others’ thoughts, she has very little empathy.  At times it’s hard to watch.   Hopefully that bit of dialogue means that the writers are aware of this problem.

And with that one line, Sam became a more complex and interesting character.  It also marked the first time in the show that someone got the best of an argument with Sookie, which is pretty unbelievable considering how irrational she is.  Still, it was a step in the right direction.

The show seems to be taking a more complex track altogether.  The first season focused almost entirely on the murder mystery and Sookie and Bill’s romance with the subplots left a bit messy.  This year’s debut introduced much clearer long term storylines for Lafayette, Jason, Bill, Jessica, Sam and Tara (though Eric’s role is admittedly mysterious at this point).  Even the two cops seem to have a defined conflict and purpose.  Plus Bud had a spectacular square dancing shirt.

Signs of progress in the sophomore year? Yes.  Still, “True Blood” needs to make Sookie more endearing or they risk losing a huge portion of the audience.  After all, only about 50% of the population is going to be won over by hot vampires.

Also of note:  the episode opens with something of a big twist for Charlaine Harris fans.  The body discovered in the back of the car outside of Merlotte’s that served as the cliffhanger of the 1st season?  It’s not Lafayette like it is in the books.  Nope.  It’s Miss Jeanatte of insane (and fake) exorcism fame.

Tonight’s the Night: True Blood Season 2

Season 2 of “True Blood” premieres tonight at 9 pm. We’ve gathered up a slew of videos and pics to satisfy your blood lust over those last few hours. We’ll also have an instant response up tonight shortly after the episode airs, so be sure to check back.

Here Stephen Moyer goes way out of his way (and well off the red carpet) to pose for photos and sign autographs for fans. He actually seems like a really nice guy:

Hollywood Access interviews several key cast members at the S2 premiere in LA:

HBO’s S2 Trailer:

Photos:

Remember to check back tonight for the TV Casualties instant response to “Nothing but the Blood,” the S2 opener of “True Blood“.

Channel Surfing: Thrones casting, the Late Night Ratings War, and a new face for Tara

Here comes TV news at Twitter speed:

Showtime announced that Viola Davis signed on for a significant guest spot on season 2 of “United States of Tara.” The network also renewed its brand new Edie Falco series, “Nurse Jackie,” based on the strength of the ratings and critical response of its debut episode.

Letterman beat Conan in the ratings on Tuesday night, which seemed a surprise considering the hype O’Brien got over his “Tonight Show” entrance.  Conan moved back on top last night.

Maurissa Tancharoen annouced via her twitter account that two former “Reaper” writers/producers have joined the “Dollhouse” team – Michell Fazekas and Tara Butters. The news doesn’t come as a huge surprise as the pair had inked a 2 year deal with Fox a while back.

George R.R. Martin said on his livejournal that Cyanide Studios have bought the rights to make next gen console and PC games based on his “Song of Ice and Fire” series. He also said that casting is underway in London, Ireland and LA for HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”   (Check out our Thrones dream cast here if you missed it.)

Zoë Green will write the George Clooney produced Sci-Fi Channel project, “The Diamond Age.” According to the Variety report, Green has forthcoming Rob Reiner and Stan Lee projects.  “The Diamond Age” will be based on the Hugo winning Neal Stephenson novel of the same name.

Sticking with Scifi, “Battlestar Galactica – The Plan” will air in November.

In HBO land, the season 2 premier of “True Blood: The Complete First Season (HBO Series)” dominates the headlines. Sunday, June 14, at 9 pm.

And the Emmy should go to…

The big list of potential Emmy nominees is out for the acting categories, and though the ceremony is still a few months away here are our nominees and winners.  Thanks to Alan Sepinwall for the idea.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Ken Marino* – Party Down
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Adrian Grenier – Entourage
Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies
Danny McBride – Eastbound & Down

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Bryan Cranston* – Breaking Bad
Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment
Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Edward James Olmos – Battlestar Galactica

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Tina Fey* – 30 Rock
Toni Collette – United States of Tara
Sarah Silverman – The Sarah Silverman Program
Cheryl Hines – In Motherhood
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – The New Adventures of Old Christine

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

January Jones* – Mad Men
Emily Deschanel – Bones
Molly Parker – Swingtown
Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men
Mary McDonnell – Battlestar Galactica

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Kevin Dillon* – Entourage
Ryan Hansen – Party Down
NPH – How I Met Your Mother
Ed Helms – The Office
Rainn Wilson – The Office

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

John Noble* – Fringe
Walton Goggins – The Shield
Michael Hogan – Battlestar Galactica
James Callis – Battlestar Galactica
Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Jane Lynch* – Party Down
Rosemarie Dewitt – United States of Tara
Alyson Hannigan – How I Met Your Mother
Jane Krakowski – 30 Rock
Mindy Kaling – The Office

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Anna Gunn* – Breaking Bad
Elizabeth Mitchell – Lost
Tricia Helfer – Battlestar Galactica
Christina Hendricks – Mad Men
Dichen Lachman – Dollhouse

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

Dean Winters* – 30 Rock
Ed Begley, Jr. – Party Down
Peter Dinklage – 30 Rock
Chris Parnell – 30 Rock
Nate Corddry – United States of Tara

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

Jimmy Smits* – Dexter
Dean Stockwell – Battlestar Galactica
Alan Dale – Lost
Charles Durning – Rescue Me
Stephen Root – True Blood

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

Kristen Bell* – Party Down
Amy Ryan – The Office
Jessica St. Clair – United States of Tara
Salma Hayek – 30 Rock
Phoebe Strole – 30 Rock

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Kate Vernon* – Battlestar Galactica
Frances Fisher – The Shield
Rekha Sharma – Battlestar Galactica
Kristen Bell – Heroes
Lizzy Caplan – True Blood

Handmade Awesomeness: Vampire Edition

With the release of Season 1 of HBO’s “True Blood” on DVD this week, we scoured Etsy for the best handmade vampire gear.

