TRUE BLOOD
SEPTEMBER 7, 2008-PRESENT
This is the most powerful, hard-hitting, no-holds-barred vampire show ever. They have carved out a show that has no contemporaries. Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the 50's, Dark Shadows in the 60's, Tales From The Dark-Side in the 80's, Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the 90's and now True Blood are in a category all by themselves.
This is a grown-up vampire story that could never be as good as it is on a network or cable (non-premium) station. True Blood series creator Alan Ball brings the characters of Charlaine Harris's The Southern Vampire Mysteries to life on screen. Harris is quoted on Wikipedia as saying “(Ball) really 'got' me". He got the audience as well, hooked with nowhere to look but to the next week's episode.
Anna Paquin(Sookie Stackhouse), Stephen Moyer(Bill Compton), Sam Trammell(Sam Merlotte), Ryan Kwanten(Jason Stackhouse), Alexander Skarsgard(Eric Northman), Nelson Ellis(Lafayette Reynolds) and Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton) round out the foundation of actors portraying central characters on True Blood. Each brings a little something different to the characters, which is due to good directing. Unlike Lost (everybody scowl), each actor puts a different spin on their character so that each one does not seem cut from the same rug.
The rotating group of supporting actors starts with Kristin Bauer Van Straten (Pamela Swynfor De Beaufort), Marshall Allman (Tommy Mickens), Chris Bauer (Sheriff Andy Bellefleur), Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur), Dennis O'hare (Russell Edgington), Jim Parrack (Hoyt Fortenberry), Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler), Lindsay Pulsipher (Crystal Norris), Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux), William Sanderson (Sheriff Bud Dearborne), Kenin Alejandro (Jesus Velasquez), Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), Mehcad Brooks ("Eggs" Benedict Talley), Anna Camp (Sarah Newlin), Lynn Collins (Dawn Green), Lizzie Caplan (Amy Burley), Michelle Forbes (Maryann Forrester), Michael Mcmillan (Steve Newlin), Michael Raymond-James (Rene Lenier), Adina Prter (Lattie Mae Thornton), Mariana Klaveno (Lorena Krasiki), Lois Smith (Adele Stackhouse) and Stephen Root (Eddie Gauthier). This group of characters comes in and out of the main plot. They often become a developing secondary scenario that may change the direction of a storyline. These actors are challenged with each scene, as they do not have time to build the character so they need to be effective quickly, taking the dialog and encompassing body language with facial expressions and delivering great performances.
The fourth book "Dead To The World" of the southern vampire mysteries will loosely be the basis for season four. Most good television series last five seasons with only a few pushing all the boundaries and going on for more, such as: Everybody Loves Raymond, Hawaii Five -O (original series), The Donna Reed Show, Dragnet, Perry Mason, Murder, She Wrote, Married With Children, Murphy Brown, The Drew Carey Show, Family Matters, All In The Family, The King Of Queens, X-Files, Alice, Home Improvement, Coach, That 70's Show, Ironside, Who's The Boss, Matlock, Mannix, Will & Grace, 24, Newhart, Golden Girls. I Love Lucy, Barnaby Jones, Laverne And Shirley, Diagnosis Murder, Charmed, Family Ties, Silk Stalkings, Adam-12, Three's Company, Wings, Mission Impossible, Green Acres, Marcus Welby, Empty Nest, Medical Center. The Rifleman, Hogan's Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show,The Bob Newhart Show (72-78), Barney Miller, Mad About You, Designing Women, The Jeffersons, Weeds and One Day At A Time.
If the writing continues at this level along with the acting at the top of its gam,e it is comprehendible that True Blood becomes HBO's longest running drama and is added to the above list.
RUSTY
11/29/10