Here are the choicest nugs:

Vamp Clothing

Gothic Bridal skirt, floor length tulle tutu skirt by MTcoffinzUnderground
Mens Glow in the Dark Nosferatu t-shirt by nwshirts
Widow Corset Top DiY by aNGrYGiRLGear
driving me BATTY dress by smarmyclothes

Vamp Jewelry

Lolita Skull Bow Earrings by StarrlightJewelry
A Little Drop Of Bella by BuyMyCrap
TrueBlood Fangbanger wooden bangle by faboo
Vampire Protection Necklace by Arete
Purple Dead Rose Demon Skull Heart Necklace by devilandmouse
TrueBlood Sookie Insipired Bitten Hand Stamped Bracelet by MindyKuen
Bloody Bat Heart Necklace by SyntheticSeduction
Carpe Noctem by UntamedMenagerie

More Vampy Fun

Too Bad You Are Not a Vampire Valentine Card Hand Printed Gocco by tinaseamonster
Vampire Martini Glass Set by cccreations
Plush Stake – Essential Tool by FurWillFly
Vampires Welcome by CountryWorkshop
Vampire Spell Spell Candle by purplesuncandles
HORRORSHOW Soap – GLOWS in the DARK -TRUE BLOOD – DRAGONS BLOOD Scent by dugshop

True Blood, Season 1: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

One part small town murder mystery, one part paranormal romance, and quirky comedy to taste – “True Blood” is a delicious cocktail of genres.

The show’s title comes from the name of a synthetic blood beverage that has allowed vampires to come out of the coffin and rock it among the living. I think you know what that means. Hot girl on vampire action and pla-enty of it, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

One such bloodsucker has recently moved to the tiny burg of Bon Temps, Louisiana, home of a telepathic waitress slash blond bombshell by the name of Sookie Stackhouse. That rascally vamp’s name? Bill. Vampire Bill Compton. Coincidentally (or is it!?) a string of young female residents start turning up murdered. Who the hell done it?

Alan Ball’s vampire series came with a wide range of high expectations, both as Ball’s follow up to “Six Feet Under” and as the adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ bestselling Sookie Stackhouse series. Rabid fans of each had wildly different expectations. The possibilities seemed endless. Would this be an HBO version of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer?” (Fun fact: Ball claims to have never watched the Joss Whedon series.) Would it lean to the quirky or scary side?

TV Casualties Rating:

Created by: Alan Ball

Starring: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten

Season Premiere: 09/07/08

DVD Release: 05/19/09

Nielsen Rating: 2.4 million viewers

Metacritic Score: 64/100

The biggest question for fans of the books: Who would play heroine/narrator Sookie? Oscar winner Anna Paquin landed the role to a mixed reaction. She had the reputation, though she wasn’t much of a match in the blond bombshell department. How’d she do?

Not great, unfortunately. Paquin plays Sookie a little too airheaded and lacks the charisma to carry the series the way the character does in the books. Don’t get me wrong, I would happily forgive the mismatch in looks in exchange for a strong performance. She doesn’t deliver. She’s so uncharismatic, in fact, that she often borders on unlikable.

Conversely, Stephen Moyer brings an understated charm to Vampire Bill. There is a lot of subtle humor in his drawn out delivery, which is a far cry from Paquin’s pouting and yelling.

Whether that’s a bad acting choice or bad writing is certainly questionable, though. All of the female characters often come off as shrill and irrational, while the men get the bulk of the funny lines and are generally more generous. The second most likable character after Bill is Sookie’s dimwitted hornball brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten.) Despite the fact that he’s a selfish, womanizing prick, he grows into one of the most sympathetic characters and the primary source of comedy. The writers aren’t nearly so inspired when writing for the girls.

Similarly, the murder mystery is mishandled. The basic plot elements follow the book faithfully enough, but the pacing is erratic and suspense is practically non-existent. The dramatic reveals weren’t.

On the other hand, the show pulls off the spooky deep south atmosphere well. From Bill’s decrepit yet distinguished house to a bevy of mossy exterior locations, it all looks pretty kick ass.

“True Blood” also makes for a weird juxtaposition of lighthearted humor and graphic sex scenes that come pretty damn close to raunch-o-rama.

So what does that all add up to? Honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel. I am curious to see where the second season (premiers June 14th) will go, which must be a good sign. Maybe what happens next will ultimately cement my feelings about season one.

Hankering for more vampy goodness?
Check out our awesome vamp-friendly handmade finds here!